What is a talented material science and engineering graduate to do in Ohio? Just ask Ryan Wayne. Ohio Third Frontier’s support of fuel cell technology helped him land a position researching fuel cells with the Case Advanced Power Institute at Case Western Reserve University, where he was working towards his master’s degree.
Ryan’s experience working with fuel cells as a graduate student eventually landed him a job as a scientist with GrafTech, a 120 year-old company located in Parma, Ohio that has recently transformed its business to accommodate the advanced energy industry of the 21st century. At GrafTech, Ryan develops components for fuel cells and other advanced electrochemical devices.
Recently, Ryan spoke with us about how Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths, helped launch his career. He said, “By supporting research in emerging fields and encouraging collaboration between Ohio’s universities and industry, Ohio Third Frontier creates employment opportunities for researchers on the leading edge of technology, helping reverse the brain drain from our state.”
Ryan believes that Ohio Third Frontier helps create high-tech, “green” manufacturing jobs by encouraging established companies to expand their operations into the advanced energy sector. Ultimately, Ryan told me that he believes that Ohio Third Frontier will be successful in its long-term mission to create the technology clusters that will establish Ohio as a world leader in advanced and renewable energy.
The automotive future is looking brighter – and greener – thanks in part to a group of engineering students from The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Recently, these students set a land speed record of 300 mph for a vehicle – the Buckeye Bullet 2— powered by hydrogen fuels cells. Talk about product innovation, this record-breaking fast car generates zero emissions!
The Ohio State University (OSU) is no stranger to setting land speed records with alternative energy vehicles. OSU's original Buckeye Bullet set the record as the first electric vehicle to go 300 mph. Of course, there is a difference between building a car for speed, and building one that provides sustained speed and power over a longer distance. The good news, though, is that commuter cars don't need to go 300 mph. The fact that it is possible could lead to future interest and product innovationin all-electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
In the past few months, the CARs team has also developed a solar-powered vehicle that gets the equivalent of 2,000 MPG – again, with zero emissions. The CAR team also recently took first place in the 2009 EcoCAR NeXt Challenge for their design of an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) powered by a 1.8-liter engine and fueled by E85 ethanol – a blended fuel comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The EcoCAR NeXt challenge was sponsored by the US Department of Energy and General Electric among others.
The CARs program is just one example of Ohio’s investment in product innovationthat leverages the state’s traditional manufacturing strengths to create the 21st century jobs and industries that will power the state’s economy while creating a sustainable energy future. Click here to learn more about Ohio’s nationally recognized work in advanced energy innovations.
Solar power, biomass and clean technology are important parts of Ohio’s advanced energy economy. In Athens, Ohio, all these components are featured under one roof at Ohio University’s Ecohouse.
The environmentally friendly house, founded in 2005, serves as a student residence and learning center. Advanced energyfeatures of the house include a garden, compost system, water renewal system, solar thermal water heater, solar panels, energy star appliances and a bio-fuel furnace. Residents hope that visitors will incorporate just one sustainable living feature of the house into their own lives.
New research from Pew Charitable Trusts indicates that Ohio is a leader in advanced energy. The national survey, released in June, shows that Ohio ranks fourth in the nation in number of jobs in the clean energy economy. The state also ranks sixth in number of clean businesses, seventh in number of patents filed over the past decade and 17th in the amount of venture capital committed to advanced energybusinesses.
hiVelocity magazine, an online publication about Ohio innovation, features an interview with Kil Huh, project director for Pew Charitable Trusts. In the interview, Kil Huh discusses the results of the study and why Ohio has become a leader in advanced energy.
According to Kil Huh, Ohio has achieved this success by establishing energy efficiency standards, renewable energy portfolio standards and the right set of financial incentives for residential and commercial entities to join the advanced energyeconomy. In order to maintain this momentum, he says that Ohio must stimulate demand and send a clear market signal to keep moving in the same direction.
Ohio's transition from traditional manufacturing to manufacturing components for the advanced energy industry means leadership in the advanced energy economy and new jobs for Ohioans.
A result of its manufacturing heritage and strength, Ohio is already home to over 100 solar suppliers and numerous others capable of making the transition. The state's recent $18 million investment to launch the Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization will continue to stretch this lead in advanced energy.
Check out this video from CNNMoney.com to find out how the solar industry is making a difference in shaping the economies of the Toledo region and the entire state of Ohio -- and how some Ohio workers are transitioning to new opportunities in advanced energy.
Recently, Ryan spoke with us about how Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths, helped launch his career. He said, “By supporting research in emerging fields and encouraging collaboration between Ohio’s universities and industry, Ohio Third Frontier creates employment opportunities for researchers on the leading edge of technology, helping reverse the brain drain from our state.”
In the past few months, the CARs team has also developed a 
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