2024-2025 COHORT 1 PROJECTS OVERVIEW
To learn more about the specifics behind each project (e.g., background context, potential deliverables), follow this link here.
Anthro Energy
Context: Anthro Energy is a company focused on advancing energy storage technologies, particularly in the realm of flexible and high-performance batteries. Their key innovation lies in developing ultra-thin, flexible batteries that can be integrated into wearable devices, electronics, and even smart textiles. The company's technology emphasizes durability, efficiency, and adaptability, aiming to meet the growing demand for energy storage in emerging industries like IoT, health tech, and consumer electronics. Anthro Energy’s batteries offer benefits such as enhanced safety, lightweight design, and the ability to withstand bending and stretching without losing functionality. Their work holds promise for revolutionizing how energy storage integrates with the next generation of portable, wearable, and flexible technologies. For more info, visit https://www.anthroenergy.com.
Project: This year, Anthro Energy seeks to perform a competitive market analysis landscape to create a life cycle assessment (LCA) model for a lithium-ion battery electrolyte production facility. Overall, Anthro also wants to develop a foundational framework for tracking Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to achieve net zero emissions.
Deliverable(s): Work completed closely with Anthro Energy will result in a LCA excel model for a lithium-ion battery electrolyte production facility, an analysis presentation of the Li-Ion battery landscape, and a foundational framework for tracking scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
More Info: Anthro Energy - Stanford Energy Club Project Proposals.pdf
Verne
Verne is a leading developer of high-density hydrogen storage solutions required to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation. Verne’s platform unlocks zero-emission operations in sectors including trucking, aviation, port vehicles, mining and hydrogen distribution. Verne is financially supported by leading commercial entities, including Trucks Venture Capital, Collaborative Fund, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund, Caterpillar VC, and Newlab. Verne is also supported by Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E, and other agencies. For more information, visit www.verneh2.com.
Context: composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) are used to store pressurized gasses including hydrogen (compressed & cryo-compressed) and other gasses. Given the importance of COPVs to the future growth of the hydrogen industry, Verne needs to better understand the market for COPVs.
Project: with guidance from Verne BizOps Manager Pat Donley, the project team will research the market for COPVs and develop an understanding of the key suppliers, end-uses and market size for COPVs. The team will also develop projections on future developments in the COPV market and make recommendations to Verne about setting a strategy for sourcing COPVs.
Potential Deliverables:
· Report on key suppliers of COPVs including estimated volumes and key end-uses served
· Report on the key uses of COPVs (estimated volume by end-use)
· Detail on key COPV requirements by end market (e.g., diameter/length, material properties)
· Detail on approximate COPV pricing by end market (pricing likely to differ based on COPV requirements)
· Projections on future growth of the COPV market
· Recommendations to Verne on our strategy for sourcing COPVs, including potential partnerships or new ventures
Team needs: no specific requirements for the team. We would love to work with students from a diverse range of academic backgrounds (engineering, economics, policy, etc.)!
California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has a history of promoting circularity in clean energy and is interested in understanding how the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding could target California-specific research that would support a cost-effective and environmentally responsible transition toward solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The CEC would like to suggest conducting a Clean Energy Circular Economy Feasibility Analysis Research Project to the Stanford Energy Club. The outcome of the project would be valuable to identify the highest-impact research areas that could inform the basis of future CEC investment planning and grant solicitations.
Context: As the renewable energy industry expands to meet state goals set forth by Senate Bill 100, there will be an associated significant increase in clean technology equipment demand and retirement. Currently there exist few solutions on designing, managing, and decommissioning clean energy equipment following circular economy principles. The existing solutions are often small-scale and in early development phases. The California Energy Commission realizes that there is a significant opportunity in funding research that could both support a more secure clean energy future and minimize environmental impacts.
Project: With the guidance of Julia Harnad, Sustainability Research Lead in CEC’s Research Division, graduate students will identify topics of interest for a first round of EPIC-funded research studies. The recommendations would support the development of carefully designed studies that establish ratepayer benefits and lay the foundation for a high-impact research portfolio for a clean energy circular economy. Additionally, the insights brought forth from this feasibility study would help guide and frame a more strategic initial research solicitation.
Potential Deliverables include:
Research Needs Literature Review Summary. Review literature on research needs and knowledge gaps to support a clean energy circular economy in the context of California’s clean energy transition while considering trends in evolving and new clean energy technologies’ material needs.
Research Needs Stakeholder Feedback Summary and a Stakeholder Contacts Database. Conduct expert elicitation on research needs and knowledge gaps in supporting a clean energy circular economy in California through interviews while considering trends in evolving and new clean energy technologies’ material needs. Generate a listing of relevant contacts in the clean energy circular economy space in California.
EPIC Circular Economy Research Pathways for Specific Renewable Energy Fields Report. Identify and evaluate research gaps within existing clean energy circular economy solutions that would bring the highest level of impact within the CEC’s Sustainability and Health Unit’s EPIC research funding and timeline. The analysis should include a review of wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy technologies.
Federal Funding Opportunities Report. Identify federal funding efforts, including cost share funding opportunities related to domestic manufacturing and circular economy, that align with EPIC objectives and could leverage funding.
The Application window Has now Closed!
Applications for Cohort 2 projects in the winter will open later in the quarter— subscribe to our mailing list and check here periodically to stay in the loop!