CleanTech OC Daily - 6/29/12

Intel Funds Research Center at UCI
Intel will fund a new $5 million research center at the University of California, Irvine - the Intel Science & Technology Center for Social Computing will draw from a variety of fields for collaboration on a number of projects. The grant is part of Intel’s $100 million program to increase university research and accelerate innovation.

On the Right Track: GreenB uildings, Clean Energy News Highlights Obama’s Energy Policy

In an effort to boost energy efficiency and clean energy use, the Obama Administration has set the federal government on the right track in terms of energy policy, engaging state and local government, private sector businesses and local public interest groups. On June 26, the Obama administration announced that 36 additional states, local governments and school districts have joined the President’s “Better Buildings Challenge.” And a day later, on June 27, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the DoE is awarding more than $102 million in grants to 104 small businesses across the country to help advance clean energy innovation.

Solar Energy’s Future To Be Found In Nano Technologies?

Researchers from North Carolina State University claim they’ve found a way to create thin-film solar cells without compromising performance. The design of the new cells features what scientists are calling a “nanoscale sandwich,” which delivers a cost reduction via an ultra-thin active layer.