1. Why a focus on alternative energy?

Name the ten most pressing problems that humanity must solve in the next 50 years. Providing sufficient energy is on most people’s list. Most of us have experienced being without electricity or heat, affordable transportation or clean air. Most of us know that industry & commerce need reliable power, that there are a host of problems connected with dependence on fossil fuels.

Nobel laureate Richard Smalley says we can solve many of the other top ten problems, such as water and food supplies, poverty and disease, if we have enough energy. He also predicts that by 2050 most energy will come from sources other than petrofuels.

—;American Chemical Society National Meeting, August 2004, “Energy: the 50-Year Plan”

Why is this career path important?

It’s exciting work.

“Take your place among the practical visionaries,” advertises one local alternative energy firm. The energy industry is both old and new, with work that is both “alternative” and traditional.

This is a good place to learn more.

The first residence in the world powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system was located in Latham, NY! Partnerships of such businesses with governmental and educational institutions mean that there are plenty of local opportunities. Here’s a small sample:

• “ Energy in Schools,” an initiative of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) [] provides practical and inspirational experiences for students, teachers, administrators and facilities managers.
• The Center for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research and the Future Energy Systems Center for Advanced Technology (CAT), both established at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2004, help technologies reach the market sooner.
• “Technology thrusts” at E2TAC (the Energy and Environmental Technology Application Center, Albany NanoTech) include developing hydrogen storage technology, power electronics, advanced photovoltaics and advanced fuel cells.
• Renewable energy entrepreneurs get marketing, outreach and other assistance through NYSTAR, the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research.

There will be jobs, here and around the world.

Markets for renewable energy are growing at a very rapid rate, close to 30% per year for the remainder of the decade, according to the 2004 Technology Roadmap Energy Sector Report. New technologies are lowering energy costs. Low cost pushes growth, which increases business and creates great jobs. A background in alternative energy might lead to a business support job (corporate planning, finance, accounting, human resources, law, information technology). It might lead to work in communications, community outreach or sales/marketing. It might lead to expertise in a particular technology.

Alternative energy “empowers” the poor & benefits humanity.

One third of humanity has no access to electricity, the power that frees us all from day-to-day survival tasks. Distributed-generation energy webs and alternative fuels promise universal access to electricity. “Narrowing the gap between the haves and the have-nots means first narrowing the gap between the connected and the unconnected,” according to one expert.

Benefits of alternative energy in “connected” countries such as the USA include energy independence, energy security and a cleaner earth.

For these reasons and as a boost for local economies, New York decreed that by 2013 a quarter of the state’s energy must come from renewable sources.

The big picture: why science, math and technology matter.

They’re essential for everyone. On a practical level, ours is a technology-driven

economy with an increasing number of jobs requiring technical skills. But there are other reasons too:

• Learning about technology will mean more opportunities to succeed, whether or not a student wants to work in fields related to math, science and engineering.
• Boosting awareness of the importance of technology increases esteem for jobs and encourages more students to pursue careers in science and engineering.
• Technological literacy can help narrow the wage gap—and related shortage of skills—between salaried workers with higher education and hourly workers without it.
• Technological literacy can provide a tool for dealing with rapid changes. The kind of thinking that comes from engineering (considering risks, benefits, trade-offs) helps us make sense of the world.
• There’s a technical component to most current political, legal and ethical issues, from global warming to protecting privacy in the information age.
• We know that students are more likely to succeed when they see academic knowledge and skills applied in the workplace. With high-tech companies moving to New York’s Capital Region and the workplace changing in fundamental ways, it’s more important than ever to help students meet New York state’s CDOS standards (Learning Standards for Career Development and Occupational Studies).

Good jobs are available at many levels.

High-tech fields like alternative energy depend on a workforce that falls generally into four classifications—scientists, engineers, technicians and operators. Starting on a high tech career path is possible directly after high school.

 

2. Alternative energy basics

Alternative, renewable energies are not depleted as they are used to produce electricity, heat or liquid fuels. Renewable energies include biomass, geothermal energy, wind power, fuel cells and solar energy. While hydroelectric power is also renewable, most sources have been developed. We are not including it here.

With the exception of biomass energy—;conversion of wood, wood residues and crops--renewable energy is almost free of pollution.

Renewable energies use old and new technologies. In 1920 most of southern Florida used solar hot water heaters. Wind has been used since the early 1920s to generate electricity.

During the same period, machines were manufactured to split water into hydrogen and oxygen so that hydrogen could be used.

What’s different now? Experts say lower costs of generating alternative energies and radical new ways of delivering electricity, called “distributed generation”.

The cost of solar cells has dropped 95% since the 1970s. According to the U.S Department of Energy, in some parts of the USA wind power is so cheap and efficient that it is competitive with gas-fired power plants. Solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energies can all be used to produce hydrogen which power fuel cells which, eventually, will allow homes and other buildings to become their own power plants. In 2003, however, 96% of the hydrogen produced came from natural gas, oil and coal.

What alternative energy makes possible:

Quiet, low-pollution power.

Fuel cells will power everything from ordinary batteries to car engines to stand-alone systems providing heat and electricity for factories, farms and homes. Fuel cells use a chemical reaction to create electricity from hydrogen, with only heat, water and carbon dioxide as by-products. Obstacles: getting hydrogen isn’t easy or pollution-free. Most is made from fossil fuels.

Geothermal climate control.

Using glycol-filled loops of plastic tubing placed 400 feet into the earth and a set of heat pumps, large buildings can be heated and cooled. The only outside power required is to run heat pumps because the systems use the earth’s own heat, a constant 50 to 55 degrees F.

Micro fuel cells.

They’re refillable and will eventually be small enough to power cell phones and PDAs. They are now used in hand-held inventory scanners, military radios and remote sensors. Those produced by MTI (Mechanical Technology Inc. in Colonie) use a methanol cartridge that makes the product the size of a deck of cards. Micro fuel cells produce electricity through a chemical reaction, with small amounts of water and heat as waste.

Read on this site about working as a fuel cell technician, wind energy engineer, heat pump engineer, photovoltaic (PV) installer or research chemist.

• Bioenergy
• Fuel Cell Energy
• Geothermal Energy
• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy

 

3. Alternative energy in Tech Valley—what’s going on?

Green power marketing

A wind turbine blade 115 feet long was the backdrop for the Ninth National Green Power Marketing Conference, held in Albany in 2004. Green marketing uses the fact that consumers will choose and pay more for renewable energy products and services because of their environmental value. The conference recognized small cities such as Croton-on Hudson and Saratoga Springs that buy power from wind farms as part of Community Energy Inc.’s municipal buyers group.

Weather underground

The Saratoga Race Course, Albany Molecular Research, Inc., Empire State College and the Holiday Inn Express on Western Avenue in Albany (as well as more than 30 other businesses and institutions) are kept at a comfortable room temperature year-round using geothermal energy. They received grants to install the systems from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

High tech dairy

A fuel cell system heats the milking parlor at Wagner Farms in Eagle Mills during the winter. Plug Power installed the LPG fueled system on-site. Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) fuel cells use a reforming unit to extract hydrogen from propane fuel before transporting it into the electricity-producing fuel cell stack. It operates with higher efficiency than ordinary power sources and little or no pollution according to the State Agriculture Commissioner.

Wind storms

After a storm of objections, wind energy proponents withdrew their proposal for a wind speed and direction measuring device to test the feasibility of a wind farm near the Taconic Crest Trail along the MA/ NY border. The thin metal pole would be 168 feet tall--330 feet tall with the blade extended. In less scenic areas, however, farmers welcome the additional income from a “wind lease” with very little land actually removed from production. See more on debates over wind farms.

Schenectady + Ireland + Japan

Major suppliers in the global wind energy industry are using resins developed by the Cyclics Corporation in Schenectady to make 41-foot wind turbine blades. The high-tech plastic allows manufacturing to be more efficient and eliminates chemical fumes. The blades will be designed and manufactured at Gaoth Tec Teo in Galway, Ireland and tested at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Japan. Read more.

Rest stop of the future

GE researchers, with a grant from the US Department of Energy, are designing wind turbines, solar panels and fuel-cell systems that would make the New Baltimore Rest Area on the New York State Thruway a demonstration site. The project is part of an effort to develop a low-cost hydrogen production and delivery infrastructure. Read more.

 

4. Industries and Occupations affected by alternative energy

Automobile engineering

Hydrogen-propelled fuel-cell cars represent a revolution in automobile design. GM’s prototype, “AUTOnomy” has a modular body (many types and styles), to snap together and change at will, over a chassis designed to last for more than 20 years. There is no engine, no fixed steering column, no pedals or gearshift lever, just computer software. Read more.

Construction

Specialists with home heating companies and other contractors can now be trained to conduct Energy Star home performance evaluations using programs designed by the Building Performance Institute in Malta, NY. More than 5000 homes have been inspected.

Business & Finance

“Social response product development” is a corporate strategy that says environmentally appealing products are profitable. Hybrid vehicles are a great example, according to consultant Bruce Piasecki of American Hazard Control Group in Saratoga Springs. Look for his book Better Products, Better World.

 

5. Voices from the high-tech workforce

“The opportunity to learn about new things has always been my driving force and my joy.”

“My research topic is solar detoxification and disinfection of water. I am investigating the use of several photochemicals for their efficacy in the simultaneous detoxification and disinfection of water. I am specifically interested in water resources (supply and treatment) in the developing world. This technology shows promise as a low-cost treatment, which may prove useful for areas where clean water and lack of economic resources are a problem. It’s an opportunity to do research about something that has the potential to make life easier and better for others.” Adrienne T. Cooper, graduate student in environmental engineering, from The Solar Touch, University of Florida. Read more.

“I enjoy problem solving…”

“In the spring of my senior year, I led a design team working on a pilot tool to assess and improve energy efficiency for GE Plastics buildings and facilities in western Massachusetts. I enjoy problem solving and design, which is really a good bulk of what engineers do. I have always wanted to use my career to be able to directly help people…” An Chi (Danielle) Tsou of Valatie, NY, graduate of Smith College’s first class of engineers in a NewsSmith article, Spring 2004. Read more.

More:
FuelCells.org includes an employment “list of lists” including such as Green Dream Jobs.

Getthatgig.com features great interviews with individuals who work in thirteen career clusters.

Career Cruising is a service available for a free three-month trial subscription at your school. Call the Center for Innovation in Career Development (CICD) for details.

Career Voyages is web site about high-growth industries and occupations from the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor.

 

6. Helping Tech Valley students get a head start

Is your school district one of the ten…

in the area with an amazing solar electric power program? See the list and learn more at SchoolPowerNaturally.org

Cars of Tomorrow & the American Community”

This curriculum available from NYSERDA’s (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) special schools program.

For a Saturday jaunt

Join the National Solar Tour. Look for information about the local leg (sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association). The Green Building Open House Tour includes the Living Machine at Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY.

From your library, check out video resources (and see the related web resources)

Nova on PBS produced “World in the Balance.” [] Try the interactive Global Trends Quiz, especially the environmental challenges section.

To spark conversations…

Visit www.howstuffworks! and the Energy Kid’s Page and a world-class research facility, Jefferson Lab.

Try searching the Engineering & Life archives for commentary by Bill Hammack. Using "electricity," you'll come across Romeo and Juliet and Tupperware as well as fuel cells and wind farms.)

Design, build and race a fuel cell car.

Middle school students do in a competition that’s part of the National Middle School Science Bowl. In 2004, the Northeast Middle School Bowl site was Academy of the Holy Names in Albany. Older students participate in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposia, a program that promotes original research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering and math. The University at Albany sponsors regional events.

Science makes for cutting–edge TV.

It’s “the most exciting news being made at this moment, ” according to Nova ScienceNOW. The series is the product of collaboration by artists, sound artists and musicians.

 

See Getting a head start in the Resources section for more.