Energy

Michigan State University opened the Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center in July of 2010 in East Lansing. The 6,000-sf facility will support the development of anaerobic digestion systems for small farms to convert animal manure to energy. Consolidating four laboratories previously housed in other locations, the ADREC houses research space, conference rooms, offices, and a high bay area for pilot-scale projects. Construction began on the facility in September of 2009.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has completed construction of the $64 million Research Support Facility in Golden, Colo. The 222,000-sf facility will house 800 employees when it opens in August of 2010. Ground was broken on the project in May of 2009. LEED Platinum sustainable design certification will be sought for the zero-energy office building, which features passive heating and ventilation, daylighting, and recycled materials.

The U.S. Department of Energy will break ground in August of 2010 on the $66.8 million Interdisciplinary Science Building at Brookhaven National Lab in Upton, N.Y. The two-story facility will support research on renewable energy and nanomaterials and is supported by $18.6 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. General contractor E.W. Howell of Plainview, N.Y., will begin construction on the facility in September of 2010.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S will open a 48,000-sf research and development office in Louisville, Colo. The Technology R&D Centre will initially house 100 employees. Vestas is a manufacturer of wind turbine blades based in Randers, Denmark.

The University of Nottingham began construction in July of 2010 on the £26 million Bioenergy Centre in the United Kingdom. Designed by maber, the facility will house the Food and Biofuel Innovation Centre, the Centre for Brewing Technology and Innovation, and one of six Sustainable Bioenergy Centre research programs. The 3,100-sm building will feature laboratories, pilot production suites, and facilities for incubation, testing, and demonstration. Completion is expected in March of 2011.

Griffith University is planning to construct the $21 million Sir Samuel Griffith Building in Nathan, Queensland, Australia. Designed by Cox Architects, the zero-emission facility will utilize solar-hydrogen energy and will be completely self-powered. The six-story, 4,000-sm building will house laboratories, classrooms, and offices for environmental science research and teaching. The Griffith Building will also function as a demonstration project for solar-hydrogen energy systems.

The University of Toledo is partnering with Ohio State University to develop the Center for Algal Engineering Research and Commercialization in Toledo, Ohio. Located on the Scott Park Campus for Energy and Innovation, the algae biofuels R&D project is supported by $3 million in funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects Program.

Dow Kokam broke ground on a $600 million battery manufacturing facility in June of 2010 in Midland, Mich. Supported by $161 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the 800,000-sf  project will produce lithium-ion battery packs for hybrid and electric vehicles. The facility will house up to 800 employees. Dow Kokam is a joint venture between Dow Chemical Co. and TK Advanced Battery LLC.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory will begin construction in spring of 2011 on the 175,000-sf Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) in Golden, Colo. The project team includes architectural firm SmithGroup and general contractor JE Dunn. Housing labs and offices for up to 250 researchers and support staff, the $135 million facility will support megawatt-scale testing of all components and strategies for deploying renewable energy and other energy-efficiency technologies into the electric grid.

Swinburne University of Technology is partnering with Suntech Power Holdings to create the Victoria-Suntech Advanced Solar Facility (VSASF) in Melbourne. The project will support the commercialization of nanoplasmonic solar cell technology.

The Kingdom of Jordan is partnering with Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Daewoo Engineering and Construction to build a nuclear research complex in Irbid. The facility will include a 5-megawatt reactor, a radioactive isotope manufacturing facility, and a nuclear training center. The $130 million complex will be located at Jordan University for Science and Technology and is slated for completion in 2014.

King Abdullah Petroleum Study and Research Center is constructing a 3.8 million-sf mixed-use research complex Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to attain LEED Platinum sustainable design certification and is slated for completion in 2011. The KAPSARC development will include petroleum research facilities as well as residential, community, and commercial space. HOK is the architect for the project with Syska Hennessy as engineer and Aramco as general contractor.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named Kimberly-Clark Corporation as a 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For the second consecutive year, K-C will be recognized for its energy management practices and commitment to sustainable operations, resulting in significant energy and financial savings. Kimberly-Clark is being honored for its continued focus on achieving its energy efficiency targets for its manufacturing processes as well as its energy conservation goals for all of its facilities.

The largest carbon capture pilot plant in Europe will be constructed in the United Kingdom. The £20 million project will be developed by Scottish and Southern Energy, Vattenfall, and Doosan Babcock in collaboration with university partners. Located in Ferrybridge, the project will support the development of post-combustion carbon capture technologies for implementation at coal- and gas-fired power plants.

Applied Materials opened its expanded Tainan Manufacturing Center in Taiwan in March of 2010. The 15,000-sm facility will produce flat-panel and thin-film solar products. Applied Materials is based in Santa Clara, Calif., and is expanding its footprint in Asia with additional facilities in Singapore and Xi’an, China.