Nanotechnology

Week 11 - 'Cleantech' - Clean Technology

In the Bay Area, venture capital investment in cleantech has outpaced information technology for the last two years. There are no bigger markets than energy, and the planet faces unparalleled threats from population growth, resource depletion, and catastrophic environmental damage from global warming and climate change. Of all the potential markets nanotechnology is ripe to make an impact in, clean technology is among the biggest, and perhaps, the most important.

• What is cleantech?
  • Cleantech definitions
• Cleantech challenges
  • Energy
  • Water
  • Environmental remediation
  • Clean buildings
• Energy challenges
  • Global warming / climate change
  • The end of cheap oil – Hubbert Peak
  • Ten Key Energy Challenges
  • Designing the next energy economy
• Website material for clean technology
  • Cleanedge (the cleantech market authority) - http://www.cleanedge.com/
  • Cleantech Central - http://www.cleantechcentral.com/
  • Foresight challenges - http://www.foresight.org/challenges/index.html
  • Hubbert's Peak - http://www.hubbertpeak.com/
  • The Climate Trust - http://www.climatetrust.org/
  • Pew Center Global Climate Change - http://www.pewclimate.org/
  • NanoTechWire - Energy Center - http://nanotechwire.com/news_list.asp?ntid=120
  • Earth's Energy Imbalance Confirmation and Implications - PDF
  • Environment California - http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/
  • Hybrid Cars - http://www.hybridcars.com/
  • Fuel Cells - http://www.fuelcells.org/
  • GNET - Global Network of Environment and Technology - http://www.gnet.org/
  • Energy efficiency and reliable energy - http://www.eere.energy.gov/
  • Energy Information Association - http://www.eia.doe.gov/
• Articles for clean technology
  • Plastic Photovoltaic Devices - PDF
  • Low Cost Solar R&D program - http://www.st.com/stonline/press/news/year2003/t1355h.htm
  • The Economics of Solar Power for California - PDF

Learning outcomes for this week:

1. What is cleantech (clean technology)?
2. What are cleantech challenges?
3. Describe the scientific argument for global warming
4. Describe Hubbert's peak, and concerns over oil production
5. Describe how solar energy / solar power works
6. What are the challenges in developing solar energy?
7. What is the 'hydrogen economy'?
8. What are the challenges in developing a hydrogen economy?
9. What is the current and future global demand for energy?
10. How is nanotechnology being used to develop cleantech solutions?

Materials for this week

• Download and review 'Global Warming for Dummies' PPT (right click to download)
• Download and review 'Ten Energy Challenges' PPT (right click to download)
• Download and review 'Cleantech' PPT (right click to download)
• Our Solar Power Future - PDF (right click to download)
• The US Photovoltaic Industry Roadmap - PDF (right click to download)

Copyright © 2006 - 2007 Robert D. Cormia - January 7, 2007