Materials scientists at the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, are working on a variety of “radiation-tolerant” materials that are self-healing in nuclear reactors.  These would improve the durability of the metal parts, which would be helpful for the current fleet and more important for advanced reactors still in the design phase. Fuel elements in existing reactors are replaced after a few years, but some of the new designs would leave metal parts in place for far longer. And better materials can improve the reliability of any industry.  To learn more, click on this link:  http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2017/01/how-nanomaterials-can-make-nuclear.html

Sponsor:  American Public Power Association (APPA), Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Development projects (DEED)

Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time students attending school at an accredited college/university or vocational institution within the US and must not be graduating within 12 months of the application deadline. Official transcripts must be submitted by the application deadline. Continue reading →

Six new research projects were selected for funding by the Energy Center in its eleventh annual grant competition.  The faculty selected for the awards were Professors Chris Cornelius, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering;  Wei Niu, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Jeff Shield,  Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Martha Shulski, School of Natural Resources; Peter Sutter, Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Jian Wang, Mechanical and Materials Engineering.  To learn more go to Research Grant Awards – Cycle 11

On July 13, the Nebraska Public Power District and UNL’s Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute presented an educational forum entitled “Climate Change Research and Considerations in NPPD’s Carbon-Emission Reductions” (EPRI Forum Program 2016. The featured speaker was Anda Ray, Senior vice President, Environment and External Relations at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). To view her slides from the forum, click on ANDA RAY – Nebraska Forum – Energy Vision 07-13-2016  and  ANDA RAY – Nebraska Forum – Tech Solutions 07-13-16.  To view presentations from other speakers at the forum, click on their name: John McClure, Michael Nastasi,   Axel Enders, Bai Cui, and Dennis Alexander.  Cole Epley, a reporter from the Omaha World Herald, attended the forum and wrote the following article   “. . .electricity could be vital . . .”

Ed Cahoon and James Alfano

Professor Edgar Cahoon from the Biochemistry Department recently informed the Energy Center that he and his co-PI, James Alfano, are recipients of a $20 million grant from the NSF EPSCoR program.  The title of the project is “RII Track-1: Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation (CRRI)”. The project is designed to improve soil and crops in Nebraska and globally. Dr. Cahoon credits the Energy Center with laying the foundation for making this grant possible.  The Energy Center and its research projects are funded by the Nebraska Public Power District through a partnership with the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.  (Picture from UNL Today, courtesy of Gillian Klucas, Research and Development)

The Energy Center Summer Interns and the Bioenergy REU (NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates) interns journeyed to the Sheldon Station on Thursday, June 23, 2016. The Sheldon Station is a coal-fired generating plant located near Hallam, Nebraska.  Once there, the interns were greeted by Lee Sauter, one of our Sheldon Plant tour guides, and Alan Dostal, Corporate Nuclear Business Manager from NPPD.  A video about the Sheldon Station gave the interns background information that was helpful to them as they toured the facility.  Throughout the tour, the students had the opportunity to ask many questions while they learned about the process of converting coal to energy. Sheldon Station Tour June 23

In the near future, the Sheldon Station will burn hydrogen instead of coal to power one of two steam boilers. To learn more about this exciting change, click Monolith Announcement.

Jerry Doyle is the new Program Manager in the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research. In this role, he will provide business and program support, including overseeing financial management, marketing and outreach and providing support for grants development and coordination of research groups.  Jerry is a graduate of James Madison University (Virginia) with a bachelor’s degree in political science and University of Minnesota with a master’s degree in public policy.

The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research released its Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative energy sciences research and collaboration ideas from UNL faculty.  This is the eleventh annual cycle in which UNL faculty can compete in this internal competition for energy research grants.  These grants are considered seed funding to help UNL faculty develop energy-related research capacity and improve their competitiveness for external funding.  Funding for this opportunity is made possible through an investment in energy sciences research by the Nebraska Public Power District. click here to view NCESR Cycle 11 RFP with attachment.  The deadline to submit a pre-proposal is May 20, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. CDT.   Full proposals will be by invitation only.

If you have any questions concerning this RFP, please contact Michael Nastasi (402-472-3852 or mnastasi2@unl.edu).  You may also leave a message with Lorraine Moon, Office Associate (402-472-6082 or lmoon1@unl.edu).

Four undergraduate students were selected as recipients of the Darrell J. Nelson Summer Undergraduate Internship in Energy Sciences Research for the summer of 2016.  The four recipients and their supervising faculty members are:  Aaron Ediger (second from right, back row),  sponsored by Professor Natale Ianno (second from left, back row), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering;  Rebecca Kiat (middle, front row), sponsored by Professor Karrie Weber (right, front row),  School of Biological Sciences; Vojislav Medic (middle, back row), sponsored by Professor Natale Ianno, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Spencer Prockish (third from left, back row), sponsored by Professor Xia Hong (left, front row), Department of Physics and Astronomy.   Mike Nastasi, Director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research is pictured on the left in the back row.  Alan Dostal from the Nebraska Public Power District is pictured on the right in the back row. The internship is named after Mr. Darrell J. Nelson, who served 41 years on the Custer County Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power (NPPD) Boards.  In 2005, Mr. Nelson proposed a partnership between NPPD and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the purpose of engaging in energy sciences research.  The following year, the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) was created with NPPD’s support.  At the end of the paid internship, each student will prepare a summary report that describes their experience and will prepare a poster to describe the accomplishments or results of their work experience in energy sciences research. Research posters were presented at the Nebraska Summer Research Symposium on Wednesday, August 10, in the Nebraska Union.  Click here to view the posters.

The Spring 2016 Research Fair hosted one-hundred and forty-one UNL graduate students on  April 12 in the Nebraska Union. These students gathered to showcase their research and creative accomplishments by displaying posters.  Seventeen of those students were sponsored by NCESR projects.  On April 13, the Undergraduate poster session was held.  This was  the first year that the Energy Center had an undergraduate student displaying his research at the Research Fair.  To view the posters, click here .