Alternative Energy/IP Profile of non-profit companies in AE

Answer the questions:

What are the 5 to 10 biggest non-profit companies in this field?

A great deal of innovation takes place at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national labs

Most important labs:

NREL, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/

• The flagship of the national laboratory system supported by the U.S. DOE through its Office of Science for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development (R&D).
• Managed for the DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
• Located in Golden, Colorado with prime siting for research in solar technology, wind technology and geothermal technology.
• The lab focuses on the following R&D competencies: Renewable electricity conversion and delivery systems, renewable fuels formulation and delivery, efficient and integrated energy systems, strategic energy analysis.

Data

• Most important data for wind technology is the average wind speeds at various heights across the nation
• Lab collects the data through national wind speed measurements and categorises the information in a Wind Power Class (WPC) measurement of 1 - 7 from least desirable to most.
• Lab also collects measurements of solar insolation levels - the amount and intensity of the sun, averaged over a period of years, that is hitting the US in various areas. Data is crucial for determining how much electricity a PV panel is likely to produce over a year or years.
• Access to WPC and solar insolation measurements is found in GIS maps of the United States.
  • Hydrogen and biomass resource qualities by region are also available.
  • Data can be classified as open, but a name and email address are required to download the data files.
• No research in tidal energy technology.
• Provides free public access to the Renewable Resource Data Center (RReDC) an extensive collection of renewable energy resource data, maps, and tools.
• The lab holds 105 solar technology patents and 5 wind technology patents, which are available for licensing.
• Lab offers non-exclusive licenses and exclusive licenses, based on public or private collaboration agreements.

Narratives

• Provides free, open access to scientific reports for download on website through the publications website.
• Reports cover new technology discoveries for solar and wind infrastructure.
• website includes various data and resource databases for solar

Tools

• National Wind Technology Center tests:
  • equipment for reducing loads on wind turbine components
  • small wind turbine components and subsystems, static and dynamic loads of small wind turbine blades, and blade components.
  • manufacturers prototype turbines on their private test pads
  • lifetime endurance of wind turbine drivetrains
• Solar technology facilities include:
  • Solar cell, thin film, and nanostructure research
  • Outdoor testing fields on 352 acres
  • Labs for advanced, solid-state materials and devices in PV research

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
http://www.lbl.gov/

• "Berkeley Lab is a national laboratory supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the University of California (UC). The lab is charged with conducting unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines." Sustainable energy is one of their main disciplines.
  
• The lab focuses mainly on solar energy used to produce biofuels through a simulated photosynthetic process, and bioenergy and biofuels for transportation.
  

Data

• The labs Helios Solar Energy Research Center collects data on solar energy for biofuels production
• They don't not have programs for wind or tidal research
• their solar research focuses on PV cells, which collect sunlight and supply electrical currents that are used to drive fuel-forming chemical reactions.
  • the chemical reactors convert water and carbon dioxide into a high-energy-density fuel that can be stored, transported, and used for transportation or other applications.
• The crucial data is the solar insolation and the PV cells efficiency in converting that sun into energy for the chemical reactions.
• the work of the lab is to improve the PV cell's efficiency in these chemical reactions.

Narratives

• Reports and publications seem to be for lab affiliates and UC Berkeley students only. There is free access to online lab news releases.

Tools

• Lab facilities for chemical and biological research are used to test the Helios research goals.

Other non-profit organzations

ACORE, American Council on Renewable Energy

• "ACORE is an organization of member companies and institutions that are dedicated to moving renewable energy into the mainstream of America’s economy, ensuring the success of the renewable energy industry while helping to build a sustainable and independent energy future for the nation."[1]
  
• http://www.acore.org/front
  

Data

• ACORE's website provides free information about various renewable technologies: solar, wind, ocean, biomass, geothermal, etc.
• Is home to the Center for Economic Research, which is: "aimed at communications and data development for policy makers, media and thought leaders to promote all renewable energy options and to talk about their significant role in the U.S. economy."[2]

Narratives

• There are a few reports that are free from the website, though much of the organizations output is closed and accessible only to member companies and organizations that pay yearly membership dues.

Tools

• ACORE organizes three major conferences each year that focus on the three major areas that shape and advance renewable energy innovation and development in America: Policy, Markets and Finance.
• The conferences convene companies, institutions, and individuals who will share information and advances in driving renewable energy forward.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

• http://www.rmi.org
• An independent, entrepreneurial, non-profit organization that focuses on consulting for energy efficiency in the built environment, energy resources, mobility & vehicle efficiency and sustainable cities.

How is the market distributed?

coming soon

Where are they located? Are there any incentives for specific locations?

coming soon

Correlate them with their main outputs (Data. Narratives. Tools)

coming soon

Understand and identify cases where these companies are “experimenting” or “adopting” commons based approaches

coming soon "The MOU will allow Sandia's Wind Energy Technology Dept. 6333 to work closely with the Dutch institution, helping the two entities share knowledge and do joint research." (Silas: I saw this will researching wind and thought it might be worth a look-Andrew) [[1]]

Identify these cases and treat them as entities that will also be placed in our mapping device (the quadrants).

coming soon

Identify what non-profits are the “Microsofts” of the field and what companies are the “IBMs” of the field.(Use the questionnaire to guide your research when appropriate - Carol will select specific relevant and helpful questions)

coming soon

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