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Sustainability

A transparent aerogel could reduce the energy loss in absorbers for solar thermal power plants by 67 percent. Credit: Lenert Lab, Michigan Engineering

$1.6M for solar cell windows and high-temperature solar power

New sustainability research garners support from Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. |Medium Read
The summer sun rises on North Campus of the University of Michigan

Urgent climate action: How engineers are heeding IPCC’s call

Efforts are underway to reduce CO2, develop sustainable energy, and adapt to a warmer future.|Medium Read
Jeremy Minty (ChE B.S.E. '07, PhD '13), president of Ecovia Renewables, holds up a sample of the company's AzuraGel product after a demonstration of it absorbing water at Ecovia's lab in Ann Arbor, MI on August 16, 2018. Ecovia is a startup company led by Minty that spun out of the lab of Xiaoxia (Nina) Lin, associate professor of chemical engineering. The company is focused on developing a biopolymer for applications in the cosmetics and agriculture industries, one of which is making a superabsorbent biodegradable polymer for use in compostable diapers. Photo: Evan Dougherty/Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

Compostable diapers are the aim of new sustainability startup

Safe and eco-friendly ingredients for personal care have attracted more than $1.5 million in venture capital.|Medium Read
Live micro algae that is being introduced as a source of vegetable oils that can be used in the manufacturing of biodiesel fuel to replace the existing traditional agricultural sources of oil. Andre Boehman, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Walter E. Lay Automotive Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Photo: Evan Dougherty

From ponds to power: $2M to perfect algae as a diesel fuel

University of Michigan becomes one of the few institutes in the world working on the problem end-to-end.|Medium Read
Professor Sick's research group look at their findings. Photo: Joseph Xu

‘Carbon negative, dollar positive’

A new initiative aspires to turn a greenhouse gas into profitable products.|Medium Read
Student uses a device to measure bacterial levels in urine samples

Blue Sky: Up to $10M toward research so bold, some of it just might fail

Inspired by startup funding models, Michigan Engineering reinvents its internal R&D grant structure. |Medium Read
The University of Michigan solar car Novum contends with clouds during a practice run on the American Solar Challenge race route

U-M’s top-ranked Solar Car Team readies for race on Oregon Trail

The 2018 American Solar Challenge will be a real test for a young team.|Short Read
A solar array on U-M’s North Campus

The material that could power tomorrow’s solar cells

‘We estimate that a finished solar cell could be about ten times cheaper than an equivalent gallium arsenide cell.’ |Medium Read
leaf

Harvesting clean hydrogen fuel through artificial photosynthesis

New device doubles previous efficiency, opens path to commercial viability.|Medium Read
Huanting Huang

Huanting Huang and the mathematical shape of trees

An award-winning modeling method will help us better understand our natural environment|Medium Read

New biodegradable hydrogel offers eco-friendly alternative to synthetics

A water-absorbing hydrogel made from bacteria provides a safer soil solution.|Medium Read
Researchers gather data

Using University of Michigan buildings as batteries

How a building's thermal energy can help the power grid accommodate more renewable energy sources.|Medium Read