1. SWOT Analysis
ƒÞ ¡EStrength
¡@¡@The National Tsing Hua University has been well known both nationally and internationally for her several strong programs on energy and environment related areas. On the energy aspects, in fact, the primary motivation for the re-establishment of NTHU was the development of science and technology for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In particular, the Department of Engineering and System Science, formerly the Department of Nuclear Engineering, has established solid foundations for nuclear energy researches, especially, in nuclear power plant technologies in Taiwan. In addition, the Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center also engages in nuclear energy research. The Departments of Power Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Material Sciences and Engineering of the Engineering College have established strong programs in combustion turbo-machinery, battery, fuel cells, CO2 reduction and reuse. The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering is well-known for its program on distributed power systems, power electronics and quality, and solar cell researches.
On the environmental monitoring and environmental technology aspects, NTHU faculty members from the Departments of Nuclear Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Science, and the Nuclear Science and Technology Development center have solid programs in the field of environmental monitoring an analysis, soil and ground water conservation technology development, air pollution prevention technology, risk analysis and management, the resources recycling, and environmental control technology. In particular, the monitoring and analysis of the micro-scale gases technology is well known.
On the sustainable development strategy aspects, faculty from College of Humanity and Social Sciences, and the Research Center for Science, Technology and Society and others have had very good performances in areas of environmental and energy policy assessment, good infrastructure establishment for the decision making support system.

ƒÞ ¡EWeakness
¡@¡@There is lack of strong integration among various different researches on energy, environment, and sustainable development strategy. There is currently no integrated research projects in the center. There is also lack of staff and space.

ƒÞ ¡EOpportunities
¡@¡@The energy technology is one of the four most important and promising technologies for the 21st century. The establishing of the Center for Environment and Energy Research of the Taiwan University System provide a thrust for the Center. The Energy Council will open for integrated projects, from university centers in the near future.

ƒÞ ¡EThreats
¡@¡@The Center is established about 3-4 years behind the establishment of the energy centers in other major national universities. Those centers established earlier have active programs and are competitive in pursuing research projects.

2. Focused Areas
ƒÞ ¡EHigh Efficiency/Low Pollution Hybrid Fuel Cell-Microturbine Power System
¡@¡@Microturbines(30~200kW) can be used in a variety of electricity and thermal energy applications due to their small size, low unit costs, and useful thermal output. Combined with fuel cell, it is particularly suitable for distributed generation. A high efficiency and low pollution hybrid fuel cell-microturbine power system will be, investigated to integrate the research power in NTHU on various subjects such as combustion, turbo-machinery, fuel cell, and power system. Solid oxide fuel cell will be developed to serve as the first-step power generation of DC electricity. The high temperature exhaust gases from fuel cell will then be used to drive the gas turbine for AC electricity. The target thermal efficiency of the hybrid system is 70% . The exhaust gas from the gas turbine will be clean (NOx < 10 ppm). Moreover, the air needed for the fuel cell can be preheated using the waste heat from the gas turbine. Key technologies needed for the combined power system have been identified.

ƒÞ ¡EFourth Generation Nuclear Power Plant Technology and Applications
¡@¡@Recently the world major nuclear power countries put emphasis on long-term strategy and strive to develop Generation IV advanced nuclear reactors. The Generation IV nuclear reactors will provide safe, reliable and economical electricity, while reducing the amount and toxicity of nuclear wasted and minimizing the risk of nuclear proliferation. They plan to develop nuclear power systems based on Generation IV nuclear reactors for construction and operation around 2030, when many of the world¡¦s existing nuclear power plants will be at or near the end of the operating lives. Among all the developments of Generation IV nuclear reactors, the project led by Argonne National Laboratory(ANL) along with Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory(LNEEL) for the development of the closed cycle sodium cooled fast reactors would be the main stream with the largest scale. Ten nations-Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, The Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United State are collaborating to develop the Generation IV nuclear energy systems. This collaboration will share research and development costs and ensure that future reactors meet the needs of different nations. Six different types of advanced reactors have been selected as the candidates for the fourth generation nuclear power reactors: Very High Temperature Reactor(VHTR), Gas Fast Reactor (GSR),Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR), Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR), Lead Fast Reactor (LFR), and Molten Salt Reactor (MSR).

¡@¡@This study will integrate the following subjects: collect the existing documentation to follow the status of the Generation IV project ; theoretical analysis of generation IV reactors on neutronics and thermallyhdraulics; study the process to achieve the goal of minimizing the high-level radwaste; seek the possibility to facilitate the final disposal of spent fuels from Taiwan nuclear power plants; produce hydrogen by using nuclear reactors .This last part will collaborate with the study of hybrid power system.

ƒÞ¡E Nanoscale Environmental Analysis: Development of biomonitoring and processing techniques for environmental health study ¡V sustainable domestic and occupational environments.

¡@¡@Environmental health comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, biological, social and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations. Environmental health concerns the application of scientific principles in understanding the nature of risks to the safety of people and property in both industrial and non-industrial environments. It is a multidisciplinary profession based upon physics, chemistry, and biology; with applications in manufacturing, transport, storage and handling of hazardous materials; and in domestic and recreational activities.
¡@¡@Indoor air pollutant has been around for centuries. It is present in millions of homes and offices and adversely affects thousand millions of people in the world. Today, problems are created by efforts to create tighter buildings and make more efficient heating and cooling systems. Also the use of many new building materials and products which may contain potentially harmful chemicals can be released into the environment.
¡@¡@Recently, concern has arisen since elevated levels of various contaminants in indoor living or working environments may increase the risk of adverse health effects, ranging from slight irritation to potentially life-threatening conditions. Air pollution causes many immediate effects: shortness of breath, eye irritation, upper respiratory tract irritation. Long-term exposure to air pollution may result in a number of diseases including: bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer. The aim of this proposal is to develop sophisticated biomonitoring and processing techniques to improve the quality and reliability of environmental health study. For purpose of meeting the requirement from exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology, and related disciplines, there are three topics, environmental monitoring, chemical speciation technique, and photocatalytic purification, going to be involved in this study:
Environmental monitoring: to develop novel and reliable methods for real time measurements of organic species and biomolecules.
Chemical speciation technique: to develop an in vivo and on-line analytical method and monitor the dynamic changes in the concentrations of the main metabolites, such as As(III),As(V), MMA(V) and DMA(V), in liver and bladder of anesthetized rat to improve a reliable exposure biomarker data for aetiologic and epidemiologic researches.
Photocatalytic purification: to clarify the health effects due to inhaling decompounds produced by TiO2 composition in consideration of various applications in domestic and occupational environments.

3. Current Standing
¡@¡@Although the National Tsing Hua University is leading nationally and well-known internationally in various different subjects of energy and environmental technologies .The Center for Energy and Environmental Research is newly established and its is very difficult to evaluate the current standing of the center at this time.

4. Goals in 3-5years
ƒÞ ¡EA national leading center for energy and environmental research.
ƒÞ ¡EA well-known research center in Asia for energy and environmental studies.

5. Action plans to achieve the goals
ƒÞ ¡EActively join the Center for Environmental and Energy Research of the Taiwan University ¡@¡@¡@System.
ƒÞ ¡ESubmit an Integrated Proposal to the Energy Research Council.
ƒÞ ¡EIntegration of resources to concentrate on the focused areas identified.