Feb 14 2011
Materia, a Pasadena, California-based company, declared that it will function as an industrial partner to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in a $6 million grant granted to Caltech.
The grant is being financed by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to set up a Bio-inspired Wind Energy Center. The center will perform research in developing and testing new wind energy technologies stirred-up by the technological solutions found in nature. One such research will require developing of wind turbines representing the structural kinetics of trees.
The company will work in association with Professor Robert Grubbs of Caltech in formulating a process to introduce working models of possible wind turbine configurations. The olefin metathesis catalyst technology developed by Professor Grubbs will be utilized to tune up each and every part of the wind turbine to various degrees of compliance, surface roughness or weight depending on the necessities of the design idea. The exclusive advantage of utilizing the technology is anticipated to bring out wind turbines with efficient functioning and increased power generation capabilities.
According to Dr. Michael Giardello, Chief Executive Officer of Materia, the company has been working for the past three years on the use of catalyst technologies formulated by Grubbs to improve performance of the wind blades and its manufacturing process. The company is looking forward to contribute its part in developing next generation wind turbines.
Source: http://www.materia-inc.com/