From forecasting wind to using manure as an energy source: Five industry-university collaborations receive funding from the Washington Technology Center

The Washington Technology Center (WTC) awarded funding in June 2003 to projects teaming five Washington’s companies with university researchers through WTC’s Research and Technology Development (RTD) program.

The companies, located in areas across the state, are working with researchers from either Washington State University or the University of Washington. These projects are diverse—supporting advances in environmental wind forecasting, processing manure as a fuel source, improving power toothbrushes, developing light weight wood-plastic lumber, and devising a novel fruit processing technique.

3TIER Environmental Forecast Group of Seattle http://www.3tiergroup.com/ is a technology company that uses advanced weather and environmental forecasting techniques and computer-based modeling strategies for forecasting renewable energies. The company is researching more accurate methods of short-term forecasting wind energy, the world’s fastest growing energy generation source. In partnership with Dr. Tilmann Gneiting of the University of Washington’s Department of Statistics, 3TIER is developing a next-generation algorithm for short-term wind forecasting using multivariate time series and geostatistical space-time techniques, which the company believes will further the expansion of wind energy.

Using geographically dispersed meteorological observations in conjunction with advanced statistical space-time forecast methodologies will result in significant improvements to short-range forecasts.

Livestock producers are under increasing pressure, including legal action, to manage manure and process water in a way that controls odors and protects environmental quality. Livestock and livestock products are a $1.5 billion industry in Washington. Anaerobic digesters, also known as biogas recovery systems, are one possible solution to better management of manure and process water.

Anaerobic digesters use bacteria to breakdown the manure in a chamber while capturing methane, one of the by-products that can be used to generate heat or electricity. Andgar Corporation, http://www.andgar.com/ based in Ferndale, has expertise in fabrication of components and construction of digesters. Andgar is collaborating with Dr. Shulin Chen of Washington State University’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering to refine development of an enzymatic pretreatment to enable smaller more efficient reaction chambers that put anaerobic digestion within financial reach of more livestock producers.

Other companies who received funding are: Second Act Partners, Inc., Sammamish (development of an enhanced power toothbrush); Shoreline Industries LLC, Sedro Woolley (formulate light weight wood plastic composites specifically for the residential decking industry); Washington Farms, Inc., Tacoma (devise a method of fruit processing that will inactivate harmful bacteria).

A complete list of the project descriptions can be found on WTC’s web site: http://www.watechcenter.org/news/2003summer/index.html.

WTC makes awards twice a year through its Research and Technology Development program. Awards are up to $100,000 per year to support a company’s work with university researchers. The program helps Washington’s companies grow and create local jobs. For the 35 WTC RTD projects currently being funded, company partners have estimated they will create more than 1,500 high tech jobs by 2008.

About the Washington Technology Center

The Washington Technology Center is Washington’s statewide science and technology organization committed to accelerating the innovation-based economy. WTC stimulates job growth in Washington’s companies by helping develop commercially viable technology. Since 1995, over 200 Washington companies working with WTC have secured over $280 million in outside financing or federal contracts. More than half the companies receiving WTC funding have had fewer than 100 employees. WTC also manages a Microfabrication Laboratory, a nationally recognized facility for research, technology development, and prototype manufacturing.

Ellen Barker, 206-543-7994, [email protected]