NextEnergy Center Opens New Era of Alternative Fuels R&D

Detroit-based Alternative Fuels Accelerator R&D Center Opens

DETROIT, Sept. 29 -- In the center of Detroit's TechTown a transformation is taking place that will position both Detroit and Michigan at the focal point of the emerging alternative energy industry. Today, NextEnergy Center, Michigan's alternative energy accelerator, opened its doors and research facilities to usher in a new generation of energy R&D and commercialization.

"It is with great excitement that we officially open NextEnergy Center today and power up a new era in alternative energy development and economic growth for Michigan and the nation," said James Croce, CEO of NextEnergy. "NextEnergy seeks to lead the nation in achieving economic security through energy diversity by bringing to commercialization a variety of alternative energy sources that, together, can make drastic reductions in our nation's dependence on fossil fuels, including imported petroleum."

NextEnergy Center is a non-profit corporation founded to advance the Alternative Energy Technology (AET) industry in Michigan by promoting and funding R&D projects and technology commercialization. NextEnergy is intensely focused on promoting responsible growth of tomorrow's vital energy technology industry, while positioning Michigan as the nation's focal point for business investment in this rapidly expanding industry segment.

In addition to the work NextEnergy is doing with hydrogen and distributed generation, Croce announced today the launch of a major initiative to advance the Biodiesel Value Chain. This multifaceted approach, incorporating three distinct, but tightly integrated programs, includes the following elements:

-- The National Biofuels Energy Laboratory is a fuel-research component seeded by the U.S. Department of Energy whose research will focus on advancing a new set of specifications for biodiesel that is intended to encourage the auto industry to promote a clean, agriculturally-derived alternative to imported petroleum.

-- DaimlerChrysler, with support by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is committing currently unused land at a former Superfund environmental site to NextEnergy to grow energy crops to support the production of biodiesel. This research will develop a national model whereby the nation's brownfields can be reclaimed, which will reduce the economic strains on our nation's food supplies resulting from the expanded production of domestically derived bio-fuels.

-- The establishment of a commercial biodiesel production facility to fuel Michigan's diesel fleets. Biodiesel Industries, the world's leader in biodiesel technology and development, is developing a state-of-the-art biodiesel production plant located just blocks away from NextEnergy Center.

-- Partners in NextEnergy's Biodiesel Value Chain Initiative include DaimlerChrysler, Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi Corporation, Biodiesel Industries, the U.S. Army Tank Command, Wayne State University, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

While NextEnergy has recruited and aligned these partners for its Biodiesel Value Chain Initiative, it also has been very active in attracting companies to TechTown in Detroit to advance other alternative energy technologies. Other NextEnergy tenants in its research and development complex include:

-- Alternative Power Supply, a renewable energy systems supplier in the areas of wind and solar power

  -- Biomass Energy Solutions, a developer of waste-to-energy technologies
  -- NanoScience Engineering Corporation, an innovator in nanomaterials

-- Nextek Power Systems, the manufacturer of the Power Gateway, a patented "router for power" for DC networks

-- REB Research & Consulting, a developer of hydrogen purifiers and membrane reactors for fuel cell systems

-- Select Engineering Services, with their headquarters in Odgen, Utah and an office at the NextEnergy Center in Detroit, provides technology solutions to challenges in engineering, acquisition, logistics, maintenance/repair, and program management in Department of Defense and other government agencies. NextEnergy will work closely with SES on several programs, including the DOD Design Engineering Support Program (DESP-II)

-- Southwest Research Institute, a major, nationally recognized, independent, non-profit organization (with 11 technical divisions) dedicated to applied research, development and technology transfer in the engineering and the physical sciences. Working with their lab here in Detroit, NextEnergy intends to focus our joint programs on alternative energy, alternative fuels and in the vehicles of the future

-- Titan Energy Development, a developer of emergency vehicles supplying supplemental power, potable water, satellite communications, and clean air.

NextEnergy Center is a 45,000 square-foot business and technology convergence facility outfitted to manage a full complement of alternative energy initiatives including R&D, commercialization, and educational programs. The Center houses an 18,400 square-foot accelerator laboratory with eight distinct R&D labs; an 80-seat auditorium; state-of-the-art training rooms; and demonstration and exhibit space.

NextEnergy Center's Microgrid Power Pavilion enables system integration as well as testing and validation for use by technology system developers, integrators and technicians working in the accelerator labs or elsewhere. The Microgrid includes on-site electrical power generation and highly-specialized features including:

-- Fuel cells, internal and external combustion engine generators, and renewable power systems

  -- Thermal recovery and distribution (hot and chilled water systems)
  -- Advanced communications and controls

-- Multiple fuel sources (natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels and synthetic fuels)

-- The Microgrid's modular design and construction provide for the cost- effective installation of new technologies as needed by researchers to test and prove their technologies.

Additionally, NextEnergy's Alternative Fuel Testing Platform can be utilized by researchers for advancing the development and application of hydrogen, natural gas, bio fuels and synthetic fuels. Its features include:

-- Test bays for validating and demonstrating emerging on-site hydrogen production systems in a real-world environment, from multiple feedstocks and end-use applications

-- Full integration into the Microgrid Power Pavilion to provide a comprehensive "system of systems" approach for the advancement of alternative fuel and power generation technologies

-- Separate fuel distribution and dispensing system for alternative-fueled vehicle applications.

NextEnergy's holistic approach to developing Alternative Energy Technologies includes the development of academic programs to educate the new workforce. NextEnergy is working in partnership with several Michigan colleges and universities to develop educational curriculum at the certificate, undergraduate degree and graduate levels in AET. To date, NextEnergy has committed more than $1.3 million in grants to seven Michigan institutions for the development of AET degree and certificate programs. More than 1,800 students have enrolled in these programs since they were piloted in 2004.

NextEnergy is a non-profit corporation founded to advance business and community development by promoting technologies that strengthen the nation's energy security and Michigan's economy. For more information, visit http://www.nextenergy.org/ .