A'ndrea Elyse Messer

Penn State

This is a wind turbine at the Penn State Sustainability Institute, University Park.

Researchers Make Wind Farms More Efficient

Though wind turbines are efficient, wind farm layouts can reduce this efficiency if not properly designed.

This is one of the lithium sulfur coin batteries being developed in Penn State's Energy Nanostructure Laboratory (E-Nano).

Key for Safe Lithium Batteries

We have come a long way from leaky sulfur-acid automobile batteries, but modern lithium batteries still have some down sides.

The research utilizing a mash made from the peelings and potato residuals from a Pennsylvania food-processor. The company is paying attention to this project, hoping this novel approach may help it add more value to its waste potato mash.

Potato Waste Turned Into Ethanol

The process may lead to reduced production costs for biofuel and add extra value for potato chip makers.

The concentrating photovoltaic system showing the top lenslet; the little black square visible near the middle is the solar cell and the lines running away from it are the contact wires.

Engineers Test Solar Power Prototype

It produces 50% more energy than standard solar cells.

The tiny wires of the nanowire array form on a template so they are uniform.

Nanowire Forest Has Personal Cooling Potential

Lightweight and flexible solid state personal cooling systems may one day become the norm.