LSSU clean energy idea goes to state competition

An Upper Peninsula team of students and professors won $5,000 and the Judge's Choice award in the annual Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge. Under the name Superior AquaSystems, the group from Lake Superior State University competed against 21 other Michigan university teams for $50,000 in seed money to fund their ideas.

Their idea is one that might come naturally if you spend your days looking out over the St. Marys River. It's for a sustainable small fish farm that would enable small-scale culture of healthy seafood. The team has come up with a cost-effective recirculating system using renewable energy, biologically sound water purification, and clean technologies to help maximize fish production.

The competition is geared toward business ideas that address issues of rural poverty, unemployment, and aim to develop new sustainable growth industries.

The LSSU team's idea addresses two issues in traditional aquaculture; environmental impact and the cost it takes to raise seafood. Their localized model reduces energy cost and conserves water at the same time.

Student members of the team are Zachary Prause, Tyler Jackson, Garret Price, Noel Granger, Alexander Schroeder, and Daniel Walker. They are from several departments; biological sciences, international business, electrical engineering and computer sciences. Advisors are Barbara Evans of LSSU's biological sciences department, Ralf Wilhelms from the international business department, Paul Weber from the electrical engineering department, and Roger Greil, manager of the LSSU Aquatic Research Lab. Outside advisors were Diane Durance from the Great Lake Entrepreneur's Quest, Jesse Trushenski from SIUC Illinois Aquaculture Center, and Michele Walk from MSU Extension.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lake Superior State University