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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.

Award-winning student teams

EcoCAR students at a whiteboard

EcoCAR is converting a Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid electric vehicle for a student competition sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Students posing with HPS under water

The Human Powered Submarine team designs, manufactures and competes submarines with the goal of developing the most effective submarine system possible, relying solely on human power

Hyperloop team

UW Hyperloop designs, fabricates and competes small-scale pods that travel by magnetic levitation inside tubes at SpaceX headquarters.

Related News

Wed, 09/11/2019 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Corie L. Cobb receives DARPA Young Faculty Award

Corie L. Cobb, Washington Research Foundation Innovation Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Clean Energy, is the recipient of a 2019 Young Faculty Award from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Mon, 08/19/2019 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Research team receives U.S. Army award to explore mobile supercritical water oxidation

A UW research team led by ME associate professor Igor Novosselov will advance their work to develop a system that breaks down chemical warfare agents and toxic waste through a new $400,000 Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) from the U.S. Army Research Office (ARO).

Mon, 08/19/2019 | King5 News

UW engineers test tidal energy turbines on Lake Washington

A team of ME engineers are testing turbines in Lake Washington that are designed to turn tides into usable energy.

Mon, 08/12/2019 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Research impact

Elizabeth Rasmussen is developing a clean, scalable approach to synthesizing advanced materials, setting the stage for innovation in batteries, targeted drug delivery and more.