Energy related research at Rutgers University (from 2003 to present)

• Efficient Characterization of Combustion Fuels, $60,000 (2009) awarded by Office of Naval Research to Marianthi Ierapetritou (Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering).


• SISGR: Physical Chemisty of Reaction Dynamics in Ionic Liquids, $2,400,000 total (2009), awarded by the Department of Energy to Edward Castner, Jr. (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology).  Funding is in the amount of $1.95 M to Rutgers, with sub-awards to U. Iowa, U. Minnesota and Penn State; and $450 K to Brookhaven National Lab.


• Corn Storage Protein: A Molecular Genetic Model, $1.48 million (2004-2008) awarded by the Deptartment of Energy to Joachim Messing (Waksman Institute of Microbiology) .


• Energy Storage Chemistries and Devices Enabled by Halide Nanocomposites, $889,000 (2006-2009) awarded by the Deptartment of Defense to Glenn Amatucci (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• Nanoscale Phenomena in Surface Chemistry: Structure Reactivity and Electronic Properties, $800,000 (2004-2008) awarded by the Department of Energy to Theodore Madey (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology).


• Linker for Semiconductor Nanoparticle Sensitization: Models for Electron Transfer and for Solar Cell Applications, $125,000 (2006-2007) awarded by the Department of Energy to Elena Galoppini (Department of Chemistry - Rutgers Newark).


• Meadowlands Renewable Energy Master Plan, $100,000 (2006-2007) awarded by the State of New Jersey Meadowlands Commission to Frank Felder (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy).


• New Polymer Electrolyte for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells, $75,000 (2006-2007) awarded by the San Diego State University Foundation to Aurelien Du Pasquier (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• CRCD: Photovoltaic Device Processing - A Systemic Curriculum and Research Program, $320,000 (2005-2007) awarded by the National Science Foundation to Dunbar Birnie III (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• Sustainable Energy Targets for New Jersey, $238,000 (2005-2007) awarded by the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to Clinton J. Andrews (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy) .


• New Material and Concepts for Next generation Metal/Air Batteries, $1.35 million (2004-2007) awarded by the Office of Naval Research to John Xu (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• New Jersey Offshore and Coastal Wind Energy Analysis (4 Phase Project), $245,000 (2003-2007) awarded by the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to Richard Dunk (Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences).


• Energy Master Plan Electricity Modleing, $140,000 (2005-2006) awarded by the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to Scott A. Weiner (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy).


• Energy Information Center, $100,000 (2005-2006) awarded by the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to Scott A. Weiner (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy).


• Computational and Experimental Studies of the Cathode/Electrolyte Interfaces, $75,000 (2005-2006) awarded by the Department of Energy to Stephen Garofalini (Department of Ceramic and Materials Engineering).


• High Energy Nanostructured Rechargeable Cathode Materials, $810,000 (2004-2006) awarded by the Department of Defense to Glenn Amatucci (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• Towards Self-Sustaining High Rise Buildings: Framework for an Analysis of Materials, $115,000 (2004-2006) awarded by the National Science Foundation to Uta Krogmann (Department of Environmental Sciences).


• New Membranes Based on Ionic Liquids for High Temperature PEM Fuel Cells, $75,000 (2004-2006) awarded by the San Diego State University Foundation to John Xu (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).


• Carbon-Hydrogen Bond Functionalization Catalyzed by Transition Metal Systems, $391,000 (2003-2006) awarded by the Department of Energy to Alan Goldman (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology).


• Algal Bioreactor: An Air Emissions Cleanup and Renewable Energy Technology Demonstration, $100,000 (2003-2004) awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to Harry W. Janes (EcoComplex).


• Facilitating the Organization of Clean Energy Council, $73,000 (2003-2004) awarded by the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to James W. Hughes (Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy).

Rutgers Energy Institute (REI) is coordinating research in these areas:

Biofuels—Reducing the Need for Fossil Fuels

• Exploring ways to use biological materials to produce energy for heat, electric power, and transportation
• Optimizing energy yields from commercial crops, like corn and soy, through innovative genetic techniques
• Developing cost-eff ective technologies with minimal impact to the environment

Solar Energy—Alternative Electricity

• Improving technologies that convert solar energy to electricity
• Advancing the fundamental optical and electronic science required to produce solar cells
• Cultivating cost-effi cient technologies that convert solar energy to hydrogen—an important renewable fuel

Wind Power—Clean, Renewable Energy

• Focusing research on wind energy technology as an alternative to burning coal or oil
• Improving our wind prediction capabilities along the New Jersey coastline through collaborations with the state of New Jersey and PSE&G
• Implementing a ground-breaking program that utilizes real-time data to collect and distribute wind energy at strategically located sites

Green Building—Efficient Energy Use

• Advancing the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial processes, and transportation in New Jersey
• Merging fundamental research in materials science and technology with practical building applications
• Putting theory into practice with building improvements for homeowners - such as energy-saving techniques and equipment, healthier indoor air-quality systems, building material reuse, and solid waste reduction

Carbon Capture and Sequestration – Reducing CO₂ Emissions

• Developing technology to capture CO₂ from coal-fired power plants and other point sources such as oil refineries and cement factories
• Exploring the potential for large-scale and long-term storage of CO₂ in both onshore and offshore geologic formations