US DOE
Date: 2019-09-06
The New York Times and other media are reporting the Trump administration DOE has released new rules that annul Bush-era requirements on energy-saving light bulbs. The Bush-era regulation was to come into force on Jan. 1, 2020.

. The new rules could make less-efficient bulbs for certain fixtures more common, potentially contributing to man-made climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Politically, it's part of the Trump administration's efforts to roll back climate and other environmental regulations. Energy conservation groups are expected to mount challenges to the Trump administration's move that is widely thought to border on "senseless." (Source: US DOE, NYT, 4 Sept., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficient Light,  Energy Efficiency,  

DOE
Date: 2019-09-04
The New York Times and other media are reporting the Trump administration DOE has released new rules that annul Bush-era requirements on energy-saving light bulbs. The Bushera regulation was to come into force on Jan. 1, 2020.

. The new rules could make less-efficient bulbs for certain fixtures more common, potentially contributing to man-made climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Politically, it's part of the Trump administration's efforts to roll back climate and other environmental regulations. Energy conservation groups are expected to mount challenges to the Trump administration's move that borders on senseless. (Source: US DOE, NYT, 4 Sept., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficient Light,  

US DOE EERE
Date: 2019-08-28
The US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is touting it Zero Energy Ready Homes Program which it claims "offers a superior homeowner experience."

According to the agency, Zero Energy Ready homes last longer because its requirements combine the best of building science with the latest technologies and systems, innovative building practices, and risk management solutions.

Every certified Zero Energy Ready Home: breathes better with a comprehensive package of indoor air quality features; provides complete top-to-bottom water protection; incorporate DOE ENERGY STAR products throughout; ensures quality with independent verification, testing, and diagnostics; and delivers $10,000s of utility bill savings over the life of a mortgage, the agency release noted. (Source: US DOE EERE, PR, Aug., 2019) Contact: US DOE EERE, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-homes; ENERGY STAR, energystar.gov/about

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE EERE,  Energy Efficiency,  ENERGY STAR,  

NYSERDA
Date: 2019-08-23
Following up on our March 4th coverage, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is reporting the launch of the second phase of its multi-year Home Energy Rating Pilot (Pilot), the first phase of which was launched in February, 2019.

Under the programme, licensed home inspectors will deliver home energy ratings to home buyers as part of the pre-purchase inspection -- an independent third-party examination report detailing the condition of a home. The aim is to help purchasers understand the efficiency, comfort, and value of the home they are considering purchasing.

Home energy ratings are similar to vehicle miles per-gallon ratings, providing easy-to-understand visual reports that provide insight into how a home performs in areas like insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling efficiency, and water heating efficiency. With nearly 60 pct of home buyers considering a property that needs renovating, a home energy rating can provide a roadmap of energy efficiency opportunities that can be made after the purchase is complete.

Under the NYSERDA program, two home energy rating systems will be piloted: the US DOE Home Energy Score and the Pearl Home Certification from Pearl, a private residential energy efficiency certification firm. The pilot is being implemented in four phases through 2020.

Programme funding is from the state's 10-year, $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund. (Source: NYSERDA, PR, 22 Aug., 2019) Contact: NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov; Pearl Home Certification, Cynthia Adams, CEO, (888) 557-5543, www.pearlcertification.com; US DOE Home Energy Score, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/home-energy-score

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pearl Home Certification,  NYSERDA,  Energy Efficiency,  

LBNL, US DOE
Date: 2019-08-21
The US DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and an international team of researchers addressing the "Amazon Forest Response to CO2 Fertilization Dependent on Plant Phosphorus Acquisition," has raised the issue and asked the question, "How long will the Amazon rainforest continue to act as an effective carbon sink?"

The study, published August 5 in the journal Nature Geoscience, found that accounting for phosphorus-deficient soils reduced projected CO2 uptake by an average of 50 pct in the Amazon, compared to current estimates based on previous climate models that did not take into account phosphorus deficiency. The Amazon Basin is critical to help mitigate climate change due to its trees absorbing around a quarter of the CO2 released each year from the burning of fossil fuels.

According to Berkeley Lab research scientist and study co-author Jennifer Holm, "Most predictions of the Amazon rainforest's ability to resist climate change are based on models that have outdated assumptions; one of those is that a sufficient supply of nutrients such as phosphorus exist in soils to enable trees to take in additional CO2 as global emissions increase," said . "But in reality the ecosystem is millions of years old, highly weathered, and therefore depleted of phosphorus in many parts of the Amazon."

Agriculture, forestry, and other types of land use account for 23 pct of human-caused GHG emissions, yet at the same time natural land processes absorb the equivalent of almost a third of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry, according to the recently released International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on land and climate interactions. (Source: DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, PR, Eureka Alert, 20 Aug., 2019) Contact: US DOE Office of Science, energy.gov/science; LBNL, Jennifer Holm, Research Scientist and Study Co-author, www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-holm-265600b, www.lbl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News LBNL,  Rainforest,  CO2,  Carbon Sink,  Climate Change,  

WindLBNL
Date: 2019-08-14
Wind Technologies Market Report, a just released U.S. DOE report prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) notes that with prices averaging below 2 cents per kWh for newly built projects, wind energy is competitive with other generation sources.

"Wind energy prices -- particularly in the central United States, and supported by federal tax incentives -- are at all-time lows, with utilities and corporate buyers selecting wind as a low-cost option," according to LBNL Senior Scientist Ryan Wiser.

Report highlights include: wind power capacity additions continued at a robust pace in 2018; larger turbines are enhancing wind project performance; low turbine pricing continues to push down installed project costs; wind energy prices are at historical lows; the grid-system value of wind has declined over the last decade but rebounded over the last two years; and the domestic supply chain for wind equipment is diverse.

BNL's contributions to this report were funded by the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. BNL is a multiprogram national laboratory, managed by the University of California for the U.S. DOE Office of Science.

Download the Wind Technologies Market Report HERE (Source: US DOE LBNL, Aug., 2019) Contact: DOE Office of Science, www.energy.gov/science/office-science; LBNL, emp.LBNL.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Wind Energy,  

Georgia Power,Pulte Group
Date: 2019-08-07
The utility Georgia Power is touting the launch of a new "Smart Neighbourhood" in Atlanta.

Each of the new community's 46 townhouses is equipped with solar panels, batteries and energy efficiency components such as heat pump water heaters (HPWH) connected to a neighborhood microgrid. The microgrid-linked townhouse resources will be managed and optimized with a "grid-interactive control system" developed by the US DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory, supported by the national Buildings Technology Office.

The "Smart Home" technology in each of the town houses was developed by Atlanta-based home builder Pulte Group Inc. in partnership with with Georgia Power. Thermostats, security systems, appliances and other features can be controlled via the Pulte controls suite and through phone app and voice activation. According to Pulte, the energy optimization platform can schedule the use of appliances in coordination with the solar and battery and thus lower energy costs. (Source: US DOE, Pulte Group, Energy Storage, 6 Aug., 2019)Contact: Pulte Group Inc., www.pultegroupinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Georgia Power,  Energy Efficiency,  Smart Energy,  Smart Neighborhood,  

Northern Cheyenne Reservation
Date: 2019-08-05
In Southeastern Montana, the the Northern Cheyenne Tribe is reporting receipt of $2 million in matching funding from the US DOE for construction of a 26-acre, 2.6 MW solar farm to be constructed near Busby.

The Northern Cheyenne initially launched the White River Community Solar project in 2016. (Source: Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Billings Gazette, 31 July, 2019)Contact: Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Kyle Atwood, Project Director, (406) 477-6284, www.cheyennenation.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Community Solar,  

DOE EERE
Date: 2019-07-29
In Washington, the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) reports it has awarded $2 million in funding for seven new high performance computing projects, as part of the High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) Initiative.

The initiative is a DOE-wide effort comprising EERE, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE), the Office of Science, and the National Laboratories. The initiative helps to leverage the National Laboratories' high performance computing capabilities to address challenges in manufacturing and materials through state-of-the-art modeling, simulation, and data analysis. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) leads the HPC4EI program along with partner laboratories Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and National Energy Technology Laboratory. Funded projects include:

NYC-based Ferric, Inc. will partner with LLNL to develop analytical tools that will combine traditional electromagnetic finite-element analysis with micromagnetic simulation.

Applied Materials in Sunnyvale, Calif. will continue to work with LLNL on Phase II of developing predictive modeling capabilities for the advanced film deposition technique, High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering.

Gas Technology Institute in Des Plaines, Ill., Gopher Resource, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will partner to use high performance computing to increase the productivity of secondary lead furnaces.

Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman Chemical will collaborate with Argonne National Laboratory on developing open-source software-based models of a gas atomizer based on ongoing work being performed at Eastman.

Praxair Surface Technologies Inc. in Indianapolis will work with Ames National Laboratory to enhance the efficiency of metal powder production for additive manufacturing applications.

Within the High Performance Computing for Materials (HPC4Mtls) Program, EERE's Vehicle Technologies Office has selected two projects:

PPG Industries will collaborate with LLNL and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to apply classical molecular dynamics simulations and density functional tight-binding calculations.

AK Steel in Middletown, Ohio will collaborate with ORNL on thermo-mechanical forming process development to produce tailored strength automotive structural components. The Office of Fossil Energy selected two additional HPC4Mtls projects to support. Industry partners provide at least 20 pct of the funding for new projects. (Source:DOE EERE, PR, EIN,July, 2019) Contact: US DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE EERE,  Energy Efficiency,  

State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
Date: 2019-07-24
State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute reports its interim VP of research advancement & graduate studies Dr. Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik and associate professor of nanoengineering Dr. Woongje Sung have been selected to receive $1.5m in federal funding from the US DOE Vehicle Technology Office (VTO) for the development of 1200V silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and for reliability studies on aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN)-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), which are superior switch components than their silicon-based counterparts in areas such as cost, performance and reliability.

The SUNY Poly researchers aim to demonstrate a highly reliable wide-bandgap (WBG) aluminum gallium nitride/gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN) HEMT-based power device with extremely high levels of performance.

Shahedipour-Sandvik and Sung also received $255,000 for the Development of More Energy Efficient Semiconductor Materials and $250,000 for the Development of High Voltage Power Devices on Silicon Carbide in addition to a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. (Source: SUNY Poly, PR, JSemiconductor Today, uly, 2019) Contact: SUNY Poly, Dr. Grace Wang, Pres. (Interim), 315-792-7400, president@sunypoly.edu, www.sunypoly.edu/faculty-and-staff/grace-wang, www.sunypoly.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News SUNY,  SUNY Poly,  Energy Storage,  Energy Efficiency,  

Better Buildings Challenge
Date: 2019-07-17
In the Old Dominion State, the University of Virginia (UV) in Charlottesville reports it has been recognized for energy efficiency by the U.S. DOE Better Buildings Challenge. As a Better Buildings Challenge partner, UV, with 500 buildings, is committed to improving its energy performance by 20 pct in 10 years across 15.3 million square feet.

At one building, Clark Hall, UV implemented a combination of energy and water conservation upgrades including: converting 5,000 interior and exterior fixtures from fluorescent lamps to LED; installing low-flow toilets and faucet aerators; recalibrating air handling units; and upgrading HVAC controls. As a result, Clark Hall achieved an annual energy savings of $750,000 and an annual water savings of $22,000, relative to their pre-retrofit baseline. (Source: US DOE, University of Virginia, July, 2019) Contact: Better Buildings Challenge, https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Better Buildings Challenge,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Management,  

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Date: 2019-07-12
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reports it is one of nine organizations to receive US DOE funding to explore and develop technologies to reduce the environmental impacts of wind energy.

NREL will investigate and improve the effectiveness of ultrasonic acoustic deterrents that emit frequencies perceptible to bats to discourage them from approaching wind turbines.

Other technological innovations include thermal imaging cameras and specially developed radar technologies that detect and deter bats and other wildlife from approaching wind-turbine blades.

Identifying the best wind-wildlife mitigation technologies will enable more efficient and cost-effective wind energy projects. (Source: NREL,WindPower, 10 July, 2019) Contact: NREL, www.nrel.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Renewable Energy Laboratory,  Wind,  

US DOE,
Date: 2019-07-10
Today, Energy Secretary Rick Perry kicked off the Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit by recognizing more than 20 Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge partners and allies who achieved their energy, water, or financial goals for 2019 and five who have recently set new Challenge goals after meeting their initial goals. These goal achievers are part of the hundreds of organizations that work with the U.S. DOE in the Better Buildings Initiative and are featured in the annual Better Buildings Progress Report.. The Secretary also announced the launch of the Better Buildings, Better Plants Waste Reduction Pilot.

In 2018, Better Buildings Initiative partners and allies saved 1.38 quadrillion BTUs and $8.4 billion in total energy costs. These organizations are leading the U.S. in energy efficiency by adopting emerging technologies, advancing the American workforce, and sharing their innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency.

The Better Buildings, Better Plants Waste Reduction Pilot was launched to address the 2.7 billion tons of industrial solid waste and more than 260 million tons of municipal solid waste the U.S. generates annually. By reducing waste, organizations also save energy. Manufacturers, companies, schools, and governments across the country can strengthen their competitiveness and sustainability by setting and realizing robust waste reduction goals. DOE will work with organizations who have signed up for the pilot to determine the appropriate metrics, goals and opportunities for different sectors.

Through the Better Buildings Initiative, DOE aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 pct more energy efficient over the next decade. Greater energy efficiency saves billions of dollars, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates U.S. jobs.

Download the Better Buildings Progress Report HERE. (Source: US DOE, PR, 10 July, 2019) Contact: Better Buildings Solution Center., betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Building Energy Efficiency,  Better Buildings Challenge,  

Ardagh Group
Date: 2019-07-08
Dublin, Ireland-headquartered Ardagh Group, a supplier of sustainable packaging, is reporting its US DOE Energy Star Certified glass manufacturing facility in Bridgeton, N.J., is now powered by a 5.5-MW, 15,930 photovoltaic array expected to produce approximately 7.5 kWh of renewable electricity in the first year.

The Bridgeton, N.J., facility was awarded Energy Star plant certification for superior energy performance and is the only U.S. glass container manufacturer to earn this recognition.

The company's facilities in Dunkirk, In., and Madera, Calif., have also received the Energy Star award for energy efficiency perform within the top 25 pct nationwide for energy efficiency. Additionally, all 13 of the company's manufacturing facilities in North America are ISO 14001 certified. (Source: Ardagh Group, Commercial Prop.Exec, July, 2019) Contact: Ardagh Group, www.ardaghgroup.com; ENERGY STAR, energystar.gov/about

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Star,  Energy Efficiency,  Solar,  

Centrica,NREL
Date: 2019-06-24
Centrica Business Solutions -- Centrica's distributed energy and power business -- reports it has joined forces with the US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to study the integration of energy storage technologies.

Research will be conducted at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) where the focus is on developing and demonstrating innovative energy systems and "second life" battery storage technologies. Second life batteries include batteries previously used in electric vehicles as a single unit for disparate applications. (Source: Centrica, NREL, newKerala, 23 June, 2019) Contact: Centrica Business Solutions, Fabio Mantovani, Director of Technology Strategy and Innovation, www.centrica.com; NREL, Martha Symko-Davies, Laboratory Program Manager, ESIF, www.nrel.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Centrica,  NREL,  Energy Storage,  Battery,  

US DOE EERE
Date: 2019-06-12
ASHRAE -- the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers -- reports the recenting inking of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) formalizing its co-operation with the U.S. government to implement numerous initiatives to improve energy efficiency in buildings. ASHRAE and DOE seek to work cooperatively to:

Improve the efficient use of energy, building resiliency and improve building performance;

Encourage the continued development of voluntary consensus-based standards related to energy efficiency and encourage the adoption of technologically feasible and economically justified energy efficiency measures in each succeeding version of Standard 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) by states to ensure energy and cost savings;

Provide and encourage the use of clear and consistent information to the building industry about building energy rating and labeling;

Work within the building community and related professions to encourage the interoperability of building related software and integrated solutions. (Source: ASHRAE, Website, 28 May, 2019) Contact: ASHRAE, Sheila Hayter, Pres, (404) 636-8400, www.ashrae.org; US DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE EERE,  ASHRAE,  Energy Eficiency,  

DOE
Date: 2019-05-20
The U.S. DOE has announced the progress made by the more than 900 public- and private-sector organizations leading the U.S. in energy efficiency through their participation in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Better Buildings Initiative.

Together, Better Buildings partners have saved 1.38 quadrillion BTUs, equivalent to $8.4 billion in energy and cost savings. These market leaders are adopting emerging technologies, advancing the American workforce, and sharing their innovative approaches to energy and water efficiency. The 2019 Better Buildings Progress Report released today highlights this progress and specific accomplishments in the commercial, industrial, residential, and public sectors to improve energy productivity.

Download the 2019 Better Buildings Progress Report HERE. (Source: US DOE Better Buildings Initiative Release, 17 May, 2019) Contact: Better Buildings Initiative, betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Better Buildings Initiative,  

DOE BETO
Date: 2019-05-15
In Washington, the US DOE reports the availability of up to $33.5 million in funding for the research and development of projects aimed at reducing energy bills through advanced building construction techniques for both existing and new, residential and commercial buildings.

According to the DOE, commercial and residential buildings account for roughly 40 pct of the nation's total energy demand at a cost in excess of $380 billion per year.

While an ideal project would address a combination of issues across areas such as heating, cooling, the building envelope, water heating and ventilation, funding applications should focus on one of three topics:

Advanced Technology Integration: including projects that concentrate on taking technologies from the laboratory to the field, in order to meet national, regional, state and local needs. Energy savings methods in this category focus on workforce training, service delivery methods and field validation of new technologies and building practices;

Integrated Building Retrofits: which concentrate on existing buildings, including technologies that aim to achieve greater energy-efficiency through combined space heating and cooling systems, hot water systems and light and durable, highly-insulated panels. The goal under this topic is to achieve 75 pct energy reductions;

New Construction Technologies which focus on innovative approaches to a building's design, construction and installation. Through advancements in robotics, digitalization, off-site manufacturing, improved modeling and automation, the goal for projects within this topic is to make buildings and homes 50 percent more energy efficient than current code requirements.

Funding is issued through the DOE's Building Technology Office (BTO) which aims to find new, energy-efficient technologies while improving the efficiency of current technologies to help the department realize its goal for reducing the energy use of U.S. buildings by 30 pct by 2030.

BETO programs currently include: HVAC; water heating and appliances; solid-state lighting; building energy modeling; sensors and controls; and buildings-to-grid integration. (Source: US DOE BETO, 14 May, 2019) Contact: US DOE BETO, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  DOE BETO,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2019-05-10
Irving, Texas-headquartered oil industry juggernaut ExxonMobil reports it will invest as much as $100 million over 10 years to research and to develop advanced lower-emissions technologies in collaboration with the US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

The research aims to advance potential scalable technologies that improve energy efficiency, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce emissions from the production of fossil fuels and petrochemicals, according to ExxonMobil. Initial collaborative efforts will explore ways to bring biofuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to commercial scale across the power generation, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. (Source: ExxonMobil, GreenCar Congress, 9 May, 2019)Contact: Exxon Mobil, William M. Colton, VP Strategic Planning, www.exxonmobil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  Biouels,  CCS,  

Entergy Texas
Date: 2019-05-10
In the Lone Star State, The Woodlands-based electric power producer and supplier Entergy Texas is reporting receipt of the US DOe 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for promoting energy efficiency in residential new construction.

With its Entergy Solutions programs, Entergy Texas helped customers save more than 1,385,000 kWh of electricity. Other key accomplishments included coordinating and sponsoring HVAC training for more than 86 HVAC contractors, home energy rating companies, and home builders in the Houston and Golden Triangle markets and distributing more than 3,500 ENERGY STAR-branded promotional products during builder meetings, model home visits and at industry events.

Approximately 144,000 Entergy Texas customers have participated in the company's energy efficiency programs and received over $95 million in program incentives since 2002.

Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 MW of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 MW of nuclear power. The company serves 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. (Source: Entergy, Woodlands OnLine, 8 May, 2019) Contact: Entergy Texas, www.entergy-texas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Entergy Texas,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Date: 2019-05-10
In New Hampshire, the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program has been lauded for its energy-efficiency efforts by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services which, in partnership with NHSaves, has helped New Hampshire wastewater treatment plant operators and owners improve the energy-efficiency of their facilities. Waste water plants are commonly the highest energy-users for many municipalities.

The effort started with a grant from the US DOE and will continue with funding from both the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and a continued partnership with NHSaves. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services NHSaves energy efficiency awards were made in two categories: Most Efficient and Most Improved. The Winnipesaukee River Basin Program was among the overall most energy-efficient wastewater treatment plants. (Source: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Laconia Daily Sun, 8 May, 2019) Contact: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, (603) 271-3503, www.des.nh.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-05-08
The US DOE has announced $89 million to support innovative, advanced manufacturing research and development projects. This Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) tackles key Departmental priorities such as domestic manufacturing for energy storage, a sector uses 25 pct of the nation's energy.

The FOA requests proposals in three areas that will improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. by catalyzing innovation around manufacturing of key energy technologies and by reducing industrial process energy intensity.:

Innovations for the Manufacture of Advanced Materials -- Focuses on employing machine learning to develop better batteries, phase change storage materials for heating and cooling applications, and new semiconductors that convert temperature differences into electricity. A key focus is developing and scaling new, low-cost manufacturing processes to catalyze increased domestic battery manufacturing for vehicle and stationary applications.

Lower Thermal Budget Processes for Industrial Efficiency & Productivity -- With 70 pct of all process energy use related to heating, this topic focuses on novel research on industrial process drying technologies that increase energy efficiency throughput and product quality. It also seeks new ideas on process intensification to reduce overall heating energy.

Connected, Flexible and Efficient Manufacturing Facilities and Energy Systems -- With recent advances in new, wide-bandgap semiconductors supported by DOE, this topic seeks application of more efficient industrial power conversion equipment and new opportunities for converting process energy to electrical energy and better integrating it with the electrical grid. It also seeks advancements in combined heat and power that result in higher electrical efficiencies.

The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office will lead this initiative. DOE anticipates making up to 55 awards for up to three years. A cost-share of at least 20 pct will be required for research and development projects.

View the funding application and submission requirements HERE. . Concept papers are due on June 20, 2019. (Source: US DOE, PR, 7 May, 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Energy STorage,  

Spero Renewables
Date: 2019-05-06
CORRECTION -- The following article appeared in our 22nd April editions with contact errors which are herein corrected. We regret any inconvenience our error may have caused.

Goleta, California-based Spero Renewables LLC, a Green chemistry company, is reporting a $1.6 million cooperative agreement with the US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to develop and scale-up production of the company's patented SPERLU technology that produces polymers from wood pulp and similar plant-based sources.

The grant is part of a recently announced $80 million DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) initiative supporting 36 bioenergy R&D projects. In addition to biobased products, projects include renewable hydrocarbon fuels and power from non-food Biomass and waste feedstocks.

Spero's SPERLU™ technology converts biomass lignin, a waste byproduct of cellulosic ethanol production that is expensive to remediate, into valuable, environmentally friendly polymers and plastics. The resulting polymers are renewable, free of off-gassing emissions, and formaldehyde-free as opposed to current polymers that come from petrochemicals and are manufactured with formaldehyde, according to the company's website.

According to the company website, "Spero Energy is a technology developer for the production of high value renewable and natural molecules from biomass. The company's novel extractive technology for the manufacture of natural ferulic acid is a game changer for the production of natural vanilla. Spero's one-step lignin conversion (SPERLU™) is key to realizing a fully integrated biorefinery." (Source: Spero Renewables LLC, Spero Website, 19 April, 2019) Contact: Spero Renewables LLC, Mahdi Abu-Omar, Ph.D. Chemistry, Pres., Joe Ramelli, VP Business Dev., (805) 696-2199 x 2001, joe@sperorenewables.com, US DOE BETO, energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE BETO,  Spero Renewables,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-05-06
In Washington, the US DOE has announced over $79 million in funding for bioenergy R&D including biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. This funding supports Agency's goal of providing consumers and businesses with a range of domestic energy options that are affordable, reliable, and secure.

The FOA topics will advance DOE's Bioenergy Technology Office's (BETO) objectives to reduce the price of drop-in biofuels, lower the cost of biopower, and enable high-value products from biomass or waste resources. Topics areas for this funding opportunity include the following:

Cultivation Intensification Processes for Algae -- Develop technologies for outdoor algae systems that increase the harvest yield, reliability and quality of algae;

Biomass Component Variability and Feedstock Conversion Interface: Research to lower the cost and improve the reliability of biomass handling and preprocessing;

Efficient Wood Heaters -- Develop technologies to reduce emissions and increase efficiency of wood heaters for residential heating;

Systems Research of Hydrocarbon Biofuel Technologies -- Integrate new technologies and processes in experimental prototype systems to improve and verify real-world performance and lower the cost of drop-in Biofuels;

Optimization of Biomass-Derived Jet Fuel Blends -- Identify and develop cost-competitive drop-in renewable jet fuel with improved energy density and lower particulate matter emissions;

Renewable Energy from Urban and Suburban Wastes: Support academic research and educational programs that focus on strategies to produce bioenergy and bioproducts from urban and suburban waste feedstocks;

Advanced Bioprocessing and Agile BioFoundry -- Reduce the time and cost of developing biological processes for biomanufacturing fuels and products through the use of synthetic biology, low capital intensity methods, and continuous production systems;

Plastics in the Circular Carbon Economy -- Develop biobased plastics with improved performance and recyclability and lower the cost and energy-intensity of recycling existing plastics through enhanced degradation;

Rethinking Anaerobic Digestion: Develop anaerobic processes or alternative strategies to enhance carbon conversion efficiency and lower costs of smaller scale wet waste systems;

Reducing Water, Energy, and Emissions in Bioenergy -- Identify biofuels or bioproducts technologies with the greatest potential for reducing water consumption, energy consumption, and/or emissions relative to existing conventional fuels or products.

This FOA also supports the Water Security Grand Challenge, a White House initiated, DOE-led framework to advance transformational technology and innovation to meet the global need for safe, secure, and affordable water. In particular, this funding will support R&D focused on anaerobic digestion, a technology that can help achieve the Grand Challenge's goal to double resource recovery from municipal wastewater. (Source: US DOE EERE, 3 May, 2019) Contact: US DOE EERE, www.energy.gov/eere

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE EERE,  Bioenergy,  Biofuel,  Anaerobic Digestion ,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-04-24
The U.S. DOE has announced the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) 2019 Funding Opportunity (FOA) for up to $47 million for innovative technologies to make energy more affordable.

According to the DOE, residential and commercial buildings account for approximately 40 pct of the Nation's total energy demand and about 75 pct of all electric power consumption. In addition, growing peak electricity demands are challenging the electrical grid, exacerbated by stresses from transmission and distribution infrastructure constraints and the increasing number of variable renewable electricity power generation sources. However, integration of more flexible and even dispatchable loads through building automation can optimize energy use leading to decreased energy costs while maintaining occupant preferences. Even greater optimization of energy supply, storage, and demand results in a more resilient and reliable grid that simultaneously improves energy affordability.

The DOE Building Technologies Office (BTO) designed the 2019 BENEFIT FOA to increase energy productivity -- both within and beyond a building's walls -- by supporting the R&D and performance verification of flexible and energy-efficient technologies for residential and commercial buildings across the following topic areas:

Flexible Buildings Technologies: This topic supports early-stage R&D that integrates advanced sensing, controls and communication with flexible, energy efficiency technologies to advance the role buildings can play in the modernizing power grid. The subtopics include cybersecurity through adaptive building controls, performance verification for flexible building loads, advanced actuators and thermal energy storage.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technologies: This topic supports the development of highly efficient technologies for thermal end-uses in buildings, including space conditioning, water-heating and refrigeration. Subtopics include non-vapor compression heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies and fuel-driven building equipment.

Solid-state Lighting Technologies: This topic supports the development of highly efficient lighting technologies and systems to improve lighting energy efficiency. The subtopics address the green gap and droop in LEDs, quantum dot optical down-converters, stable and efficient white OLEDs, light extraction and utilization for OLEDs, and advanced lighting systems.

The BTO's demand flexibility strategy, called Grid-interactive Efficient Building, is a unique addition to this funding opportunity which has traditionally focused on R&D for the next-generation of energy efficient building technologies. The DOE's vision integrates advanced sensing, controls, and communication with flexible, energy efficiency technologies to advance the role buildings can play in modernizing the power grid.

Buildings have historically been passive consumers of energy, but next-generation flexible technologies give buildings and equipment the potential to provide a host of grid services that utilities currently receive from other, more traditional grid assets. Further research will help achieve this vision at-scale.

Download FOA details and application materials HERE. Information on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office is HERE. (Source: USA DOE, BLOG, 23 April, 2019) Contact: US DOE, www.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Building Energy Efficiency,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-04-17
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) reports it has issued a Notice of Intent for an upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) called Critical Components for Coal FIRST Power Plants of the Future. This anticipated FOA will offer as much as $100 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects that focus on developing the critical components required by Coal FIRST systems.

Under the Coal FIRST initiative, DOE is supporting research and development (R&D) projects that will help develop plants that:

Are capable of flexible operations to meet the needs of the grid;

Use innovative and cutting-edge components that enable improved efficiency and have near zero emissions with CO2 capture;

Are small compared to today's conventional utility-scale coal and transform how coal power plant technologies are designed and manufactured.

If needed, the R&D projects may include the development of advanced processes for manufacturing or fabricating components. FE anticipates issuing the FOA in August or September 2019. Specific Areas of Interest in the FOA will be informed by conceptual studies and preliminary front end engineering and design (pre-FEED) studies that FE expects to be ongoing throughout FY19.

As previously reported this month, the DOE announced up to $87.3 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects for advanced coal technologies and research.

Coal was the second-largest energy source for electricity generation in the United States in 2017. (Source: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, Green Car Congress, 14 April 2019) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Coal,  Carbon Emissions,  US DOE,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-04-15
In the nation's capitol, the U.S. DOE has announced up to $87.3 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects for advanced coal technologies. In 2017, coal was the second-largest energy source for electricity generation in the United States.

The R&D projects for coal-fueled power plants and technologies include the following separate funding opportunities:

Advancing Steam Turbine Performance for Coal Boilers -- This FOA seeks to improve the performance of steam-based power cycles, resulting in a lower cost of electricity with reduced emissions per megawatt-hour for coal-fueled boilers. This FOA also includes an area of interest for conceptual engineering design for steam turbines in the 50 -- 350 MW range in support of DOE's Coal FIRST initiative. DOE's Office of Fossil Energy's (FE) Advanced Turbines Program will support these projects. DOE Funding: Up to $22 million

Transformational Sensing Systems for Monitoring the Deep Subsurface -- This FOA seeks to reduce uncertainty and enable real-time decision making associated with subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. FE's Carbon Storage Research Program will support these projects. Read more details about this FOA here. Up to $4.8 million is available.

Crosscutting Research for Coal-Fueled Power Plants -- This FOA aims to develop innovative technologies that will enhance the performance and economics of the existing and future coal fleet thereby lowering electricity costs for consumers. FE's Crosscutting Research Program will support these projects. Up to $14.5 million funding available.

Advanced Materials for High-Efficiency, Flexible and Reliable Coal-Fueled Power Plants -- This FOA will reduce the cost and enhance the cyclic durability of materials used in advanced ultrasupercritical power plants. These advanced materials are critical to increasing the efficiency and reliability of coal-fueled power plants. FE's Advanced Materials Program will support these projects. Up to $26 million available.

Process Scale-Up and Optimization/Efficiency Improvements for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Critical Materials (CM) Recovery from Coal-Based Resources -- This FOA will support cooperative agreements to advance the development of technologies for recovery REEs and CMs from domestic coal-based resources through both novel and conventional extraction, separation, and recovery processes. FE's Feasibility of Recovering Rare Earth Elements Program will support these projects. Up to $20 million available.

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage all of the selected projects.

Download details HERE. ( Source: US DOE, April, 2019) Contact: US DOE, Sec. of Fossil Energy, Steven Winberg, Assist. Sec., www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Coal,  Clean Coal,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-04-03
In Washington, the U.S. DOE has announced up to $26.1 million in funding to drive innovative industry-led technology solutions to advance the marine and hydrokinetics (MHK) industry and increase hydropower's ability to serve as a flexible grid resource.

Under the offering, the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) will select projects that aim to increase affordability of hydropower and marine energy, strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and build on Department-wide energy storage initiatives to improve the capability of technologies to deliver value to the grid.

Areas of interest include hydropower; low-head hydropower; hydrokinetic river current energy converter (CEC) technologies; advancing wave energy device design; and marine energy centers research infrastructure upgrades.

Additional information on water power research, development, and testing visit EERE Water Power Technology Office HERE. (Source: US DOE, WPTO, PR, 1 April, 2019) Contact: US DOE, WPTO, www.energy.gov/eere/water/water-power-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Marine Energy,  Hydropower,  Wave Energy,  

Buffalo University
Date: 2019-04-03
University of Buffalo researcher Shenqiang Ren has been awarded $1,875,000 in US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) grant funding to develop a new, inexpensive insulating material for home energy efficiency and other applications.

The UB researchers will use the award to reduce the cost of producing silica aerogel, a synthetic gel with low thermal conductivity. Having low thermal conductivity makes it an effective insulator.

The EERE awards are intended to "drive innovation in early-stage research and development for advanced building technologies and systems that will serve as a foundation for future technological developments and reductions in building energy consumption." (Source: University of Buffalo, UBNow, PR, 2 April, 2019) Contact: Univ. of Buffalo, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Prof., Shenqiang Ren, (716) 645-1431, shenren@buffalo.edu, engineering.buffalo.edu/mechanical-aerospace/people/faculty/s-ren.html; Contact: US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-ener

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency ,  DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-03-29
The U.S. DOE reports it will award up to $130 million for research to technologies to advance solar energy. This program targets five research areas including photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), soft costs reduction, innovations in manufacturing, and solar systems integration. The funding program is seeking advancements to make solar energy more affordable, reliable, and secure.

Of the total, the DOE will award $26 million in funding for photovoltaics, $33 million for concentrating solar-thermal power, $17 million for soft costs reduction, $10 million for innovations in manufacturing, and $44 million for solar systems integration.(Source: US DOE, Energy Insider, 28 Mar., 2019) ContactL US DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  US DOE,  PV,  

US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office
Date: 2019-03-29
In Washington, the U.S. DOE is reporting the availability of as much as $28.1 million in funding aimed at advancing wind energy nationwide across the land-based, offshore, and distributed wind sectors. Areas of interest under this funding opportunity include:

Using and Upgrading National-level Facilities for Offshore Wind R&D -- up to $7 million. Projects will conduct testing in support of innovative offshore wind research and development utilizing existing national-level testing facilities. A subtopic is included for projects that upgrade the capabilities of existing facilities to enable them to perform specific research activities.

Project Development for Offshore Wind Technology Demonstrations -- up to $10 million. This area of interest will fund supplemental project development activities to enable demonstration of innovative technologies and/or methodologies that reduce offshore wind energy risk and cost, at planned U.S. offshore wind plants that will be operational no later than 2025.

Tall Towers for U.S. Wind Power -- up to $5 million. Taller wind turbine towers can enable access to higher wind speeds, thereby increasing energy capture and reducing cost, but continued economies of scale are currently limited by transportation constraints. A project under this area of interest will validate manufacturing innovations and demonstrate cost-effective tall tower technology that can overcome the transportation constraints currently hindering U.S. wind turbine towers over 140 meters.

Wind Innovations for Rural Economic Development (WIRED) -- up to $6.1 million. Projects will support rural electric utilities and communities through two subtopics:1. Development of distributed wind integrated with other distributed energy resource solutions 2. simplification of distributed energy project development through standardized solutions and technical assistance.

Concept papers for this funding opportunity are due April 25 and full applications are due June 15. Details and application requirements can be found on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIdb3bff091-3531-4356-b234-d079118ccce3.

Additional information on the DOE's wind energy research can be found on the Wind Energy Technologies Office's website www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-technologies-office. (Source: US DOE, Apr., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office,  

US DOE
Date: 2019-03-27
Kent, Washington-headquartered outdoor gear and apparel retailer REI Co-op reports it has been recognized by the Alliance for making strides in its energy productivity goals at its Goodyear, Arizona distribution center for achieving an 18 pct energy reduction and an annual cost savings of $170,000 in its first two years of operation. The distribution center is aiming for net-zero energy consumption, the company said.

To reach its goal, REI installed a 2.2-MW solar array that is expected to power the entire facility and installed a robotic fulfillment system that streamlines and speeds operations.

REI has been part of the DOE's Better Buildings Alliance in 2015. The program brings together commercial building owners to share energy efficiency best practices with peers in the retail sector. (Source: REI Co-op, DOE Better Building Alliance, DC Velocity, 26 Mar., 2019) Contact: DOE https://betterbuildingsinitiative.energy.gov/alliance; REI Co-op, (253) 395-3780,

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  DOE Better Buildings Alliance,  Energy Efficiency,  

Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute
Date: 2019-03-27
The U.S. DOE reports the availability of as much as $70 million for the Los Angeles-based Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute to develop technologies that will advance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, innovation and energy efficiency. The Institute will focus on early-stage research for advancing cybersecurity in energy efficient manufacturing.

According to a report from the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), the manufacturing and industrial sector consumes about 25 pct of the Nation's energy. DOE estimates that the adoption of automated controls and sensors provide the potential for up to 15 pct improved energy efficiency in manufacturing,

Cybersecurity threats in the energy sector negatively impact the manufacturing and deployment of energy technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines. Integration across the supply chain network and an increased use of automation applied in energy efficient manufacturing processes can make industrial infrastructures vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

While the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office will fund the Institute, it will be co-managed by DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. (Source: US DOE, 26 Mar., 2019) Contact: DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, www.energy.gov/eere/amo/advanced-manufacturing-office; Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute, John Dyck, CEO, (888) 720-8096, info@cesmii.org, www.cesmii.org

US DOE
Date: 2019-03-22
In Washington, the US Energy Department (DOE) is predicting CO2 emissions from fossil fuel -- coal and petroleum -- electric power generation will remain near current levels through 2050 as the country's utilities switch to natural gas-fueled power sources.

The forecast, which assumes no significant changes in government policy or legislation regarding emissions, predicts energy-related CO2 emissions will equal 5,019 million metric tons in 2050 -- 4 pct less than the 2018 level. In 2016, natural gas surpassed coal to become the nation's most used fuel for generating electricity. (Source: US DOE, Houston Chron, 20 Mar., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  US DOE,  

US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office
Date: 2019-03-15
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office reports the allocation of $6.2 million for nine early-stage research projects expected to reduce environmental compliance costs and environmental impacts of offshore and onshore wind energy. With cost sharing, the projects are expected to total $9.5 million.

According to DOE, the projects will develop technology solutions to environmental siting and operational challenges to reduce project permitting time and costs, increase the certainty of project development outcomes and provide more deployment options at reduced costs. Three projects by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), American Wind Wildlife Institute of Washington and Stantec Consulting Services of Topsham will receive $2.3 million to further the advancement of smart curtailment strategies to minimize energy loss from curtailment and wind farm environmental impacts to bats. $1.4 million will be awarded to National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of Golden, General Electric Renewable Energy of Greenville and the Iowa State University of Ame for projects dedicated to advancing the commercial readiness of bat deterrent technologies to minimize the need for curtailment.

The remaining $2.5 million will be allocated to SMRU Consulting of Friday Harbor, Oregon State University of Corvallis and Western EcoSystems Technology of Cheyenne to develop and validate pre- and post-construction monitoring and mitigation solutions for the offshore wind environment to ease regulatory barriers to deployment. (Source: US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office, offshoreWIND .biz, 14 Mar., 2019) Contact: US DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office, Phone: (202) 586-5348, www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Wind,  EPRI,  

Carbon Capture
Date: 2019-03-15
The U.S. DOE has announced the availability of up to $30 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development for front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture systems. The projects, funded by the Office of Fossil Energy's Carbon Capture program will support FEED studies for CO2 systems on both coal and natural gas power plants.

According to the agency, FEED studies for commercial carbon capture systems is necessary to fully understand and reduce the costs of these systems and is the next step toward wide-scale deployment of the technology.

The DOE notes CCUS systems are proven to significantly reduce carbon emissions from power plants that use coal and gas. For example, the Petra Nova Project, which is supported by DOE and located near Houston, Texas, has captured more than 1 million tpy of CO2 since coming online in 2017.

Access project details HERE. (Source: US DOE, Mar., 2019) Contact: US DOE, (202) 586-5000, www.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Carbon Capture,  Petra Nova,  Carbon Cioxide,  CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  

Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation
Date: 2019-03-04
The Urbana, Illionis-based Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) reports that with $115 million in us DOE grant funding, its project to develop energy using sustainable crop byproducts is progressing steadily.

CABBI is working with soy gum, which is converted into products like biodiesel by looking at the gene structure of the plant stem and extracting the oil and gases which can be used directly as biodiesel or further processed into different value-added products,” according to CABBI director Evan DeLuc1a. (Source: Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Illinois News Network, 2 Mar., 2019) Contact: CABBI, Evan DeLuc1a , (217)244-1586 cabbi-bio@illinois.edu, www.cabbi.bio

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  CABBI,  Biofuel,  

Energy Trust of Oregon
Date: 2019-02-25
The 1985 vintage, 500,000 square-foot Washington State Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton reports it is the only prison in the nation to earn the U.S. DOE 50001 Ready designation and using global best practices to save energy and save approximately $300,000 a year on energy costs.

Since 2011 the prison upgraded insulation, upgraded and installed boilers, and invested $82,000 to upgrade all perimeter lighting with LEDs. The LED project was partially funded by the nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon covered $32,000 of the LED upgrade costs. Energy Trust has given EOCI more than $383,000 in cash incentives for energy saving and energy management initiatives and projects since 2006. (Source: East Oregonian, 28 Feb., 2019) Contact: Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, www.prisonpro.com/content/eastern-oregon-correctional-institution; Energy Trust of Oregon, (503) 493-8888, www.energytrust.org; US DOE 50001 Ready, www.energy.gov/eere/amo/50001-ready-program

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LEDs,  Energy Trust of Oregon ,  

GroundMetrics
Date: 2019-02-22
San Diego-based electromagnetic sensor system company and oil and gas technology pioneer GroundMetrics Inc reports it will use proprietary sensor systems and machine learning to monitor CO2 in the subsurface through a new project awarded by the US DOE.

In partnership with the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory LBNL) and Expero Inc., GroundMetrics will develop a continuous sequestered carbon monitoring system to measure resistivity changes in the subsurface. The system will help carbon sequestration managers monitor CO2 saturation and thus provide time and cost-effective insight into how the CO2 is being distributed underground and whether it is leaking.

GroundMetrics offers full-field survey and monitoring services as well as partnership opportunities to oil and gas, geophysical service, and mineral exploration companies. (Source: GroundMetrics, Inc., PR, 21 Feb., 2019) Contact: GroundMetrics, George Eiskamp, CEO, Jessie Kaffai, (858) 381-4155, jkaffai@)groundmetrics.com, www.groundmetrics.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  CO2,  Carbon Dioxide,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Renovare Fuels
Date: 2019-02-20
In the UK, London-headquartered Renovare Fuels is touting a new technology that cost effectively converts biogas into a high-grade liquid fuel that can be used as a direct replacement for fossil fuels. The technology is presently being showcased for the first time at Alliance Dairies in Florida.

"By using a specially developed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst and advanced process engineering techniques, Renovare Fuels' technology can efficiently turn biogas into middle distillate fuel. The feedstock is sourced locally to the site and classified as a waste product, so the production cycle is objectively carbon neutral," according to the company. The abundance of waste products means that the production of the biodiesel promises a low-cost sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Renovare Fuels believes that the fuel could be priced at under 50 UK pence per litre in a quantity that could reshape the energy sector. Renovare Fuels' technology, which was developed at the University of South Florida in conjunction with NASA and the US DOE, was proved successful in converting biogas into usable diesel during a trial at a US landfill in 2017, according to the company. (Source: Renovare, EngineerLive, 19 Feb., 2019) Contact: Renovare Fuels, Devin Walker, CTO, +44 (0) 20 3874 8111, Fax +44 (0) 20 3874 8110, www.renovare-fuels.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  Renovare Fuels,  Renewable Diesel,  Landfill Gas,  Fischer-Tropsch,  

Montana State University
Date: 2019-02-15
With $3 million in US DOE grant funding, researchers at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman are reporting they are in the early stages of a three-year project focused on developing a potential breakthrough in producing biofuels from algae.

Despite promising technology surrounding the conversion of algae oil into biodiesel, the costs of supplying the algae with supplemental CO2 have hampered commercial production. Researchers now believe SLA-04, a recently discovered strain of algae, could be cultivated using only the ambient CO2 of the atmosphere. SLA-04 was discovered in an eastern Washington lake containing high levels of carbonate minerals similar to baking soda. In the lake's unique environment, these algae have been shown to metabolize ambient CO2 very efficiently.

Assoc. Prof. Blake Wiedenheft in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Agriculture and the College of Letters and Science, will explore the use of the genome editing technique called CRISPR for enhancing the algae's ability to produce the oils desired for biofuel production. (Source: Montana State University, PR, Feb., 2019) Contact: Montana State Univ., Prof. Brent Peyton, Director, MSU Thermal Biology Institute, Prof. Robin Gerlach, Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, www.montana.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Algae,  Algae Oil,  Algae Biofuel,  Biodiesel,  

Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition
Date: 2019-02-08
Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (CFC) reports it will join other clean transportation leaders representatives next week in Washington D.C. in an effort to educate and lobby federal policymakers on the benefits of expanding alternative fuels.

"Despite the recent drop in gasoline prices, gas prices remain extremely volatile and we continue to send more than $200 billion per year to OPEC and other nations for oil," said Mark Bentley, Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition's executive director. "We are going to Washington to help our representatives understand that Alabama and the United States must aggressively expand our use of alternatives to petroleum-based fuel if we are to stabilize gas prices, decrease our reliance on foreign oil and maintain and create domestic jobs in the transportation energy industry."

There are approximately 1.8 million alternative fuel vehicles currently on the road in the United States and nearly 70,000 alternative fueling stations, according to the US DOE. (Source: Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Alabama Reporter, 7 Jan., 2019) Contact: Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Mark Bentley, (205) 402-2755, www.alabamacleanfuels.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition,  Alternative Fuel,  

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Date: 2019-01-24
In Richland, Washington, the US DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) reports it will construct a new facility where scientists will conduct research that leads to more efficient energy and transportation technologies. Construction is slated to get underway in late 2019 or early 2020 for completion and occupancy in mid- or late 2021.

The as yet unnamed research facility will be between 110,000 and 145,000 square feet in size and will house labs and workstations for approximately 175 PNNL and visiting scientists, engineers and research support staff.

"Breakthrough research conducted here may lead to reduced vehicle emissions, more efficient fertilizer production and the ability to turn waste into fuels and products more efficiently and economically," PNNL Director Steven Ashby noted. (Source: PNNL, PR, 22 Jan., 2019) Contact: PNNL, Steven Ashby, Dir., www.pnnl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News PNNL,  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ,  

DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office
Date: 2019-01-23
DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) is reporting a MoU with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) aiming to enhance collaboration on hydrogen and fuel cell research and development (R&D) and develop emerging hydrogen fuel infrastructure technologies and grow the domestic supply chain.

DOE's Fuel Cell Technologies Office focuses on advancing an innovative portfolio of hydrogen fuel and fuel cell technologies through early-stage applied research and technology development, including: hydrogen production (from diverse domestic resources, including renewable, fossil, and nuclear resources); infrastructure development (including hydrogen delivery and storage); and fuel cells for transportation, stationary, and portable applications. Source: DOE FCTO, PR, Clean Car Congress, 19 Jan., 2019) Contact: US DOE FCTO, https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fuel-cell-technologies-office; Michigan Economic Development Corporation, www.michiganbusiness.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogen Fuel,  Fuel Cell,  

DOE SETO
Date: 2019-01-18
In Seattle, University of Washington (UW) researchers are reporting receipt of $2.3 million in funding from the U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). The funding is to support projects that will advance R&D in photovoltaic materials.

The UW research teams are led by Scott Dunham, a professor of electrical and computer engineering; Hugh Hillhouse, a professor of chemical engineering; and Devin MacKenzie, an associate professor of both mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering. All are also researchers with the UW-based Clean Energy Institute, and MacKenzie serves as director of the institute's Washington Clean Energy Testbeds. Dunham and Hillhouse are also members of the UW Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute.

Prof. Hugh Hillhouse's project was awarded $1.5 million to focus on understanding how the composition, structure, and environmental exposure of pervoskites can affect their stability and performance. Associate Prof Devin MacKenzie's project scored nearly $200,000 to focus on perovskite manufacturing using roll-to-roll processing techniques. Prof. Scott Dunham's project will investigate copper indium gallium selenide (CIGs) with $681,000 in grant funding. (Source: University of Washington News, DOE SETO, 16 Jan., 2019) Contact: University of Washington Clean Energy Institute, 206-221-9263, uwcei@uw.edu, www.cei.washington.edu; Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, 206-685-6833, wcet@uw.edu, www.wcet.washington.edu; Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute, University of Washington, www.washington.edu; US DOE SETO, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  DOE SETO,  PV,  Photovoltaic,  

US DOE Water Power Technologies Office
Date: 2019-01-09
U.S. DOE is reporting the selection of 12 projects that will share in $25 million in next-generation marine energy devices funding through the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Water Power Technologies Office. The selected innovative projects will reduce capital costs and accelerate the innovation cycle by testing new concepts. Marine energy includes ocean wave power, tidal, and river/ocean current devices that convert movement of water into electricity.

Selections were made across three topic areas, outlined below. The first two aim to address fundamental scientific and engineering challenges of generating power from dynamic, low-velocity and high-density waves and currents. The third topic area is targeted to provide better information to reduce the costs and time to permit projects that include Early Stage Device Design Research, Controls and Power Take Off Design Integration and Testing, and Dissemination of Environmental Data and Analyses to Facilitate the Marine Energy Regulatory Process. (Source: US DOE, Water Power Technologies Office, Jan., 2019) Contact: US DOE Water Power Technologies Office, ww.energy.gov/eere/water/water-power-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wave Energy,  Tidal Energy,  Run-of-River,  US DOE Water Power Technologies Office,  

RFS,Renewable Fuel Standard
Date: 2019-01-02
According to a recently released US EPA list of small-refinery "hardship" waivers filed under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), seven new applications for waivers have been filed for the 2018 compliance year. All of the waivers were filed between November 10 and December 18, 2018, when the EPA reported receipt of 22 waiver requests for the 2018 compliance year.

For 2017, EPA received a total of 37 small refinery "hardship waiver" petitions, 29 of which were approved, seven are still pending and one declared ineligible or withdrawn. The 29 approved petitions have exempted roughly 1.46 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs) keeping more than 13.6 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from meeting the RFS blending targets.

As previously noted, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: US EPA, NAFB, 31 Dec., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News RINs,  Hardship Waiver,  RFS,  US DOE,  

Southwest Research Institute
Date: 2018-12-17
In the Lone Star State, the San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) reports receipt of $2 million in grant funding from the US DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop an advanced pumped heat electricity storage (PHES) system. This system offers twice the energy density of a lithium ion battery and is based on an innovative thermodynamic cycle to store energy in hot and cold fluids.

In this new system, electric energy from the grid is converted into thermal energy and stored as a thermal potential. At full capacity, the system can store energy for hours or up to several weeks before converting it back to electrical energy. The system can then provide greater than 10 hours of electricity at rated power. Tom adds that the capacity of the system can be easily extended by increasing the volume of the storage tanks. Additionally, this form of storage offers a low-cost solution when compared to the costs of operations like "peaker" plants, which generate and provide electricity during the peak demand hours of the morning, later afternoon and evening. (Source: SwRI, PR, 14 Dec., 2018) Contact: SwRI, Danny Deffenbaugh, VP Mechanical Engineering Division, www.swri.org/industries/machinery; DOE ARPA-E, https://arpa-e.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southwest Research Institute,  Energy Storage,  DOE ARPA-E,  

US DOE
Date: 2018-12-14
The US DOE Co-Optima initiative has awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team of researchers led by a UMass Lowell for the development of renewable fuel additives from sawdust and other wood byproducts. The University of Maine and Rockledge, Florida-based Mainstream Engineering Corp. are also participating in the project.

The additive is intended to be mixed with diesel and other petroleum-based fuels to displace some volume of diesel with something renewable and help cut down the vehicle's carbon footprint. The biofuel-blend formulation will offer the same engine performance, but will ideally be easier and more environmentally friendly to produce. (Source: U Mass, US DOE, 12 Dec., 2018) Contact: UMass, Prof. Hunter Mack, Research Team Leader, http://uml.academia.edu/JohnHunterMack; Mainstream Engineering, (321) 631-3550, Fax: (321)631-3552, info@mainstream-engr.com, www.mainstream-engr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

Forest Concepts
Date: 2018-12-12
Recognizing the importance of enhancing biomass conversion processes for industry, a team of NREL scientists partnered with Auburn, Washington-based Forest Concepts to perform detailed thermochemical conversion simulations for biomass feedstocks. The simulations relate feedstock attributes to expected product yields and necessary pyrolysis conversion process conditions. The work by NREL will allow Forest Concepts to better convey the value of their feedstocks to biorefinery customers.

Forest Concepts, a manufacturer of precision woody and herbaceous feedstocks for bioenergy and bioproduct applications, leveraged NREL's capabilities in biomass conversion modeling to help quantify the impact of their feedstock characteristics based on various particle shapes and sizes. The NREL team is part of the Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC), which uses high-performance computing to support the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).

Prior to the development of the NREL models, Forest Concepts provided feedstock pricing based on volume and size of the biomass particle. Using the NREL models, Forest Concepts can now provide information to their customers such as standardized performance, required conversion conditions, and expected yields based on the size and shape of feedstock particles.

BETO recognized early on the value of developing detailed biomass feedstock particle models to understand how the properties of each particle impact the yield and composition products from the conversion process. Moving forward, these capabilities will be leveraged by the newly established Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC) whose mission is to quantify, understand, and manage variability in biomass from field through downstream conversion and to understand how biomass composition, structure, and behavior impact system performance.

FCIC is an integrated and collaborative network of eight national laboratories dedicated to addressing technical risks and understanding how biomass properties influence collection, storage, handling, preprocessing and conversion technologies with the goal of improving the overall operational reliability of integrated pioneer biorefineries. (Source: NREL, PR, 10 Dec., 2018) Contact: NREL, Peter Ciesielski, Scientist, www.nrel.gov; US DOE BETO, energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office; Forest Concepts, James H. Dooley, CTO, (253) 333-9663, www.forestconcepts.com; Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium, https://fcic.inl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NREL,  Forest Concepts,  Bioenergy,  Biofuel,  Biomass,  BETO ,