WYOMING SILICON, Z4 ENERGIES RECEIVE PHASE 0 AWARDS

DATELINE: CHEYENNE, Wyo.

The Wyoming Business Council issued the following news release:

Wyoming Silicon and Z4 Energies were awarded Phase 0 awards through the Wyoming Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Initiative (WSSI) and the Wyoming Business Council in July.

The SBIR Phase 0 Program helps Wyoming companies develop competitive proposals for the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The WSSI receives funding from the Wyoming Business Council and gives out $120,000 in Phase 0 awards each year.

Wyoming Silicon, LLC is aiming high with its newest project - literally. The Sheridan firm is working with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to develop the next generation electromechanical battery for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which could be used in lunar space camps as well as shuttles.

Wyoming Silicon received a Phase 0 grant in July which will aid in the development of a proposal for a high-tech "flywheel" using ultra light, ultra strong composite fibers and magnetic bearings. The new device is expected to exceed the performance of chemical batteries and would replace batteries in some applications. Gray said he can see this working in solar or wind energy storage.

"NASA hopes to use these perhaps in installations on the moon or a base where the astronauts live in their habitat. Another use may be on spacecraft," said Gray.

Gray is a veteran of the SBIR Phase 0 program as he has previously won 11 Phase 0 awards, three Phase I awards from NASA totaling $240,000 and three Phase II awards worth nearly $2,000,000.

"I've had great success working with NASA during my time with Big Horn Valve. NASA sponsors high-risk research."

While Buford, Wyoming may be known for its slight population (the road signs claims two residents) or its general store, Kevin Luke is trying to make it the wind capitol research center of Wyoming, having earned the fourth wind power-related Phase 0 award of his career in July.

"It has been a passion of mine to find self-sustainable sources of energy to solve common problems," said Luke. "I think this is relevant to the state because of the land and wind we have."

Luke is preparing a proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture for an advanced windmill using compressed air energy storage. The Phase I study will investigate the development of a remote-site wind-powered water pump capable of compressed air energy storage (CAES) to enable water pumping on-demand, during times of no-wind. The proposed system will use a wind turbine to directly drive an air compressor, storing a large volume of air at high pressure in a primary tank that fills when the turbine is in operation. It will be a single tank at high pressure that is completely safe and self-contained. The rancher will have direct access to standard air hose fittings at pressures that are used with common air-tools in a shop. His system, if successful, would also provide a means to store energy produced by the turbine, which is typically done with a battery system. Luke said batteries are not functional in Wyoming's cold winters.

Luke added that his ranching friends also figured into his research as watching them have to supply grazing pastures by truck or electric pump in a cost prohibitive way has inspired him to try to find a different way.

Luke said he has partnered with the Wyoming Motor Testing and Training Center (WMTTC) of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) of the University of Wyoming. Specifically, Dr. Sadrul Ula, of the ECE, has agreed to consult Z4 on the practical issues associated with remote stockwater pumping. Dr. Ula is the former Energy Advisor to Gov. Dave Freudenthal and is the director of on-going research (through the WMTTC) in the area of solar-powered water pumping. His team has installed around 90 solar water pumps around the state over the past 15 years.

The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs make up the WSSI alliance and provide more than $2 billion annually in Research and Development (R&D) awards and contracts to qualified small businesses.

Eleven federal agencies are required by law to provide these funds by setting aside 2.5 percent of their annual extra-mural R&D budgets for use exclusively by U.S. small businesses for new product R&D. Hence, these programs provide a unique source of start-up and seed capital for small businesses to develop new innovative product concepts.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

Contact: Tom Lacock, 307/777-2834; Eugene Watson, 307/742-7162, 307/760-0456; Zachary Gray, 307/752-2615; Kevin Luke, 307/766-5044.