2012 Awards
The TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy is supporting two quite different investigations starting in 2012. The two projects hold major promise in advancing transportation and electricity, not only toward more sustainable models, but also in ways that seek the best economic outcomes.
WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER TO A MOVING VEHICLE
SHANHUI FAN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
The researchers will test the feasibility of using magnetic resonance technology to transmit electricity from roads to moving vehicles. The long-term goal is to develop roadways that wirelessly charge electric cars and trucks cruising at highway speeds. The proposed technology could dramatically increase the driving range of electric vehicles and transform highway travel.
RELIABILITY VS. COST TRADEOFFS IN CALIFORNIA RENEWABLE ENERGY INVESTMENTS
FRANK WOLAK AND BURTON RICHTERECONOMICS, PROGRAM ON ENERGY & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SLAC
This project will quantify the added costs of serving California's electricity demand with an increasing share of intermittent renewable generation, such as wind and solar energy. The analysis will account for the major drivers of these costs, such as backup generation resources, large energy storage systems, active demand-side participation and alternatives, such as transmission upgrades and changes in how the system is operated. The research also will assess managing intermittency under different wholesale power market rules and different mechanisms for financial support of renewables.