ATI Alternative Energy

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Seeding "Green Collar" Job Creation

Few issues confronting the nation and the world today have as many different constituency stakeholders as do the family of alternative and renewable energy technologies. Whether focused on decreasing U.S. dependency on foreign sources of petroleum, controlling the man-made contribution to global climate change, minimizing the public health impact of air and water pollution caused by the combustion of fossil energy or promoting economic growth built around emerging technologies, there seems to be something of value for everyone in alternative energy.

ATI's Support for Clean Energy Initiatives

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Initiatives

South Carolina Hydrogen Infrastructure Development Fund (HIDF) - SCRA supports hydrogen growth throughout South Carolina. Proceeds from the HIDF, will be used to promote the development and deployment of hydrogen in the state. Taxpayers receive a 25% credit against South Carolina income tax, license fees or insurance premium tax.

DoE Fuel Cell “Market Transformation” Program – ATI was selected to execute an inter-agency project between the Departments of Defense and Energy that will deploy up to 10 fuel cell back-up power units at three mission-critical sites at Fort Jackson, SC. This project earned distinction as a “Palmetto Pillar Award in Green Technology” recipient.

Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge - SCRA supports this public and private sector initiative for broadly deploying hydrogen and fuel cell applications in and around Columbia, S.C. This collaboration was selected by the Southern Policies Growth Board for receipt of its “Innovator Award” in June 2009.

National H-Prize Administration – SCRA partnered with Technology Transition Corporation on a team led by the Hydrogen Education Foundation that was selected by the US Department of Energy to administer the national H-Prize, which makes competitive cash awards for significant advancements leading to large-scale application of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

National Fuel Cell Bus Program - SCRA coordinated Columbia-based stakeholders and helped secure funding for a “first-of-its-kind” demonstration project where a hybrid battery-dominant, fuel cell transit bus will be tested in actual university shuttle routes and city transit bus operations in Columbia, SC for a year beginning in the spring of 2009.

Defense Fuel Cell Manufacturing Program - As part of SCRA’s Next Generation Manufacturing Technology Initiative, this project is focused on raising the technology and manufacturing readiness levels of fuel cell power sources for Department of Defense applications.

Biomass Initiatives

I-95 Corridor Revitalization through Clean Energy and Biotechnology Program - By combining novel scientific data with state intellectual resources, this SCRA-led consortium hopes to illustrate the concept of biotechnology as a means of economic development. This initiative offers a plan for holistic, meaningful change for the corridor by incorporating new technologies with agriculture and aquaculture as well as bio-remediation in an effort to create jobs and stimulate economic development. Ultimately this program can serve as a national model that demonstrates that the resources of nature can be used to enhance the economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, help reduce global warming through the sequestration of CO2, and improve the lives of some of the state’s neediest citizens through the introduction of new industry and jobs.

Agriculture Waste-to-Energy – This ATI initiative seeks to combine proven anaerobic digester technology with various combined heat and power generation technologies to provide poultry, swine and dairy farmers the ability to become net “green energy” producers while enhancing environmental stewardship through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and contaminant run-off into nearby watersheds.

Entrepreneurial and Collaborative Initiatives in Alternative Energy

Green, Renewable, Oceanic, Technology Transfer Outpost” (GROTTO) Workshop- On July 8-9, 2009 SCRA hosted a workshop in which federal and state officials, research leaders, and industry and university participants gathered to exchange information regarding financial and policy initiatives and their business development implications, exchange research strategies, and foster collaborations to capitalize on economic development opportunities focused on “green technology” innovation. Click here to link to the conference presentations
Retrofit “Plug-In Hybrid” Modifications for Existing Light Truck Fleets – This SC Launch-supported initiative provides a technology solution that converts existing light trucks into “plug-in hybrids” by installing an affordable, effective, technology-neutral plug-in hybrid-electric drive system that requires no changes to the internal-combustion engine, transmission, vehicle support systems or emissions equipment.
Public Works Fuel Consumption Reduction Initiatives – This SC Launch-supported initiative has developed a remote data collection system that helps city and local government managers improve the efficiency of fleet movements, such as those used in refuse collection. The result is a more efficient use of fuel, reduced vehicle wear and a cleaner environment.
Conversion of Non-recyclable Plastics to Synthetic Crude Oil – This SC Launch-supported initiative is commercializing a technology that converts waste plastics, used oils and forestry-industry by-products into synthetic crude oil, transportation fuels and industrial petrochemicals.
Production of Solid Source Hydrogen Compounds for Portable Power Applications - SCRA has provided funding to help Trulite, Inc. establish a pilot manufacturing facility at the Midlands Technical College Enterprise Campus in support of the company’s initiative to develop and provide portable and semi-portable hybrid power generators for commercial and military applications requiring clean, reliable, off-grid power.

Increased Energy Efficiency through National/International Collaborative Research

Energy Savings in Metal Casting Industries - ATI, an SCRA affiliate, manages an R&D program that develops energy-saving technologies and processes for the metalcasting industry, such as melting efficiency; yield improvement/revert reduction; and material properties studies.
Energy Storage Technologies for Renewable Energy Power Generators – ATI is building a collaboration that will focus on developing large-scale energy storage syatems capable of capturing energy generated intermittently through renewable sources (solar, wind, other) and making this power available and dispatchable to the grid upon demand.
Renewable Energy Collaborations with Eilot-Eilat Israel - SCRA and the Israeli−based Eilat−Eilot Renewable Energy Initiative have signed an agreement to collaborate on alternative and renewable energy initiatives.

SCRA's SC Launch Program Supports Emerging Clean Energy Companies

SCRA's SC Launch program offers funding, support and commercialization services to entrepreneurial knowledge-based companies, with a primary focus on clean energy companies. Here are some examples of recent investments by SC Launch:

EV Power Systems, Inc. (EVPS)- Retrofit “plug-in hybrid” modifications for existing light truck fleets. This affordable, effective, technology-neutral plug-in hybrid-electric drive system can be installed in light trucks to convert them into “plug-in hybrids.” The installation requires no changes to the existing internal combustion engine, transmission, vehicle support systems or emissions equipment.

PinPoint GeoTech - Public works fuel consumption reduction initiative that remotely collects route data to help city and local government managers improve the efficiency of fleet movements, such as those used in refuse collection. The result is a more efficient use of fuel, reduced vehicle wear and a cleaner environment.

Trulite, Inc.- Production of solid source hydrogen compounds for portable power applications. SCRA assisted in the establishing a pilot manufacturing facility to develop and produce fuel canisters for portable hybrid power generators for commercial and military applications requiring clean, reliable, off-grid power.

Climax Global Energy - Conversion of non-recyclable plastics to synthetic crude oil. This technology in the early stages of commercialization converts waste plastics, used oils and forestry-industry byproducts into synthetic crude oil, transportation fuels and industrial petrochemicals.