Industry Focus
Nanomaterials
We focus on nano-materials as an aspect of materials science. Materials science is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. It includes elements of applied physics and chemistry, as well as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. With significant media attention to nanoscience and nanotechnology in the recent years, materials science has been propelled to the forefront at many universities.
Nanotechnology is a field of applied science focused on the design, synthesis, characterization and application of materials and devices on the nanoscale. More broadly, nanotechnology includes the many techniques used to create structures at a size scale below 100 nm, including those used for fabrication of nanowires, those used in semiconductor fabrication such as deep ultraviolet lithography, electron beam lithography, focused ion beam machining, nanoimprint lithography, atomic layer deposition, and molecular vapor deposition, and further including molecular self-assembly techniques such as those employing di-block copolymers. Potential opportunities we are interested in, include improved water purification systems, energy systems, medicine and pharmaceuticals, food production and nutrition, and information and communications technologies.
Energy Technology
In our energy-technology practice we focus on a mixture of technologies including:
- Large scale energy supply (such as clean coal and carbon capture)
- Small scale energy supply (such as distributed generation, microgeneration, micro-power for small electronics)
- End-use efficiency and demand management
- Sustainable transport fuels
- Energy infrastructure and supply
- Environmental Science
A sample of these technologies we are investing in:
- Clean coal, coal that is chemically washed of minerals and impurities, sometimes gasified, burned and the resulting flue gases treated with steam, with the purpose of almost completely eradicating sulfur dioxide so as to make the carbon dioxide in the flue gas economically recoverable. The carbon dioxide can then be captured and stored instead of being released into the atmosphere.
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS) as an approach to mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and subsequently storing it away safely instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. Technology for capturing of CO2 is already commercially available for large CO2 emitters, such as power plants. Storage of CO2, on the other hand, is a relatively untried concept and as yet (2006) no power plant operates with a full carbon capture and storage system.
- End use efficiency, the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used while achieving a similar outcome of end use. This practice may result in increase of national security, personal security, financial capital, human comfort and environmental value. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote environmental values.
- Sustainable fuel, also known as non-conventional fuels, materials or substances, other than petroleum (oil), which could provide energy to power an engine. Some alternative fuels are biodiesel, ethanol, butanol, chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, methane, natural gas, wood, and vegetable oil. The need for the development of alternative fuel sources has been growing, due to concerns that the production of oil will no longer supply the demand. In a battery or fuel cell powered vehicle, the "fuel" is the set of chemicals which is oxidized and reduced to provide the electricity. In some circumstances, however, electricity may be provided directly to a mobile electric engine, such as an electrified trolley or train, or a magnetically levitated train. In such cases, electricity itself may be treated as an alternative "fuel," since it replaces fuel energy used in transportation. We view electricity will as a "fuel" in our investments.
- Renewable energy or energy which can be replenished at the same rate it is used. Renewable energy sources contribute approximately 25% of human energy use worldwide. The prime source of renewable energy is solar radiation, i.e. sunlight. Mankind's traditional uses of wind, water, and solar power are widespread in developed and developing countries; but the mass production of electricity using renewable energy sources has become popular only recently, reflecting the major threats of climate change due to pollution, concerns about the exhaustion of fossil fuels, and the environmental, social and political risks of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
- Distributed generation, a new trend in the generation of heat and electrical power. The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) concept permits "consumers" who are generating heat or electricity for their own needs (like in hydrogen stations and microgeneration) to send surplus electrical power back into the power grid - also known as net metering - or share excess heat via a distributed heating grid. Distributed generation systems with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems can be very efficient, using up to 90% of the potential energy in the fuel they consume. CHP can also save a lot of money and fuel. Estimates are that CHP has the potential to reduce the energy usage of the USA by up to 40%. A cluster of distributed generation installations is view as a Virtual power plant.
Biotechnology
Our focus on biotechnology is for technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. We are interested in recombinant DNA based and/or tissue culture based processes, including biopharmaceuticals that use large biological molecules targeting the underlying mechanisms and pathways of a disease. We are also interested in science based compounds derived from natural sources in biology and integrative and alternative medicine.
