Tradeline, Inc. filters and categorizes new-construction and industry news from regional and professional journals across the country. Here you will find new projects, products, and regulatory updates.
Industry News
Notre Dame Opens Turbomachinery Laboratory
The University of Notre Dame opened the $36 million Turbomachinery Facility in June of 2016 in South Bend, Ind. Created in collaboration with General Electric, Indiana Michigan Power, and other industry partners, the 25,000-sf research and testing center will support the development of advanced gas turbine engine technologies. The project features full-scale simulated operating environments, including a $7.5 million, 10-megawatt jet propulsion engine rig, and will act as a Center of Excellence for Pratt & Whitney.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority to Construct Drone Research Lab Using 3D Printing
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is planning to construct the $136 million Research & Development Center at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. The four-building facility will be constructed using 3D printing and will support the creation of drones and 3D printing technologies for applications including solar power, energy efficiency, smart grids, and photovoltaic desalination.
U.S. Department of Energy Dedicates Sensitive Instrument Facility
The U.S. Department of Energy dedicated the $9.9 million Sensitive Instrument Facility at Ames Laboratory in Iowa in May of 2016. Accommodating microscopes used in materials science and clean energy research, the building features two-foot concrete floors with vibration-dampening layers, and the six instrument bays are lined with aluminum shielding a quarter of an inch thick to create an electromagnetic barrier.
Stanford University Implements Energy Systems Innovations
Stanford University has completed the implementation of a campus-wide energy system called Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI). Replacing an aging cogeneration plant that utilized fossil fuel with grid-sourced electricity and an advanced heat recovery system, SESI reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 68 percent, reduces fossil fuel use by 65 percent, and decreases water consumption by 15 percent. At the heart of the system is the 125,600-sf Central Energy Facility designed by ZGF.
Fraunhofer ISE Constructs Cleanroom Laboratory
Fraunhofer ISE is expanding the Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC) with the construction of an 8,600-sf cleanroom in Freiburg, Germany. The PV-TEC Select laboratory will act as a pilot plant for new front-end processing technologies, which relate to the phase of solar cell production before metallization. Accommodating research, development, and testing operations, the project aims to increase the efficiency of solar cells by up to 25 percent.