A Bergren Forum on alternative energy
The employment of alternative energy in this continually globalizing world is fast becoming a reality, and Alfred University is directly involved.
This was the topic of Dr. Doreen Edwards’ lecture titled “Alternative Energy Science, Technology and Policy” that was delivered at the Feb. 5 Bergren Forum.
Edwards is a professor of materials science and engineering in the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering. Edwards’ areas of concentration are oxides for electronic, optical, energy and environmental applications.
The energy problem facing the world, as most already realize, is a fossil fuel problem, Edwards explained. The depletion of petroleum, coal and natural gas due to limited reserves as well as increasing demand are at the center of the problem.
Edwards provided some sobering information about the nature of the world’s situation, such as geophysicist Dr. M. King Hubbert’s graph of the rate of global oil extraction. According to Hubbert’s graph, oil production is currently reaching its peak, and by 2200 oil reserves will be almost completely depleted. There have been theories of replacing oil consumption with all natural gas, although if this occurred Edwards noted all the natural gas would only last roughly 50 years.
The distribution of oil, coal and natural gas will continue to cause social as well as political tensions on the international level until renewable, environmentally friendly solutions are found. Edwards explained that this solution will need to be three- pronged, with a combination of human behavior, government regulations and technological innovations.
Human behavior is the need for action on an individual level like reducing, reusing and recycling. Government regulations and incentives through the U.S. Department of Energy advocate basic energy science research, clean coal initiatives and solar energy technology programs. The Solar America initiative, for example, is attempting to implement cost-effective solar technology by 2015.
The final prong is technological innovations in energy with the aid of federal funding, and Edwards noted an optimistic attitude towards this possibility due to the new executive administration. Edwards added that today, 2 percent of federal research and development funding is devoted to energy, unlike the 10 percent that was devoted in the 1980s. This current funding is equivalent to 2 percent of what was spent on the Apollo mission, and Edwards proposed the possibilities if a program for alternative energy gained half of the national support of the Apollo program.
Edwards highlighted the solar power as one of the more promising alternative energy sources, since 86,000 terawatts (TW = one trillion watts) hit the earth from the sun, and humans only use 15 TWs.
Alfred University is directly involved with the technological advancements of concentrated solar power. One of these CSP systems employs parabolic troughs with receiver tubes running along the center. These trough systems help funnel the light into the receiver tubes. AU faculty and staff, including Edwards, have designed oxide enamel solar selective coatings for these receiver tubes to optimize their solar absorbency.
The energy research in the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering will continue here at AU, and the energy policy decisions of the recently elected President Barack Obama will be closely watched as forward motion is constantly made in this field.
