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E 7.7 - The Future of Energy Innovation with Mike Mazzola at the NSF FUEL Engine in Louisiana
Manage episode 490549398 series 3291227
Our next region has been part of the world’s energy story for over a century. Today, we’re visiting the US National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine that is aiming to not only be part of the story, but to write it through innovative research, workforce development, and commercialization of new technologies.
I sat down with Michael Mazzola, Executive Director of the NSF FUEL Engine in Louisiana to learn more about how Louisiana’s geology and history make the state uniquely qualified to drive innovation in carbon use, capture, and sequestration. And we’ll talk about how they’re building strategic partnerships to ensure that innovation and commercialization have positive impacts on local economies in Louisiana.
Dr. Michael Mazzola leads FUEL’s activities to position the state of Louisiana as a global energy innovation leader and decarbonize the state’s industrial corridor. Prior to his current position, Dr. Mazzola was the executive director of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and the Duke Energy Distinguished Chair of Power Engineering Systems. He has also served as associate director for advanced vehicle systems at the Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS). As a tenured professor of electrical and computer engineering, he led research in high-voltage engineering, power systems modeling and simulation, the application of silicon carbide semiconductor devices in power electronics and the control of hybrid electric vehicle power trains. While at MSU, he co-founded SemiSouth Laboratories, a company that commercialized intellectual property originating from his research at the university.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- How Mike’s background in use-inspired research commercialization gives him perspective on the true scope and impact of the NSF FUEL Engine’s project
- Three key job categories that are essential to successfully supporting a developing innovation ecosystem
- How the NSF FUEL Engine is tackling the thorny problem of how we reduce carbon emissions while meeting the world’s energy needs
- Why incentivizing innovators and entrepreneurs to stay in or come back to Louisiana is an essential piece of the puzzle
- How the NSF FUEL Engine is addressing the challenges of cost and scale for research investment within the energy industry
Learn more about Michael S. Mazzola:
Learn more about Anika Horn:
Resources:
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