Renewable Engine in Pittsburgh USA

A cohort of staff from the Renewable Engine project has spent a week visiting Pittsburgh, USA, with the aim of developing relationships, identifying opportunities for collaboration and speaking at the renowned Energy Week held at Carnegie Mellon University.  Dr Alistair Quinn, Dr John Harrison (both South West College), Prof Suresh Pillai (IT Sligo), Dr Mark McCourt (Queen’s University Belfast) and Pauline Murray (University of Strathclyde) all participated in a busy itinerary that was co-ordinated by the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh.

Highlights of the trip included:

• A visit and tour of the National Energy Technology Lab (US Department of Energy);
• a visit to the Energy Innovation Centre, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to engage corporate & community leaders, align workforce development & education, develop & demonstrate technology and incubate businesses to support emerging clean and sustainable energy markets;
• attendance at Carnegie Mellon Energy Week, hosted by the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, welcoming thought leaders from all energy and clean-tech sectors to engage and collaborate on research, trends, insights and opportunities that are making a significant and disruptive impact;
• engagement with faculty from both Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh;
• a visit and tour of Chatham University Eden Hall campus, a showcase for sustainable solutions and low-energy buildings, and;
• an opportunity to meet privately with the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, to present the Renewable Engine project and discuss plans to make Pittsburgh a more sustainable city.

Pittsburgh has been identified as a hub for sustainable innovation through engagement with the Renewable Engine International Stakeholder Group.  The purpose of this group is to drive innovative forward-thinking applied industrial research and initiate policy dialogue from an international perspective.