September 2015
Name: Diego Ponce de Leon Barido
Department: The Energy and Resources Group
School: University of California, Berkeley
Project: Evaluating the Potential of Ubiquitous Flexible Energy Loads to Provide Grid-Scale Balancing in Resource Constrained Environments: A Case Study in Nicaragua.
Research Advisor: Prof. Daniel Kammen and Prof. Duncan Callaway
In 2015, on an hourly basis, wind power produced up to 50% of Nicaragua’s electricity generation. Although this progress is laudable, the challenge of managing high penetrations of variable and uncertain wind is unprecedented in Nicaragua. Imported oil is used as the main balancing resource, and Nicaragua has one of the region’s highest electricity prices. I believe that load-balancing technologies that can respond to grid conditions (demand response, DR) are an essential part of a cost-effective and equitable low-carbon grid transition. My research examines the potential benefit of flexible energy loads to provide a grid scale balancing resource and societal co-benefits by using a ‘FlexBox’ (wireless sensor network, smart metering and communications infrastructure), optimal control strategies, and a novel end-user recruitment strategy that uses SMS, monthly raffles, and high resolution energy data exchanges. Twenty micro-enterprises (MEs; e.g., butcheries, mini markets, etc.) with large cooling loads (freezers and refrigerators) and ten households are currently participating in a micro-level DR program in Managua, Nicaragua. Immediate direct impacts include monthly energy and cost savings, and a large-scale implementation of our approach could reduce grid peak capacity needs, further energy independence, and provide significant environmental co-benefits.
Name: Duyen Cao
Department: Chemistry
School: Northwestern University
Project: Development of non-toxic and stable perovskites for high efficiency solar cells research
Research Advisors: Prof. Joseph T. Hupp and Prof. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
With the non-stop global growth in energy demand and with compelling environmental concerns, alternatives to the use of fossil fuels are needed. Converting sunlight, an abundant and clean energy resource, into electricity is one such solution. In order to encourage the development of solar system in utility, non-residential and residential, the price of photovoltaic electricity needs to be cheaper than the current grid power without subsidies. Recently, halide perovskites have entered the photovoltaic field and engendered tremendous attention because of their ease of preparation methods and outstanding properties that render them promising materials for producing low cost and high efficiency solar cells. The current perovskite material of choice contains toxic lead element. Thus, there is a great driving force to replace lead with tin to make this solar technology more environmental friendly.
The goal of this project is to develop lead-free perovskite light absorbing materials, and use them to construct high efficiency and stable solar cells. In particular, this project focuses on understanding the changes in the optical, electrical, and electronic properties of the bulk materials and thin films of the tin-based perovskite materials upon different preparation approaches. Once a clear understanding of the properties is established, the tin perovskites will be incorporated with other charge transport layers to fabricate devices. Device stability will also be addressed.
Name: Mihai Duduta
Department: Engineering Sciences
School: Harvard University
Project: Polyelectrolyte Materials for Dielectric Elastomer Energy Harvesting
Research Advisor: Prof. Rob Wood
Dielectric elastomers are a class of compliant transducers, which can serve as soft actuators and generators, converting electrical into mechanical energy and vice versa. The simplest device architecture consists of a tri layer structure in which compliant electrodes encapsulate the dielectric elastomer central layer. Such devices have been explored in Europe for offshore wave energy harvesting. The worldwide estimated resource of ocean-wave power is estimated to be nearly 3 TW on a yearly basis, making wave energy a major potential supplier of renewable energy.
Currently, devices are limited by the manufacturing method, as well as by the range of usable materials. My work focuses on designing and implementing novel materials, including ion-containing elastomers, which will increase the dielectric constant and, therefore, the amount of energy which can be harvested in generation mode. If successful, the project could lead to lower cost dielectric elastomer generators, which could harvest upwards of 100 J/kg of material. In addition, any material improvements in dielectric constant, robustness or repeatability could also be translated into improved actuators for soft robotics, a rapidly emerging research field.