Spectacular views from the Building Technology Showcase construction site.
After two days of intense networking, attendees of last week’s Global Cleantech Meet-Up took a well-deserved break with a whistle-stop tour of the Boston clean energy community. Among the featured attractions: Fraunhofer CSE, which opened its doors to visitors on not one but two separate stops.
From 10 to 11 AM, visitors were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Fraunhofer CSE’s laboratories in Cambridge. Attendees received guided tours from three senior members of CSE’s technical staff: Dr. Kurt Roth, Director of the Building Energy Efficiency Group; Dr. Dirk Mahling, Director of Distributed Electrical Energy Systems; and David Meakin, leader of the CSE PV Technologies annex in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Highlights included a walkthrough of CSE’s thermal testing and solar module innovation labs, as well as extended discussions of CSE’s capabilities and research activities in the clean energy sector.
Later in the day, Meet-up attendees had an opportunity to tour the Building Technology Showcase (BTS), CSE’s new energy efficient research center and “living lab” under development at 5 Channel Center. Things kicked off with a poster session presented by BTS Program Manager Alex Cheimets, illustrating key features of the new building and highlighting some of the forty partners who have donated services, systems and materials to this unique retrofit project. Guests also got the chance to sample an early version of the augmented reality technology that will be integrated into the building, providing visitors with graphical, interactive demonstrations of the systems and technology that contribute to the building’s energy efficiency.
Both tours drew an enthusiastic and varied turn-out; guests ranged from MassCEC representatives to reporters and venture capital partners. With 2012′s Global Cleantech Meet-up a success, we look forward to offering even more at next year’s event!
David Meakin discusses CSE’s PV Technologies Group.
