Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (REMRSEC) is a Colorado based renewable energy institute. REMRSEC is sponsored by the National Science Foundation at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. The Center with participation of researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), concentrates on basic and applied research on renewable energy, transformative materials science, and education initiatives. The Center is located about two kilometers away from NREL.
Photovoltaic Interdisciplinary Research Group (Photovoltaic IRG)
The mission of the Photovoltaic IRG is the research and development of next generation photovoltaic and opto-electronic materials used in photovoltaic (PV) applications. The Photovoltaic IRG research concentrates on the excitation, scattering and relaxation mechanisms that govern electronic transport in semiconducting materials, especially, quantum wire and quantum dot nanostructures to increase PV technology efficiency.
Advanced Membrane Interdisciplinary Research Group (Advanced Membrane IRG)
The Advanced Membrane IRG concentrates on advanced membrane materials associated with fuel cell and batteries. The Advanced Membrane IRG studies polymers, ionic solids, and hybrid systems. Since ionic transport is the “weak link” in electrochemical energy storage or conversion systems, the Advanced Membrane IRG research focuses on the intelligent design of novel transport membranes with highly optimized properties. The Advanced Membrane IRG also focuses on nanostructured materials, which show great promise for improved ionic transport and stability.
Seed Grant Projects
REMRSEC funds Seed Grant Projects each year. The Center’s Seed Grant Program is the primary mechanism for introducing new research directions into the Center. To support the research activities described above, the Center has state-of-art computing, characterization, synthesis, processing, and microscopy facilities.
Renewable Energy Outreach and Education
Most estimates indicate an impending shortage of scientists and engineers in the renewable energy sector. REMRSEC is committed to renewable energy outreach and education. The renewable energy minor at the Colorado School of Mines for undergraduate students was spearheaded by the Center and currently over 50 students are enrolled. In 2009, REMRSEC started a Renewable Energy Research Experience For Undergraduate (REU) program that has attracted talented college students across the U.S. and abroad. The summer REU program includes cutting edge research, seminars on energy topics, field trips to NREL, and interactions with renewable energy companies.
The Center’s Educational and Outreach activities are directed at preparing young students for careers in renewable energy. The K-12 outreach program involves graduate students working directly with K-middle school mathematics and science teachers on activities ranging from classroom presentations to assisting students in completing hands-on scientific experiments related to solar energy and other renewable energy technologies. REMRSEC is dedicated to diversity with the recruitment and retention of female and minority undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, faculty, and staff as part of the renewable energy program.
NREL is the primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development for the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, comprised of the Midwest Research Institute, Battelle Memorial Institute, CU-Boulder, CSU, Colorado School of Mines, MIT and Stanford. For more information visit www.nrel.gov.
