May 31, 2005

By Karen Gentry
MiBiz Network

MUSKEGON — After its first year in operation, Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon’s SmartZone is fulfilling its purpose by serving as a 25,000-square-foot alternative energy demonstration building. The only facility of its kind in the country, MAREC shows what’s possible in alternative energy.

In April a micro-turbine, which converts natural gas into electricity and recovers heat from itself, was successfully installed, according to MAREC Executive Director Dr. Imad Mahawili. The economical micro-turbine is the latest and fourth energy demonstration piece of MAREC's U.S.Green Building Council gold-certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility. MAREC's advanced electrical generation systems also include fuel cells, photovoltaic solar roof tiles and nickel metal hydride battery, which are integrated and optimized to provide energy to its physical plant.

The work of the center has not gone unnoticed.

"I think they're doing an outstanding job. They are really ahead of pace to help develop very innovative applications of alternative energy technologies and to position their work at the national and international level in those industries and in the research," GVSU President Mark Murray told MiBiz.

More alternative energy demonstration pieces are in the works. Mahawili plans to install another micro-turbine at the county-owned landfill site on Apple Avenue to demonstrate use of landfill gases for conversion to electricity. MAREC will also demonstrate a snowmelt system on a sidewalk outside the facility. Mahawili has written a grant to fund a demonstration chemical plant that converts manure from a dairy farm into electricity — a process that makes the manure pathogen free, which enables it to be used as a fertilizer byproduct. The idea is for farmers to see how the plant works and be able to build one on their own, according to Mahawili.

Designed as a business incubator, MAREC has its first startup businesses on board — Freedom Power/E-Village LLC, a developer of a business model to sell green technology, and JetScrub, a company specializing in chemical abatement technology. Mahawili said two other companies are considering moving into the facility.

Companies in the incubator benefit with lower rental rates and access to MAREC’s amenities, including meeting rooms. These businesses should help Muskegon. “That the model to help Muskegon. We help develop a company to spin them out and create jobs,” Mahawili told MiBiz.

E-Village CEO Shane Shaw said his company has been housed at MAREC for almost a year. He told MiBiz that MAREC's major advantages include the consulting base, programs for finance and other topics and being able to show customers the building that incorporates all the different technologies. E-Village sells rechargeable batteries, wind and solar electrical systems and also has an eco-builders division.

"What we're trying to do is grow a new manufacturing base around renewable energy," Shaw told MiBiz. He plans some light manufacturing in the solar and wind business and to manufacture solar windows in the next three years in the Muskegon or Grand Rapids area. Shaw stated that Tom Moran, who has four years experience at Unisolar, the largest thin film solar manufacturer in the world, has been hired as the new president of E-Village. Unisolar installed the 30-kilowatt solar panel on the roof of MAREC.

As the Edison Landing SmartZone develops and more businesses move in Mahawili believes MAREC can spur more energy innovation. “We have excess power. If we can finalize some agreement, we would love to sell them power," Mahawili told MiBiz.

Mahawili said MAREC’s first job is to make sure equipment is “chosen, installed, tested and integrated,” with its second main job to educate through seminars, tours and as host to meetings and conferences. The building is used regularly by school groups, businesses, university personnel, students and researchers. Mahawili is proud of what his small staff, including electrical engineer George Cutro, electrical mechanical technician David Potter and administrative assistant Courtney Sherwood have accomplished in their first year.

“Our number one purpose is to demonstrate to the general public, researchers and university people and then we make sure what works and what doesn’t work,” he said. MAREC is also working with Muskegon Community College to add a renewable energy course to its industrial technical degree.

Cooperative efforts between GVSU, the Michigan Public Service Commission, the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Area First, Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon Area Community Foundation, Muskegon Community College and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation led to the creation of the center. The city of Muskegon kicked in $4 million and an additional $3 million from the Michigan Public Service Commission paid for the construction of the facility.

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This article appeared in the May 31, 2005 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.