06-21-2013 BPU RPT 13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E R G Y I: r RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: June 21, 2013 ITEM NO: 13 SUBJECT: RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES' ENERGY INNOVATIONS GRANT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE ISSUE: The item for Board of Public Utilities consideration is award of an Energy Innovations Grant (EIG) to the University of California Riverside (UCR) in the amount of $99,722 to fund research for the Hybrid Nanostructure of ZnO Nanowires and TiO2 Nanoparticles and its Applications for Dye- Sensitized Solar Cells. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities approve and recommend that the City Council approve the Energy Innovations Grant in the amount of $99,722 for Fiscal Year 2013 -14 to research the Hybrid Nanostructure of ZnO Nanowires and TiO2 Nanoparticles and its Applications for Dye- Sensitized Solar Cells. BACKGROUND: One of Riverside Public Utilities' (RPU) programs funded from the Public Benefits Funds is the EIG Program. This Program was developed for the funding of research, development and demonstration programs for the public interest to advance science or technology in electric related projects in the institutions of higher education within the City of Riverside. Participation in the EIG Program is restricted to public or private post- secondary institutions whose primary activities fall within the City limits. The grant funds must comply with the relevant portions of California Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 385 related to the use of Public Benefits Funds. The UCR has been awarded grant funds through this program in the past for twelve separate projects: 1) Clean Automated Electric Power, Heating, and Cooling from Urban Waste; 2) Novel Energy Efficient Coatings Based on Transition Metal Oxide Sol -Gel Films; 3) The Control of NOx (nitrogen oxides), Sox (sulfur oxides), and Particulate Matter in Biological Filters; 4) Polymer - zeolite nanocomposit High - temperature Proton - exchange- membrane (PEM) for Fuel Cells; 5) Low Power Operated Light Emitting Displays; 6) Solar Charged Flexible Batteries; 7) Solar Powered Proto -Type Devices; 8) the establishment of the Southern California Research Initiative for Solar Energy (SC- RISE); 9) a second request for funding to support outreach programs, research and development opportunities, and the development of strategic collaborations in the area of renewable and solar energy for SC -RISE; and 10) Miniaturized, Efficient and Low Cost Energy Storage Devices; 11) Multi -scale Engineering of Solar Cells: Employing Biological Inspiration and Nanotechnology; and 12) New Strategies to Lower the Cost of Si- Solar Cells. To date, the college has received a total of $1,855,085 in grant funding through this program.