Energy

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.

SunEdison will construct a 72 megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant near Rovigo, Italy. The facility will be the largest of its kind in Europe and will begin generation in the second half of 2010. The plant will produce enough electricity to power 17,150 homes and avoid 41,000 tons of carbon dioxide output. The facility will be built by Isolux Corsán.

The University of Alaska Anchorage is planning to construct the $20 million Girdwood Renewable Energy Research and Discovery Center. Supporting research on renewable energy technologies such as small-scale hydropower systems, the project will include field sites for instream hydrokinetic, tidal, and micro-hydropower turbine testing. The center will also house education, training, and testing facilities.

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah began construction in March of 2010 on the Centre for Advanced Materials (RAK-CAM). The research facility will provide over 10,000 sm of laboratory and office space and will house electron microscopes, x-ray diffractometers, and optical spectrometers. RAK-CAM will support research on solar energy, environmental catalysis, advanced ceramic materials, and renewable energy. Completion is slated for early 2011.

A former Ford assembly plant will be renovated by Clairvoyant Energy of Santa Barbara, Calif., to house production facilities for high-efficiency solar panels. The renovation is part of a $1.2 billion project to transform the 320-acre site into the nation’s largest renewable energy business park. Xtreme Power of Austin, Texas, will renovate over 1 million sf at the Wixom campus to create manufacturing space for turnkey power systems. The creation of the renewable energy park is supported by state and federal funding.

Johnson Controls is partnering with IBM to create a Smart Building Solution that can improve operations and reduce energy and water consumption in facilities worldwide. Johnson Controls will combine its prowess in energy efficiency and sustainable technologies with IBM’s software, hardware, and services. The result will help clients improve energy and asset management performance across their enterprises.