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Research

Energy and Environment

UW Mechanical Engineering is helping to advance the adoption of a clean energy future by developing next generation marine, solar and wind energy and electrical energy storage materials, devices and systems, as well as their integration with the grid.

Our students and faculty are working to increase the scope and impact of our research and education in alternative energies and the environment. We are fostering partnerships that grow our visibility and prominence in pollution prevention, clean combustion and energy research and technology translation. The solutions being developed in our labs will help establish the course toward a smarter, more sustainable future.

Key research areas

  • Acoustics and noise pollution prevention
  • Batteries and energy storage
  • Energy conversion
  • Energy optimization and conversion
  • Hybrid and electric vehicles
  • Low-emissions combustion, pollutants and control
  • Printed and flexible electronics
  • Wind, solar and marine renewable energy and instrumentation

Research highlights

ME researchers are developing novel technologies related to particulates sampling, environmentally- friendly batteries and combustion pollution control.

Woman cooking outdoors

Clean Cookstoves Lab focuses on the testing, design and development of low-emissions, highefficiency wood-burning cookstoves for the developing world.

Pacific Marine Energy Center responsibly advances the technical, environmental and societal dimensions of marine energy by expanding scientific understanding, engaging stakeholders and empowering students.

Clean Energy Institute is working to accelerate the adoption of a clean energy future by advancing solar energy and electrical energy storage materials, devices and systems, as well as their integration with the grid.

Related News

Fri, 12/14/2018 | UW News

Underwater sensors for monitoring sea life (and where to find them)

ME researchers have created an underwater mechanical eye called an Adaptable Monitoring Package, or AMP. Using a combination of sensors, it watches animals and records their activity when they pass by renewable energy sites.

Mon, 11/19/2018

Material impact

In conjunction with the UW Clean Energy Institute, ME faculty are helping set the course toward a smarter, more sustainable future through new materials research.

Wed, 07/26/2017 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

AMPing up underwater environmental monitoring

UW researchers are developing devices to answer some of the trickiest questions about marine energy’s environmental effects. Working as part of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, researchers have developed a detection system that captures important data about interactions between marine life and marine energy converters — but only when marine life is present. This detection system drastically reduces the extreme amount of low-value data that researchers would otherwise need to store and inspect.

Mon, 05/15/2017 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

VIP and EcoCAR: A framework for project-based learning

EcoCAR is multi-phase challenge in which students work to convert a Camaro into a hybrid-electric car. UW Engineering’s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program supports multidisciplinary, long-term projects like EcoCAR that present real-world, experiential learning opportunities to students.