WVU commercializes cool microwave tech, cutting down industry’s energy usage.

West Virginia University (WVU) engineers have received $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a microwave reactor system that can reduce industrial heat and carbon emissions. The technology allows for the simultaneous production of ethylene and ammonia within a single reactor, and could reduce energy consumption by 85%. The microwave reactor can start up and shut down quickly, enabling it to draw on intermittent sources of renewable energy for power. The researchers hope to demonstrate the technology in a real-world industrial environment within three years. Once commercialized, the technology is expected to create job opportunities in regions with stranded natural gas resources.