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The NYSTAR Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT) program has an outstanding track record in terms of overall economic impact, job creation, and growth of small companies. Since 2000, New York state's $109 million investment to all CATs has yielded a positive total economic impact of over $4B, including
The return for each dollar invested in the CATs program is substantial and NYSTAR CATs have worked with over 500 companies across the state.
The Center for Future Energy Systems (CFES) has participated directly in this return on investment while making significant contributions to fundamental and applied research in renewable energy and energy conversion systems:
Employment
CFES currently employs 5 staff and over 30 researchers in numerous important energy projects.
Applied Research
CFES works with key industry partners to develop commercially viable energy technologies and processes. The CFES projects include low cost-high efficiency photovoltaic technologies, compound semiconductor materials, advanced lighting sources, smart lighting and displays, intelligent building architectures, wind turbine performance enhancement, fuel cell testing and characterization, energy materials for energy storage and thermoelectric technologies, and distributed generation test bed for smart grid testing. In each of the research areas covered by the CFES there is a focus on cutting edge research in energy materials development, device fabrication, device and materials characterization and system integration and design.
Facilities
In addition to collaborations with energy research laboratories across the country, CFES engages all of the laboratory facilities at RPI. We recently upgraded facilities in a new Energy Materials and Devices Laboratory (EMDL) which consists of a suite of tools for fabricating, processing, characterizing and testing a variety of materials and device structures for new energy applications. Other test facilities include micro-and nano-fabrication labs, wind tunnel, solid oxide and proton exchange fuel cell test stands, thin films and nanostructures lab.
Education and Outreach
CFES supports NSF training and education programs like the GK-12, IGERT and Fuel Cell Training as well as curriculum outreach with Hudson Valley Community College and Siena College in the Capital Region, New York.
CFES also supports multiple energy and sustainability initiatives at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's campus and in the local community of Troy, NY, including:
Business Outreach
This includes the continued development of NYS company ties in key technology areas and working with local and regional economic development groups to assist their efforts. We also work closely with the Regional Technology Development Centers (RTDC) who cultivate the growth of high-tech industry and are chartered to assist technology commercialization, product development and incubator management. The Center also participates in key state and national energy symposia and conferences.
Support of National Energy Priorities
The Center is addressing many of the needs outlined by DOE Secretary Chu and the New Energy for America platform. (North American Clean Energy Jan/Feb 2009):
Continual Advancement of Priorities
CFES continues to work closely with NYSTAR and NYSERDA state agencies and collaborate with other academic institutions and Brookhaven National Lab to pool the best available resources for new grant opportunities. A good example is the NY BEST consortium which will facilitate a cluster of advanced battery/energy storage research capabilities and industrial strengths that will attract funding programs and support technology transfer for batteries and super-capacitors. Likewise CFES is supporting DOE Investment Grant and Demonstration Projects and NYS Smart Grid Workforce Training to identify stakeholder expertise and attract industrial support for new projects and funding.
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