Going Green

The new executive director of Grand Valley State University's Muskegon SmartZone is a prolific inventor who holds 16 patents and has another five pending.

That inventor, Dr. Imad Mahawili, was named executive director of the Michigan Alternative Energy Center in Muskegon and SmartZone research director. Most recently, Mahawili served as founder, president and chief executive officer of Micro C Technologies, Inc. and IsoComforter Co.

'This position provides a unique opportunity to integrate my technical background and extensive entrepreneurial career with my desire to serve our society and educate young minds,' said Mahawili.

The Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon will be a business incubator and research and development center for alternative and renewable energy technologies. It will also serve as a major demonstration project of those technologies. The Grand Rapids Business Journal named the project 'Newsmaker of the Year' for 2002, citing its long-term benefits to the region.

Mahawili's own work on alternative and renewable energy began early in his career. He began his work as a chemical engineer in 1974, developing chemical feedstock from coal for the chemical industry as a consequence of the 1973 energy crisis.

'I see the MAREC as a timely and critical vision for the development of economically viable technologies for alternative and renewable energy resources for our nation,' he said.

Mahawili holds a bachelor's degree and a doctorate in chemical engineering, both from the Imperial College of the University of London.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. created the zones in 2001 as part of an effort to promote and attract high technology business development in the state. Related legislation provided a tax increment financing tool that allows a local development finance authority to support high-technology business development, including the construction of a business acceleration center, to cultivate new companies. Grand Valley was the only university in the state to be granted two SmartZones -- one in Grand Rapids and one in Muskegon.

Tim Schad, vice president for finance and administration at Grand Valley, is pleased with the many partners working together in this project.

'Michigan is poised to be a leader in the application of fuel cell technologies in both stationary and mobile applications,' explained Schad. 'The Muskegon SmartZone is a joint venture between Michigan Economic Development Corporation, city of Muskegon and Grand Valley State University for the purpose of research and business incubation in alternative energy. Imad's appointment brings us another step closer to taking that leadership role.'

In April, Grand Valley and FuelCell Energy, Inc. signed an agreement to install and service a fuel cell power plant for the Muskegon research center.

The fuel cell power plant will provide electricity and a heat recovery system for heating and cooling that advances energy technology applications in newly created research space, incubator facilities, conference center and classrooms. The project will also include a solar/photovoltaic installation that will provide electricity. The state-of-the-art building is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2003.

This development will be the first commercial project in the world to integrate fuel cell technology, a heat recovery system for heating and air conditioning, photovoltaics and a nickel metal hydride battery storage system to store excess energy. The result will be a building that powers itself using green sources.