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Research

Energy and Environment

UW Mechanical Engineering is helping to advance the adoption of a clean energy future by developing next generation marine, solar and wind energy and electrical energy storage materials, devices and systems, as well as their integration with the grid.

Our students and faculty are working to increase the scope and impact of our research and education in alternative energies and the environment. We are fostering partnerships that grow our visibility and prominence in pollution prevention, clean combustion and energy research and technology translation. The solutions being developed in our labs will help establish the course toward a smarter, more sustainable future.

Key research areas

  • Acoustics and noise pollution prevention
  • Batteries and energy storage
  • Energy conversion
  • Energy optimization and conversion
  • Hybrid and electric vehicles
  • Low-emissions combustion, pollutants and control
  • Printed and flexible electronics
  • Wind, solar and marine renewable energy and instrumentation

Research highlights

ME researchers are developing novel technologies related to particulates sampling, environmentally- friendly batteries and combustion pollution control.

Woman cooking outdoors

Clean Cookstoves Lab focuses on the testing, design and development of low-emissions, highefficiency wood-burning cookstoves for the developing world.

Pacific Marine Energy Center responsibly advances the technical, environmental and societal dimensions of marine energy by expanding scientific understanding, engaging stakeholders and empowering students.

Clean Energy Institute is working to accelerate the adoption of a clean energy future by advancing solar energy and electrical energy storage materials, devices and systems, as well as their integration with the grid.

Related News

Igor Novosselov headshot

Mon, 10/17/2022 | OPB News

Researchers find new way to destroy forever chemicals

ME Research Associate Professor Igor Novosselov shares how the reactor works and the implications it can have for the future.

Metal objects on a table. There are two tubes and also two other hexagonal shapes.

Mon, 09/19/2022 | UW News

ME researchers develop a reactor that can destroy ‘forever chemicals’

Researchers created a reactor that can completely break down hard-to-destroy chemicals using “supercritical water."

Two researchers in a lab looking at a laptop screen

Thu, 09/15/2022 | UW NanoES

A new framework for manufacturing next-gen materials

ME alum Elizabeth Rasmussen, Research Associate Professor Igor Novosselov and Professor John Kramlich have developed a new method to quickly, cheaply and sustainably synthesize metal-organic frameworks.

Professor Corie L. Cobb

Mon, 01/24/2022 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Corie L. Cobb awarded DARPA Director's Fellowship

ME Professor Corie L. Cobb, the Washington Research Foundation Innovation Professor in Clean Energy, has been selected as recipient of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Director’s Fellowship Award.