Alternative Energy

Dr. Gerpheide is currently seeking challenging opportunities relating to commercialization of new technologies for generating, converting, or using energy more efficiently. Technologies assessed recently include

• high-power flywheel electric storage
• biomass-to-liquid fuel
• heliostat pointing with continuous calibration

In early stages.... better solar energy

As far back as 1975, Dr. Gerpheide was interested in alternative sources of energy such as wind power. His undergraduate thesis researched a mechanical high-speed (60 Hz) high-efficiency long-lifetime switch for converting variable-speed wind-generated AC electricity to DC for battery storage. Of course these days, one would use modern power semiconductors ...