| Posted: May 18, 2009 |
Energy concern promotes nanotechnology research with a broad spectrum of energy applications |
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(Nanowerk News) "Energy is one of the fundamental pillars of our society. It is indispensable for modern life, for progress, prosperity and convenience. To help secure this pillar for the future, we also tread new paths and develop new solutions," said Lutz Feldmann, member of the Board of Management of E.ON AG. Together with the Minister of Innovation, Science, Research and Technology of North-Rhine Westphalia, Prof. Andreas Pinkwart, and the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Prof. Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, Lutz Feldmann presented the E.ON Research Award to nine outstanding projects by international universities and institutes in the field of research into the use of nanotechnology in the energy sector at the E.ON headquarters in Düsseldorf.
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| 2009 E.ON Research Award winners
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Innovation Minister Andreas Pinkwart: "The award fits in perfectly with our times: it commends people shaping the future. Energy research and nanotechnology have enormous scientific and economic potential. They are increasingly becoming a central innovation driver. The decision where tomorrow’s research and development centers will be located and where the action will be in terms of commercialisation is being taken today".
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State Secretary Meyer-Krahmer: "Energy research allows us to achieve our energy and climate policy goals more effectively, faster and at lower costs and also strengthen our international competitiveness. Innovation and progress in the field of energy technology also require developments in tune with the needs of the market as well as practical interdisciplinary fundamental research. This is shown very impressively by the work of today’s price winners."
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As part of its research initiative, E.ON is investing around EUR 60 million in a varied range of research projects over a 10-year period. E.ON is taking this initiative to help resolve key problems in energy supply. These projects are not contract research for E.ON. The results will remain the property of the researchers and will be made available to the public through publications.
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This year, the E.ON Research Award is supporting projects that help use findings in nanotechnology for energy supply. They include concepts that will make solar cells more efficient and cheaper to produce, technologies that generate power from ambient heat, methods for the sustainable generation of hydrogen from local biomass as well as systems designed to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. The award for the nine projects went to a total of 11 universities and institutes from six countries (UK, Sweden, Greece, USA, Australia and Germany).
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E.ON is presenting the research award for the second time. Last year it went to ten projects focusing on a technology that is crucial for renewable energies and point-of-use energy generation: energy storage. A total of 14 research and university institutes in five countries have since been conducting extensive research and development work on a range of promising storage projects.
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