Environment/Energy
New Mexico’s abundant resources and research facilities make it an ideal platform for achieving success in the field of renewable alternative energy technology. Both Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories are leaders in the quest for new, affordable energy sources, and research continues to grow at the state’s major universities. Numerous private companies are also working in an area that spans a diverse set of technical competencies. In addition to the state’s long history in the development of photovoltaics, research is being conducted on geothermal, wind, biomass, solar thermal and hydrogen.
In the fields of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, New Mexico universities offer students unique cross disciplinary educational and research opportunities. Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are also dedicated to finding solutions to environmental problems. Several small companies are currently using laboratory technologies spun off from the ‘Labs’ to produce environmental and alternative energy products. While many of the private sector environmental companies are working with the laboratories (and are often branches of large organizations), there are also small companies working on basic research and development projects. Environmental companies offer a variety of services including consulting, remediation, analysis and testing, and hazardous waste management.
Environmental/Renewable Alternative Energy Assets
Los Alamos National Laboratory has active programs in a number of alternative energy areas including fuel cells, hydrogen storage, superconductivity and energy system reliability, solid-state lighting, biomass and alternative fuels, and international codes and standards for hydrogen use and storage. In addition, the Lab’s extensive capabilities and unique facilities make it ideally suited to take on the difficult scientific challenges that will aid in conquering the U.S.’ dependence on fossil fuels.
The Earth and Environmental Sciences Groups at Los Alamos focus on the following areas of research: atmosphere and ocean science; computational science; ecology; geochemistry and geomaterials; geology; geophysics and seismology; and hydrology.
Sandia National Laboratories are engaged in a wide range of alternative energy R&D. They host the National Solar Thermal Test Facility and collaborate in SunLab. They play important roles both in New Mexico and nationally in development of technologies in wind power, geothermal energy, and hydrogen research. In addtion, Sandia has strong programs in climate change and energy efficiency.
New Mexico’s Consortium’s Institute for Advanced Studies (including LANL, New Mexico Tech, UNM and NMSU) is also working on alternative energy research.
Contacts:
New Mexico Biomass Clearinghouse: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us
New Mexico Solar Energy Association: http://www.nmsea.org
New Mexico Wind Power Program: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us
Los Alamos National Laboratory Programs: http://altenergy.lanl.gov; http://ees.lanl.gov; http://www.nmcias.org
Posted by Administrator at 12:17 PM