Note: The Government of Canada's release
(London, Ontario) Environmental technology and renewable energy companies will be able to turn to Fanshawe College for help with applied research and development projects thanks to a $2.3 million grant from the federal College and Community Innovation Program (CCI).
The College will use the five-year grant to bring existing projects under a new Centre for Sustainable Energy & Environments (CSEE). CSEE will be the umbrella for a series of environmental projects aimed at optimization, adoption, integration and commercialization of renewable energy and recycling technologies.
"CCI funding will allow Fanshawe to support the growing number of local companies in an important emerging sector, and help build a green energy sector in our region," said Fanshawe President Howard Rundle. "Not only does this align with our strategic directions and strategic applied research plan, it also provides our students with invaluable experience from participation in hands-on innovation projects with industry, and the knowledge gained will become part of our curriculum."
The College will be actively seeking partnerships with the private sector to add other projects to CSEE, says Greg Weiler, Dean of Applied Research, Innovation & University Partnerships (ARIUP) and holder of the CCI grant. This will expand innovation activities currently offered by the College through its membership in the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII), he said.
CSEE was one of nine projects announced in Toronto Friday (November 27) by the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). The projects were chosen following a peer-review competition. The permanent CCI funding program was created in the 2007 federal budget to allow colleges to develop or expand research transfer activities in their communities through partnerships with local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. Seven multi-disciplinary projects have initially been identified and involve Fanshawe's faculties of Technology and Arts, Media and Design. CSEE will be administered by ARIUP. Projects include:
- A better battery recharging system and efficiency enhancements for solar-powered small utility vehicles, a project that already has resulted in Fanshawe's first United States Provisional Patent Pending and the building of a solar powered golf cart prototype;
- A solar power station optimization/algorithm for transferring solar power to the Ontario energy grid at peak times;
- Improved solar power collection and power storage systems;
- A solar powered de-icing system for parking garages, roads and other concrete infrastructure;
- Solar awnings and blinds for residential and commercial properties;
- A more efficient wind turbine;
- Methods/technologies to use composted organic waste and by-products to grow food and plants in greenhouses.
In addition to the CCI funding, CSEE is backed by $1.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions from the College and its private and public sector partners. Partners include: TRY Recycling Inc.; Decade Group Inc.; architects Tillman Ruth Mocellin; London Hydro, Vital Group Inc.; the London & District Construction Association; Suntastic Hothouse/Huron Produce Inc.; and A&L Canada Laboratories.
