Researchers Developing Affordable Flow Batter Technology 
The wind and sun can produce great amounts of power, but usually can only be harnessed when it’s windy and the sun is shining. Researchers at Grand Valley and Ann Arbor-based Vinazene are working to change that by creating a new type of flow battery technology that will allow the capture, collection, and storage of energy through organic compounds.

The project, funded by a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant through the U.S. Department of Energy to Vinazene, includes researchers from Grand Valley’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) and Chemistry Department.

Andrew Lantz, associate professor of chemistry at Grand Valley, Bill Schroeder and John Schroeder, research consultants for Grand Valley, and a group of students are developing and testing a prototype device to showcase the redox flow battery technology concept.

“The main roadblock with many renewable energy sources is their lack of consistent power output over time,” said Lantz. “Flow battery technology can help deal with this issue by storing energy reserves during times of peak collection and discharging energy when needed.”

While other companies and universities are conducting similar research, Vinazene founder Paul Rasmussen, professor emeritus of chemistry and macromolecular science and engineering at the University of Michigan, said many of them rely on expensive, scarce elements to supply the batteries; his team uses less expensive, more accessible organic compounds.

Lantz said as the country shifts to renewable energy, this concept will be especially well suited for solar and wind energy sources. For more information, contact Andrew Lantz at [email protected] or (616) 331-8753 or Paul Rasmussen at [email protected]. 

Educational programs
Grand Valley has created educational programs related to sustainability, including natural resources management, liberal studies with an emphasis in sustainability, and geography and planning. There are also sustainability-related minors in environmental studies, natural resources management, and adventure travel.

Issues courses are an upper-division general education requirement in which students choose classes from different disciplines that relate to a common theme. Disciplines include globalization; health; human rights; identity; information, innovation and technology; and sustainability. Study Abroad experiences may be supplemented.

Academics GVSU offers more than 200 sustainability-related courses. You can earn a degree in natural resources management, environmental studies, liberal studies with an emphasis in sustainability, or an MBA with a sustainable enterprise emphasis.

For example, you can earn a certificate in green chemistry, sustainable food systems, intercultural training, sustainable urban and regional planning, sustainability in public and nonprofit organizations, and more. 

Integrate sustainability into your coursework or lesson plans
Students might consider the sustainability issue, pursuing a sustainability- related certificate, or majoring or minoring in a sustainability-related field, while faculty members could create a class project that gets students involved with sustainability and promote sustainability events to their students.

Attend a community workshop or class 
Local nonprofit organizations, such as the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, offer courses in everything from rain barrel making to the importance of supporting local businesses. Visit wmeac.org for more information.

Join a campus club or attend an event GVSU has more than a dozen sustainability-related groups on campus, including the Student Environmental Coalition and the Farm Club. Student groups host many educational events on campus that are open to everyone. Visit the Office of Student Life at gvsu.edu/studentlife for more information.