National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
Date: 2021-03-31
The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, which was established with funding from U.S. DOE, has selected 15 new projects to receive a total of $8 million for offshore wind support structure innovation, U.S.-based supply chain development, electrical systems innovation, and solutions for impacts on wildlife and radar.

The selections announced today include:

Four projects to develop innovative support structures (including foundations and moorings) for very large fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind turbines to achieve economies of scale;

Three projects that propose innovative solutions to supply chain and installation challenges including spiral welded towers, a self-positioning blade installation tool, and unmanned aerial devices for inspections;

Five projects to support innovations in grid interconnection and transmission;

Three technology development projects to mitigate use conflicts, including wildlife monitoring and radar interference. The 15 new projects bring the Consortium’s total funding portfolio to $28 million for 40 projects. This announcement supports a goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind by 2030.

DOE established the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium in 2018 to address research priorities for offshore wind as defined in the National Offshore Wind Strategy, which was developed jointly by DOE and the DOI Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The Consortium is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) with DOE and NYSERDA each providing $20.5 million to fund high-impact research projects that lower the costs of U.S. offshore wind.

Download details HERE (Source: US DOE, Wind Energy Technology Office, National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium, PR, 29 Mar., 2021) Contact: National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium, www.nationaloffshorewind.org; NYSERDA, Doreen Harris, Acting CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium,  Offshore Wind,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-03-19
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $20 million for R&D that will advance the manufacturability of mid-sized flow battery systems.

With this funding opportunity, DOE will partner with industry to address technical and manufacturing challenges that have prevented flow battery systems from achieving cost targets and commercial viability. DOE seeks proposals for collaborative, multi-stage R&D projects that improve manufacturing processes for individual flow battery components and integrate those new or improved components into a prototype system with a mid-sized capacity for grid, industrial, or transportation applications.

Projects selected will: enable cost-effective, scalable manufacturing for mid-sized (i.e., 10-100 kilowatt hour) flow battery systems; test and validate the flow battery system's manufacturability; and strengthen domestic flow battery supply chains by connecting battery manufacturing stakeholders.

Funding will be provided by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office. Additionally, DOE's Office of Electricity (OE) will support testing for selected projects at facilities like the $75 million Grid Storage Launchpad at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The Flow Battery Systems Manufacturing funding opportunity is part of DOE's Energy Storage Grand Challenge to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage.

DOE anticipates making four to six awards. A minimum cost-share of 20 pct for R&D projects is required. Concept papers are due on April 29, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Additional details, including application and submission requirements are HERE. (Source: US DOE, PR, 17 Mar., 2021) Contact: DOE Energy Storage Grand Challenge, www.energy.gov/energy-storage-grand-challenge/energy-storage-grand-challenge

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  US DOE,  Flow Battery,  Battery,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-03-17
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected the following projects to receive $2 million in funding for cost-shared research and development the Enabling Gasification of Blended Coal, Biomass and Plastic Wastes to Produce Hydrogen with Potential for Net Negative Carbon Dioxide Emissions program.

This FOA focuses on the advancement of net-negative carbon emitting technologies that aim to produce hydrogen or other high-value fuels, whether as the sole product or as a co-product. Developing co-gasification technologies is a way to introduce net-negative carbon technologies that can help alleviate concerns about potential feedstock availability and other operational issues. The four projects selected are described below:

Fluidized-Bed Gasification of Coal-Biomass-Plastics for Hydrogen Production -- Auburn University in Alabama plans to study the gasification performance of select feedstock mixtures in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed gasifier. Specific objectives are to (1) study coal-plastic-biomass mixture flowability for consistent feeding in the gasifier; (2) understand gasification behavior of the mixtures in steam and oxygen environments; (3) characterize thermal properties of ash/slag from the mixture feedstock and investigate the interaction between slag/ash and refractory materials; and (4) develop process models to determine the technology needed for cleaning up syngas and removing contaminants for hydrogen production. -- Funding: DOE: $499,485; Non-DOE: $126,971; Total: $626,456

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen -- Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) plans to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a laboratory-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing will provide relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. The effects of waste plastics on feedstock development and the resulting products will be a focus of the research. The research team will review data, determine figures of merit, and interpret results to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified, as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. -- Funding: DOE: $500,002; Non-DOE: $125,000; Total: $625,002

Development and Characterization of Densified Biomass-Plastic Blend for Entrained Flow Gasification -- University of Kentucky Research Foundation in Lexington plans to develop and study a coal/biomass/plastic blend fuel by (1) producing hydrophobic layer encapsulated biomass suitable for slurry with solid content with greater than 60 wt pct of blended coal/biomass and plastic suitable for oxygen-blown entrained flow gasification with slurry feed; (2) conducting lab-scale kinetic and gasification studies on the feedstock blend; and (3) demonstrating practical operations in a commercially relevant 1 ton/day entrained flow gasifier.--Funding: DOE: $500,000; Non-DOE: $125,559; Total: $625,559

Enabling Entrained-Flow Gasification of Blends of Coal, Biomass and Plastics -- University of Utah plans to leverage a high-pressure, slurry-fed, oxygen-blown entrained-flow system to enable co-gasification of biomass and waste plastic by creating slurries of coal, biomass pyrolysis liquids, and liquefied plastic oil. Gasification performance of the most promising mixtures will be evaluated in the University of Utah's 1 ton/day pressurized oxygen-blown gasifier fitted with a custom-built hot oxygen burner. -- Funding: DOE: $500,000; Non-DOE: $291,157; Total: $791,157

The Office of Fossil Energy funds research and development projects to advance fossil energy technologies and further the sustainable use of the Nation's fossil resources. (Source: US DOE, Office of Fossil Energy, PR, 15 Mar., 2021) Contact: National Energy Technology Laboratory, www.netl.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Hydrogen,  

BIRD, US DOE
Date: 2021-03-17
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority, is reporting the availability of $4 million in funding for innovative clean energy technologies. This funding comes from Binational Industrial Research & Development (BIRD) Energy, a program that promotes U.S.-Israel partnerships in bringing renewable and energy efficiency technologies to market.

Established by the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, BIRD Energy supports research and development that benefits both the U.S. and Israel, with a focus on commercializing sustainable energy technologies, create jobs, and increase energy security.

From 2009 to 2020, BIRD Energy funded 55 projects totaling $42 million. In addition to an estimated $55 million in funding matched by the private sector, BIRD Energy has attracted more than $700 million in venture capital and other follow-on investment to commercialize clean energy technologies.

For this funding offer, the deadline for executive summaries is June 30, 2021 with final proposals due August 13, 2021. (Source: US DOE, BIRD Energy, 15 Mar., 2021) Contact: BIRD Energy, www.birdf.com/bird-energy-call-proposals: US DOE, 202-586-5000, www.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News BIRD news,  Clean Energy news,  Renewable Energy news,  BIRD Energy news,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-03-10
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is reporting the availability of up to $52.5 million for DOE's Industrial Assessment Centers aimed at helping manufacturers and wastewater treatment facilities improve energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.

The funding will be distributed through DOE's Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) -- university-based programs that train students and offer no-cost efficiency improvement recommendations to small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities. To date, the IAC program has provided nearly 20,000 assessments and more than 145,000 recommendations for improvement measures. As a part of this funding opportunity, DOE will also launch a pilot project to expand IAC engagement with under served communities.

Assessments typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings opportunities. (Source: US DOE. PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Advanced Manufacturing Office, www.energy.gov/eere/amo/advanced-manufacturing-office; . EERE Building Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

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

Siemens Energy ,Intermountain Power Agency
Date: 2021-03-03
Munich, Germany-based Siemens Energy AG reports receipt of $200,000 in US DOE grant funding to support a conceptual design study to integrate hydrogen production and storage at the coal-fired, 1,800-MW Intermountain Generating Station in Delta, Utah.

The initiative aims to analyze the overall efficiency and reliability of CO2-free power supply involving the large-scale production and storage of hydrogen and to analyze costs, sizing and other various aspects of integrating the system into an existing power plant and transmission grid.

The Intermountain Power Agency, which owns the Delta plant, last summer picked Black & Veatch Corp. as the chief engineering company to oversee the facility's conversion into an 840-MW combined cycle facility that will run initially on a mix of natural gas and hydrogen, and then ultimately operate on hydrogen alone. The Intermountain plant plans to integrate 30 pct hydrogen fuel at startup in 2025, switching to 100 pct hydrogen by 2045.

"By switching from coal to a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen we can reduce carbon emissions by more than 75 pct", according to Intermountain Power. (Source: Siemens Energy, Power Mag.,1 Mar., 2021) Contact: Intermountain Power Agency, Dan Eldredge, GM. (801) 938-1333, www.ipautah.com; Siemens Energy AG, www.siemens-energy.com/global/en.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens Energy,  Intermountain Power Agency,  Carbon Emissions,  

Date: 2021-03-03
In the Badger State, the City of Madison is reporting Dane County, the City of Madison, and local nonprofit Slipstream will receive nearly $1 million through the US DOE Building Technologies Proving Ground -- Public Sector Field Validation Funding Opportunity for an energy efficiency retrofit of the City-County Building.

The funding will be used to retrofit the City-County Building with triple-paned windows, cost-effective LED lighting and integrated automation control systems. The project will demonstrate whole-building energy savings resulting from integrated HVAC and lighting systems that save 10 pct and 60 pct, respectively, while providing key grid services simultaneously.

The project is expected to total about $1.5 million, with Dane County with the City of Madison contributing approximately $500,000 in matching funds.

The project, which is expected to get underway this spring and continue through 2022, will also leverage technical expertise from Focus on Energy and MGE, the local energy utility. (Source: City of Madison, PR, 1 Feb., 2021) Contact: Dane County, Ariana Vruwink, vruwink.ariana@countyofdane.com; City of Madison, Katie Crawley, 608-335-7071, kcrawley@cityofmadison.com

ORNL, Sparkz
Date: 2021-02-05
The US DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is reporting Knoxville, Tennessee-based battery energy storage start-up Sparkz Energy Systems (SPARKZ) has exclusively licensed ORNL's "fast formation cycling" technology that enables the rapid production of lithium-ion batteries commonly used in portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. The technology reduces production time significantly and also enhances battery performance, which can lead to reduced costs.

SPARKZ is presently seeking a location for an R&D and prototyping facility to scale their licensed battery technologies to meet the demands of customers in the mobility and grid sectors, according to the release. (Source: ORNL/U.S. Dept. of Energy, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: ORNL/U.S. Dept. of Energy, www.ornl.gov/partnerships; Sparkz Energy Systems, Sanjiv Malhotra, CEO, www.sparkz.energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News ORNL,  Battery,  Sparkz,  

General Electric, LM Wind
Date: 2021-02-05
General Electric is reportings its GE Research, GE Renewable Energy, and LM Wind Power units were recently selected by the US DOE to research the design and manufacture of 3-D printed wind turbine blades.

The GE units will partner with the Oakridge National Lab (ORNL) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) on the 25-month, $6.7 million project to develop and demonstrate an integrated additive manufacturing process for novel high-performance blade designs for large rotors.

The project will deliver a full-size blade tip ready to be structurally tested, as well as three blade tips that will be installed on a wind turbine. (Source: General Electric, PR, OE, 5 Feb., 2021) Contact: GE Renewable Energy, www.ge.com/renewableenergy.com; LM Wind Power, www.lmwindpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LM Wind,  Wind Blade,  GE Renewable Energy,  

Madison Wisconsin
Date: 2021-02-03
In the Badger State, Dane County, the City of Madison and local nonprofit Slipstream are reporting receipt of nearly $1 million in grant funding from the US DOE Building Technologies Proving Ground -- Public Sector Field Validation Funding Opportunity for energy efficiency upgrades to the City-County municipal building.

The upgrades will include triple-paned windows , LED lighting, HVAC systems and others. The project is expected to cost about $1.5 million, with Dane County and the City of Madison allocating $500,000 in matching funds. (Source: City of Madison, Dane County Wisc., 1 Feb., 2021) Contact: Dane County Wisc., Joe Parisi, www.countyofdane.com US DOE Building Technologies Proving Ground -- Public Sector Field Validation Funding Opportunity , www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/events/building-technologies-proving-ground-public-sector-field-validation-applicant

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

US DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2021-01-25
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy has announced plans to make $8 million in Federal funding available for cost-shared research, development, and testing of technologies that can utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) from power systems or other industrial sources for bio-mediated uptake by algal systems to create valuable products and services.

Funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002403, Engineering-Scale Testing and Validation of Algae-Based Technologies and Bioproducts, will support the goals of DOE's Carbon Utilization Program. The primary objective of carbon utilization technology development is to lower the near-term cost of carbon capture through the creation of value-added products from the conversion of CO2.

The intent of the FOA is to seek applications that aim to perform engineering-scale testing and validation of algae-based technologies and bioproducts. Technologies that convert CO2 must show a net decrease in CO2 emissions through life cycle analysis, display a potential to generate a marketable product and show that the product displays beneficial aspects when compared to commercially available products produced with existing state-of-the-art technology.

Information on this notice of intent can be found HERE.

The Office of Fossil Energy funds R&D projects to reduce the cost of advanced fossil energy technologies and further the sustainable use of the nation's fossil resources. (Source: DOE Office of Fossil Energy,, PR, 20 Jan., 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy; National Energy Technology Laboratory, www.doe.netl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NETL,  US DOE Office of Fossil EnergyCO2,  Algae,  

US DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2021-01-25
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has announced up to $15 million in federally funded financial assistance for cost-shared research and development projects under the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002402, Carbon Capture R&D: Bench-Scale Testing of Direct Air Capture Components (TRL 3) and Initial Engineering Design for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Systems from Air (TRL 6).

Since 2001, DOE-FE's Carbon Capture Program has been identifying and advancing technologies with the goal of removing CO2 from point sources such as fossil fuel-based power plants and industrial processes or directly from the atmosphere. The technologies should incur minimum costs and minimum energy penalties.

The Carbon Capture Program aims to develop efficient processes and components utilizing transformational materials to lower the cost of DAC systems. Project researchers should achieve a better understanding of system costs, performance, and other factors to accelerate development of this climate-critical technology. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects, which will develop lower-cost, scalable technologies for CO2 capture from air and support DOE's Carbon Capture Program. The FOA focuses on two areas of interest:

Bench-Scale Testing of Structured Material Systems or Component Designs for Optimized Direct Air Capture -- Projects will support testing and validation of advanced carbon capture structured material systems (e.g., monoliths, laminate structures, membrane bundles or electrodes) or component designs (e.g., air contactors, desorbers or electrochemical cells) under environmentally relevant conditions for DAC. The objective of this bench-scale R&D effort is to advance promising structured material systems or component designs for DAC to a sufficient maturity level that can justify their scale-up in a subsequent program.

Initial Engineering Design of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Systems for Direct Air Capture -- Projects will support the completion of an initial design of a commercial-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)- DAC system that separates, stores, or utilizes a minimum of 100,000 tpy net CO2 from air. Chosen projects will enable a better understanding of CCUS-DAC system costs, performance and business case options and facilitate a better focus on DAC R&D needs. Applicants are encouraged to propose teams that consist of both the carbon capture technology developer and partnering organization(s) with demonstrated experience in engineering, procurement, construction, and managing projects of similar size, scope, and complexity.

DOE anticipates selecting up to 8 projects for this FOA. (Source: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy 25 Jan., 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE Office of Fossil Energy,  Direct Air Carbon Capture,  

Verdant Power
Date: 2021-01-06
As previously reported, NYC-based marine renewable energy start-up Verdant Power has installed three tidal power turbine generators at its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project in the city's East River tidal strait. The deployment of Verdant's technology is the first licensed tidal power project in the US.

The RITE project received $6 million US DOE funding and support from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), as well New York-based private equity capital support.

The company notes it is waiting for an independent performance assessment from the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal testing facility to deploy the technology outside of the US.

Since installation on 22 October, the TriFrame unit has generated an average 1MWh of power per day -- sufficient power power for 500 Manhattan apartments, according to the company. (Source: Verdant Power, Website, PowerTechnology, 4 Dec., 2020) Contact: Verdant Power, Trey Taylor, CMO, www.linkedin.com/company/verdant-power

More Low-Carbon Energy News Verdant Power,  Tidal Energy,  

Verdant Power
Date: 2021-01-05
As previously reported, NYC-based marine renewable energy start-up Verdant Power has installed three tidal power turbine generators at its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) project in the city’s East River tidal strait as part of the company’s 5th generation tidal turbine system. The deployment of Verdant’s technology also marked the first licensed tidal power project in the US.

The RITE project received $6m in US DOE funding and support from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in addition to New York-based private equity capital support. The company is also waiting for an independent performance assessment from the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal testing facility to deploy the technology outside of the US.

According to Verdant Power co-founder and chief marketing officer Trey Taylor: “Given the East River’s depth and tidal current speed of 2.25m/s, the company’s fifth-generation system or ‘commercial standard system’ has been tailored to this site by using five-metre diameter rotors with 35kW nameplate generators -- three to a single TriFrame or 105kW. Since installation on 22 October, the TriFrame has generated an average 1MWh per day or enough power for 500 Manhattan apartments.” (Source: Verdant Power, Website, PowerTechnology, 4 Dec., 2020) Contact: Verdant Power, Trey Taylor, CMO, www.linkedin.com/company/verdant-power

More Low-Carbon Energy News Verdant Power news,  Tidal Energy news,  

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Date: 2021-01-04
In an open-access paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Molecular Foundry report they have designed and synthesized ultrasmall nickel nanoclusters deposited on defect-rich BN nanosheet (Ni/BN) catalysts that can cleanly and efficiently accelerate the reaction that removes hydrogen atoms from a liquid chemical carrier such as methanol and could help make hydrogen a viable energy source for a wide range of applications, including alternative transportation fuels.

The research is part of the Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC), a consortium funded by the US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

For the chemical reaction that produces hydrogen from liquid carriers, the most effective catalysts are made from precious metals. However, those catalysts are associated with high costs and low abundance and are susceptible to contamination. Other less expensive catalysts, made from more common metals, tend to be less effective and less stable, which limits their activity and their practical deployment into hydrogen production industries. LBNL will hone the strategy of modifying 2D substrates in ways that support tiny metal clusters, to develop even more efficient catalysts. The technique could help optimize the process of extracting hydrogen from liquid chemical carriers.

The research was supported by the DOE Office of Science and EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. (Source: LBNL, PR, Website, Green Car Congress, 3 Jan., 2021) Contact: LBNL, Molecular Foundry, Jeff Urban, Inorganic Nanostructures Facility Director, Laurel Kellner, Media, 510-590-8034, LKellner@lbl.gov, www.lbl.gov; Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium, www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hymarc-hydrogen-materials-advanced-research-consortium

More Low-Carbon Energy News Alternative Fuel,  Hydrogen,  Methanol,  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ,  

Power Tech Engineers
Date: 2020-12-30
In the Golden State, Walnut, California-based Power Tech Engineers Inc. is proposing a $3 billion pumped-water energy storage project along Isabella Lake that would help even out power delivery from California solar and wind farms.

The plan calls for the creation of a new reservoir above the lake from which water would be pumped into a rechargeable dam and 2,000 MW hydroelectric generator. The early-stage project is presently being reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) but has yet to apply for environmental impact and other regulatory studies and approvals.

The US DOE has reportedly offered to cover 70 pct of the project's cost. (Source: Power Tech Engineers Inc., PR, Website Dec., 2020) Contact: Power Tech Engineers Inc., Victor Rojas, Pres., 909-595-5314, www.ptei.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Pumped Hydro,  

EPRI
Date: 2020-12-30
The Palo Alto, California-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) reports receipt of $600,000 in funding from the US DOE for projects to study innovative, non-battery solutions to bulk energy storage integrated with fossil assets, supporting a cleaner integrated energy network. The three EPRI-led projects include:

A pilot-scale liquid salt combined-cycle unit. -- The study will develop a design for the system to be integrated into a natural gas power plant and evaluate its costs and performance to potentially advance it closer to commercial deployment.

Sand thermal energy storage. -- The project will perform a feasibility study for integrating this storage technology into a coal power plant and to explore how this technology can work in conjunction with any fossil source, as well as nuclear, solar thermal, and electrical heating from renewables.

Crushed rock as a cost-effective medium. -- The project will perform a feasibility study for the integration of a pilot-scale crushed rock thermal energy storage system with a natural gas power plant. The pilot represents a next-to-last demonstration before the technology can be commercially ready.

EPRI is collaborating with nine industry organizations to lead these studies, three of which are major U.S. power generators providing potential host sites for the design assessments.

Not-for-profit EPRI conducts research and development relating to power generation, delivery and use of electricity. EPRI's members represent more than 90 pct of the electricity generated and delivered in the U.S. and international participation extends to 40 countries. (Source: Electric Power Research Institute, PR, 28 Dec., 2020) Contact: EPRI, Neva Espinoza, VP Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources, Tim Leljedal, (980) 229-5964, tleljedal@epri.com, www.epri.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News EPRI,  Energy Storage,  

US DOE
Date: 2020-12-28
The U.S. DOE reports the selection of 29 R&D projects to receive nearly $7.6 million in cost-shared federal funding to advance fossil fuel -- energy storage technologies. The R&D will accelerate the development of technology options to manage the energy transition underway to decarbonise and increase the flexibility of fossil power generation and support the grid of the future with increasing variable renewable generation.

The selected projects include thermal, chemical, mechanical, and other innovative energy storage technologies integrated with a range of fossil assets -- 16 of which will focus on hydrogen and ammonia, which are key low-carbon energy carriers with the potential to enable long-duration energy storage and decarbonise the industrial and power generation sectors.

Nine projects will focus on thermal energy storage, including mature options such as molten salt that can offer near-term deployment opportunities.

Energy storage technologies will be integrated with a range of fossil assets, including coal power plants, natural gas combined cycles, and combustion turbines. Applications include power generation utilities, petrochemical complexes, microgrids, university campuses, and repowering retired coal power plants. Many of the applications are envisioned to include fuel switching (hydrogen or ammonia) or carbon capture and storage to mitigate carbon emissions and leverage the energy storage technology to increase flexibility, reduce cycling damage, and time-shift energy to enhance grid support and asset utilisation.

Anticipated host sites for the near-term projects will be distributed across at least 11 states and many regulated markets including the California Independent System Operator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Southwest Power Pool Inc., Electric Reliability Council of Texas, and New York Independent System Operator. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects. (Source: US DOE, World Coal, 28 Dec., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Hydrogen,  

Siemens Energy, Duke Energy, Clemson University
Date: 2020-12-14
Siemens Energy, Duke Energy and Clemson University have teamed up to study the use of hydrogen for energy storage and as a low- or no-carbon fuel source to produce energy at Duke Energy's combined heat and power plant located at Clemson University in South Carolina.

The US DOE awarded Siemens Energy a $200,000 grant for the "H2-Orange" research pilot to be launched in March. 2021. The project will include studies on hydrogen production, storage and co-firing with natural gas as well as evaluate multiple forms of hydrogen production, including green hydrogen, which has the potential to store larger quantities of energy more efficiently and for longer durations than lithium-ion battery technology.

Duke Energy has actively evaluated hydrogen as a low- or no-carbon fuel source to help meet its net-zero carbon goal by 2050, as have Siemens Energy and Clemson University as they aim for net-zero carbon by 2030. (Source: Siemens Energy AG,Website PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: Siemens Energy, www.siemens-energy.com; Duke Energy, www.duke-energy.com; Clemson University, 864-656-3311, www.clemson.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogen,  Energy Storage,  Siemens Energy,  Duke Energy,  Clemson University,  

US DOE
Date: 2020-12-11
In Washington, the US DOE has announced up to $35 million in funding for bioenergy feedstock technologies and algae research and development. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the White House priority for advancing the domestic bioeconomy, as well as the Bioenergy Technologies Office's goals of improving the performance and lowering the cost and risk of technologies that can be used to produce biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. Topic Areas include:

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to Enable Production of Conversion-Ready Feedstocks (up to $15M): (a) Measurement of variability of key MSW characteristics within and across unique MSW streams (b) Development of novel methods for rapid/real-time measurements.

Algae Productivity Exceeding Expectations (APEX) (up to $20M): (a) Improvements in productivity with traditional carbon dioxide (CO2) supply (b) Improvements in productivity with Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 from ambient air.

The Feedstock Technologies Topic Area will focus on the characterization of MSW streams. Projects will work on understanding MSW variability and informing the steps necessary to produce conversion-ready feedstock. The Advanced Algal Systems Topic Area looks to improve seasonal productivity of algae via a diverse portfolio of strains and improvement approaches. Projects will develop tools to accelerate current and future strain and cultivation improvements.

The application process will include two phases: a concept paper and a full application. Concept papers are due on February 1, 2021, and full applications are due on April 5, 2021.

Download details HERE. (Source: US DOE, 18 Dec., 2020) Contact: US DOR, www.energy.gov/eere

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

Arizona State University
Date: 2020-11-25
Arizona State University (ASU) and Goteborg, Sweden-based TEXEL Energy Storage are reporting an agreement to commercialize a new battery technology developed in partnership with US DOE Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).

The battery, which uses no rare metals and is potentially more cost-effective than lithium-ion batteries in large scale, is based on Metal Hydrides and Hydrogen, and has more than twenty times higher energy density than other heat storage.

Under the agreement, ASU will analyse the TEXEL technology and evaluate its competitiveness to other energy storage technologies in solar and storage peaker plants, microgrids, critical public infrastructure and residential and commercial building applications. (Source: ASU, PR, Website, Nov., 2020) Contact: Arizona State University, Assoc. Prof. Nathan Johnson, Director of the Laboratory for Energy and Power Solutions , (408) 727-5271, NathanJohnson@asu.edu, www.asu.edu; TEXEL Energy Storage, Lars Jacobsson, CEO , +46 31 17 00 00 www.texles.com

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Heligen
Date: 2020-11-20
Los Angeles, California-based solar energy tech company Heliogen -- fka Edisun -- is reporting receipt of $39 million in US DOE funding in support of its sCOS technology to boost concentrated solar power (CSP) in industrial applications unsuitable for solar PV.

Heliogen's next-gen CSP technology is capable of producing temperatures above 1000 degrees C.' sCO2 is carbon dioxide in a state between gas and fluid and is two times denser than regular steam. This means sCO2 is far more efficient than other turbines generating energy and can thus lower costs, plant size and footprint as well as water consumption, according to a DoE report released in 2015. (Source: Heligen, PR, Website, Brockville Observer, 20 Nov., 2020) Contact: Heliogen, Bill Gross, CEO, Fatimah Bello, VP, Business Development 626.585.6900, hello@heliogen.com, www.heliogen.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Heliogen,  CSP Solar,  Solar,  

DOE Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) Initiative
Date: 2020-11-18
The US DOE Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) Initiative is seeking proposals to leverage National Laboratory resources and overcome key technical challenges to advancing new liquid fuels and blendstocks, with an emphasis on biofuels from renewable and waste resources, which enable higher efficiency and lower environmental impact engines in on-highway vehicles.

Proposals should address specific technical challenges and barriers that Co-Optima researchers can address to move new fuels closer to market in conjunction with advanced, high-efficiency engines.

C-Optima focuses on developing new high-performance fuels that, when combined with advanced combustion approaches, can boost engine efficiency and cut emissions.

Download details HERE. (Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, PR, 13 Nov., 2020) Contact: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, www.energy.gov/eere

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines Initiative,  Biofuel,  

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies
Date: 2020-11-16
In Washington , the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is reporting the selection of 67 research project across 30 states for a total of $130 million in grant funding to reduce the cost of solar, increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and improve the reliability of the nation's electric grid.

Along with advancing research in photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) and systems integration, the projects in DOE's SETO Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Program include research in artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid plants, and solar with agriculture. The following projects are being funded:

PV Hardware Research -- $14 million for eight projects that aim to make PV systems last longer and increase the reliability of solar systems made of silicon solar cells, as well as new technologies like thin-film and bifacial solar cells.

Integrated Thermal Energy Storage and Brayton Cycle Equipment Demonstration (Integrated TESTBED) -- $39 million will be awarded to Heliogen, Inc., which will build and operate a supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle that will serve as a test site to accelerate the commercialization of low-cost CSP plants.

Systems Integration -- $34 million for 10 research projects that will develop resilient community microgrids to maintain power during and restore power after man-made or natural disasters, improve cybersecurity for PV inverters and power systems, and develop advanced hybrid plants that operate collaboratively with other resources for improved reliability and resilience.

AI Applications in Solar Energy with Emphasis on Machine Learning -- $7.3 million for 10 projects that use AI and machine learning to optimize operations and solar forecasting, improve situational awareness on the distribution system and behind the meter, and enable the integration of more solar generation.

Innovations in Manufacturing: Hardware Incubator -- $14 million for 10 research projects that will advance innovative prototypes to a pre-commercial stage, including products that support U.S. solar manufacturing and reduce the cost of installation.

Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 3 -- $9.7 million for six research projects that will examine how information gets to stakeholders to enable better decision-making about solar and combining solar with energy efficiency, energy storage, and electric vehicles.

Solar and Agriculture: System Design, Value Frameworks, and Impacts Analysis -- $7 million for four projects that will advance the technologies, research, and practices necessary for farmers, ranchers, and others to co-locate solar and agriculture.

Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS): PV and CSP -- $5 million for 18 projects that advance innovative, novel ideas in PV and CSP that can produce significant results in one year. (Source: US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, Website PR, 12 Nov., 2020) Contact: US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office , www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

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

Toledo Solar
Date: 2020-11-16
In the Buckeye State, Toledo Solar Inc. reports receipt of $1.7 million in grant funding from the US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to develop semitransparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics, a solar-cell material that could be suitable for use in windows, building facades, and rooftop solar modules a new solar-cell technology believed to be suitable for integration into building construction.

The company will work with the University of Toledo's Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Center, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and Project Vision Dynamics Inc. "to complete development of attractive, low-cost, high-efficiency solar window units and solar building facades through manufacturing innovations in CdTe module technology," according to the release. Prof. Michael J. Heben, the managing director of UT's Wright Center for Photovoltaics noted "Previously proposed options for incorporating photovoltaic power into building structures ave not made sense from a manufacturing point of view -- Toledo Solar's approach is entirely novel, and entirely doable, so the University of Toledo is very excited to be part of this effort."

Toledo Solar is the only U.S. manufacturer of CdTe thin film PV for both residential and commercial rooftop markets, according to the company website. (Source: Toledo Solar,PR, Toledo Blabe, 14 Nov., 2020) Contact: Toledo Solar, 567-202-4145, info@Toledo-Solar.com, www.toledosolar-inc.com; US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Toledo Solar,  Solar,  

Xcel Energy,INL
Date: 2020-11-16
Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy is reporting it will work with the US DOE' Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to demonstrate a system that uses a nuclear power plant's steam and electricity to split water to produce hydrogen at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Station in Red Wing, MN . The resulting hydrogen will initially be used at the power plant, but could eventually be sold to other industries.

More than $10 million in federal funding has been awarded to the project-- the first of its kind in pairing a commercial electricity generator with high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) technology.

A recent analysis under DOE's H2@Scale initiative, led by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, estimated that hydrogen produced by HTSE at a nuclear plant could be cost competitive in today's market. (Source: Xcel Energy, INL,PR, Chem Engineering, 13 Nov., 2020) Contact: H2@Scale Initiative, www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2scale; Xcel Energy, www.xcelenergy.com; INL, (866) 495-7440, www.inl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Xcel Energy,  Idaho National Laboratory,  

CEMEX, ENERGY STAR
Date: 2020-11-13
Houston-headquartered CEMEX USA reports its Miami cement plant has achieved US EPA ENERGY STAR® Certification for 2020 -- the tenth consecutive year the plant has earned the recognition for energy efficiency and sustainability and ranked in the top 25 pct of similar US facilities.

Since 2007, CEMEX USA cement plants have earned more than 50 ENERGY STAR® Certifications. In addition, dozens of CEMEX USA cement terminals and ready-mix concrete operations have achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry. (Source: CEMEX USA, PR, 10 Nov., 2020) Contact: CEMEX USA, Jaime Muguiro, Pres., 713-650-6200, www.cemexusa.com; US DOE, ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CEMEX,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

TOTAL,Stanford University,LLNL
Date: 2020-11-10
Paris-headquartered energy major Total , US DOE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Stanford University have released GEOSX, an open source simulator for large-scale geological carbon dioxide (CO2) storage.

GEOSX was developed using advanced new technologies in high-performance computing and applied mathematics and aims to improve the management and safety of geological CO2 repositories. Its computing performance is unmatched to date. The open-source nature of GEOSX aims to ensure a high level of transparency, sharing and community support to pave the way for the large-scale development of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies.

GEOSX is the first major outcome of the five-year FC-MAELSTROM research project launched in 2018 by Total, Stanford University School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, and LLNL. It draws on each partner's 20-plus years of expertise in simulation and high-performance computing research. GEOSX, www.geosx.org. (Source: TOTAL, PR, 10 Nov., 2020) Total Marie-Noelle Semeria, Total's Chief Technology Officer Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@total.com l @TotalPress Investor Relations: +44 (0)207 719 7962 l ir@total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Stanford University news,  TOTAL news,  LLNL news,  CCS news,  Carbon Emissions news,  Carbon Storage news,  

CenterPoint Properties
Date: 2020-11-04
Oak Brook, Illinois-headquartered industrial real estate company CenterPoint Properties is reporting closure of its inaugural $250 million green bond issuance.

The bond proceeds will be used to finance projects such as green building construction, the development and operational maintenance of green buildings and to acquire new, refurbished, or existing buildings that receive LEED, ENERGY STAR® and other industry-leading certifications. Bond proceeds will also be used to fund energy-efficient projects within the company's current portfolio, including operational enhancement and other sustainable maintenance. (Source: CenterPoint Properties, PR, Mercom, 3 Nov., 2020) Contact: CenterPoint Properties, (630) 586-8000, www. centerpoint.com; LEED,US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; US DOE, ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CenterPoint Properties,  LEED,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency ,  

DOE Weatherization Assistance Program
Date: 2020-10-30
In Michigan, the Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency (DISCA) is reminding the region about the US DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) -- the nation's largest whole-house home energy upgrade program -- to assist low-income families invest in energy efficiency.

Every $1 invested in WAP returns $4.50 in benefits, including energy savings and the health and safety of individuals, according to WAP. Under the WAP program, DICSA has weatherized 1,315 homes in Iron County and 2,015 homes in Dickinson County since 1989, at no cost to the home owner. Rental units also are eligible with landlord approval and 25 pct contribution on costs.

Qualifying weatherization and energy efficiency measures include major bypasses, duct sealing/repair/replacement, duct insulation, attic insulation, smart thermostat, knee wall insulation and exterior wall insulation. Reducing electric baseload, such as refrigerator replacement and compact fluorescent lamps, smoke detectors, clothes dryer vents, combustion appliance testing/repair and/or replacement.

Download DOE Weatherization Assistance Program details HERE. (Source: Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, Daily News, 30 Oct., 2020) Contact: Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, 906-774-2256, www.dicsami.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE Weatherization Assistance Program,  

ORNL,NREL
Date: 2020-10-23
According to research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), although tall, fast-growing trees are best for biomass/biofuel feedstock the amount of sugars contained within the cellulosic biomass that can be converted into fuels is equally important.

Feedstock growers typically look at how many trees they can plant per acre rather than the quality and volume of fuel those trees will produce. To address the issue, the researchers analyzed 900 samples of black cottonwood trees -- a type of fast-growing poplar -- grown in Oregon to determine how variations in their size and composition affect feedstock quality and biorefinery economics.

The researh found the amount of fuel produced per-acre per-year and the minimum fuel selling price(MFSP) are most strongly connected to the size of a tree. Since a farmer would only plant the biggest and fastest growing trees, the researchers examined those and found that the size and sugar content in those trees were of nearly identical importance to the MFSP.

Download Economic Impact of Yield and Composition Variation in Bioenergy Crops: Populus trichocarpa report details HERE. (Source: US DOE ORNL, Center for Bioenergy Innovation, 19 Oct., 2020) Contact: Center for Bioenergy Innovation, www. cbi.ornl.gov; ORNL, Kimberly A Askey, (865) 576-2841, askeyka@ornl.gov, www.ornl.gvo

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel Feedstock,  Lignin,  ORNL,  NREL,  Cellulosic,  

US DOE,
Date: 2020-10-23
One hundred and four U.S. companies, schools, governments, and institutions are taking their building energy savings to a new level with the 4-year US DOE Smart Energy Analytics Campaign funded through the Building Technologies Office (BETO) and facilitated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to expand the use of energy management and information systems (EMIS) in commercial buildings.

The Campaign helped drive approximately 4 trillion BTUs of annual energy savings -- enough to power more than 44,000 U.S. households for a year -- reducing the campaign participants' collective energy bills by $95 million a year. The research also enabled Berkeley Lab to create the world's largest collection of data on building energy analytics -- the first real-world, large-scale body of evidence of EMIS' value to commercial buildings. Nationwide, if buildings throughout the commercial sector adopted EMIS best practices, the resulting savings in annual energy costs could total $4 billion.

The campaign, a public-private partnership with businesses and public-sector organizations, has supported cutting-edge analytics technology use in over 6,500 buildings totaling 567 million sq-ft of floor space. It allowed Berkeley Lab experts to offer technical assistance and provide industry partners with frequent opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction, including exchanging best practices.

Researchers found that average installation and software costs ranged from two to eight cents per square foot, depending on the type of EMIS system. The median participant saved approximately $3 million in annual energy costs across their portfolio and re-couped associated costs over a two-year period.

Although the Smart Energy Analytics Campaign is concluding, its work will continue through DOE's Better Buildings program with ongoing support from the team of experts at Berkeley Lab. The Smart Energy Analytics Campaign is one of several successful Better Buildings Alliance technology drives, led by DOE's national laboratories, that aim to accelerate adoption of efficient building technologies by providing technical assistance, resources, and guidance on best practices. (Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, PR, Website, Oct., 2020) Contact: LBNL, Building Technology & Urban Systems Division, Jessica Granderson, Research Deputy, Better Buildings Campaign, HERE; BETO, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,  BETO,  Energy Efficiency,  

LafargeHolcim
Date: 2020-10-21
Swiss cement and building materials giant LafargeHolcim reports receipt of $1.5 million in US DOE grant funding to research and develop a system to capture and sequester CO2 emissions on a commercial scale at its cement plant in Florence, Colorado.

When completed in 2024, the facility will be the first in the U.S. to use carbon-capture technology on a commercial scale. As previously reported, LafargeHolcim worked with carbon capture technology provider Svante to build a pilot carbon-capture unit at a plant in British Columbia, Canada.

The cement sector is widely reported as the the world's third-largest industrial energy consumer and is the second-largest industrial emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 7 pct of the global emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. (Source: LafargeHolcim, PR, Denver Post, 20 Oct., 2020) Contact: LafargeHolcim Ltd, Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Stephanie Sulcer, Communications, 847 716 0368, stephanie.sulcer@lafargeholcim.com, www.lafargeholcim.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LafargeHolcim,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  Cement,  

Argonne National Lab
Date: 2020-10-14
The US DOE Argonne National Lab has developed a full life-cycle model called GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) which enables the full evaluation of energy and emission impacts of advanced vehicle technologies and new transportation fuels, the fuel cycle and various vehicle and fuel combinations on a full fuel-cycle/vehicle-cycle basis..

GREET.Net provides an easy to use and fully graphical toolbox to perform life cycle analysis simulations of alternative transportation fuels and vehicle technologies in a matter of a few clicks. It provides a comprehensive, life-cycle-based approach to compare the energy use and emissions of conventional and advanced vehicle technologies.

The tool includes the data of both fuel-cycle (fuel production and vehicle operation) and vehicle-cycle (vehicle material recovery and production, vehicle component fabrication, vehicle assembly, and vehicle disposal/recycling).

DOWNLOAD GREET® 2020.Net details HERE (Source: US DOE Argonne National Lab., 9 Oct., 2020) Contact: energy_systems@anl.gov, www.anl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Argonne National Lab,  Alternative Fuel,  Vehicle Emissions,  Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  

FuelCell Energy
Date: 2020-10-14
Danbury, Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy is reporting receipt of an $8-million contract from the US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), in collaboration with the Office of Nuclear Energy, to design and manufacture a SureSource electrolysis platform capable of producing hydrogen.

The project will be the first multi-stack electrolysis system produced with the solid oxide technology and equipped with an option of receiving thermal energy, thereby increasing the electrolysis electrical efficiency to more than 90 pct. The Idaho National Laboratories (INL) will test the system to confirm the electric efficiency and the ability to utilize nuclear power plant waste heat to obtain higher efficiencies of up to 100 pct.

Fuel Cell Energy aims is to deliver clean, efficient and affordable fuel cell solutions configured for the supply, recovery and storage of energy for customers. This new project can assist FuelCell to commercialize the high-efficiency solid oxide electrolysis technology, according to the release. (Source: Fuel Cell Energy, PR, Yahoo Finance, 12 Oct., 2020)Contact: FuelCell Energy, Jason Few, CEO, 203-825-6000, info@fce.com, www.fuelcellenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News FuelCell Energy,  Energy Storage,  

Illinois State University
Date: 2020-10-02
Although pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is widely considered a weed, Illinois State University researchers are working to genetically modify pennycress into a commercially grown cover crop that could be processed into biofuel, jet fuel, animal feed, and other high-value products. The mult-istate, multi-institutional 5-year effort is funded by a $10 million USDA grant and $13 million from the US DOE.

Domesticated, commercially grown pennycress could be grown as a cold-resistant, high-yield oilseed crop across the central United States, where nearly 80 million acres of land devoted to corn and soybeans sit dormant in the winter months.

This research has been ongoing for 10 years with the latest grant awarded in 2020. Illinois State researchers are currently working under the umbrella of the Integrated Pennycress Research Enabling Farm and Energy Resilience (IPREFER) program with colleagues at Western Illinois University, the University of Minnesota, The Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and the St. Louis-based crop development company CoverCress Inc.

Download Integrated Pennycress Research Enabling Farm and Energy Resilience (IPREFER) program details HERE (Source: Illinois State University, 1 Oct., 2020) Contact: Illinois State Univ., Professor John Sedbrook, (309) 438-3374, (309) 438-3722 -- fax, jcsedbr@ilstu.edu, www.illinoisstate.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pennycress,  Biofuel,  

Sandia National Lab., PNM
Date: 2020-09-23
Albuquerque, N.M..-based Sandia National Laboratories and Public Service New Mexico (PNM), New Mexico's largest electricity provider, are reporting a ooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to collaborate in the fields of energy storage, solar photovoltaics, energy conversion systems and related projects to meet specific goals and targets. Funding and support for Sandia's work will be provided through the US DOE Office of Electricity's Energy Storage Program. The agreement and work aligns with Sandia's recently initiated $40 million, 7-year Resilient Energy Systems Mission Campaign.

The first joint project will identify the tools needed to assess current and future energy storage technologies in an integrated, nearly statewide grid, and will conduct computer modeling and simulations and other analytic exercises to identify priorities. For the project, PNM will focus on the more immediate need to meet its emissions-free goal, while Sandia will examine R&D opportunities for the longer term, with a concentration on energy storage technologies and analytics. (Source: Sandia Nat. Labs, PR, Sept., 2020) Contact: Sandia Nat. Labs, James Peery, Director, Jason Martinez, Business Dev, (505)-401-3970, www.sandia.gov; PNM, Pat O'Connell, Dir. Resource Planning, (505) 241-2700, www.pnm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sandia National Lab,  Energy Storage,  PNM,  

DOE-NETL
Date: 2020-09-18
As previously reported, the US DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL) awarded $1.5 million in funding for cost-shared R&D to support the initial engineering analysis and advancement of the LH CO2MENT Colorado Project which was launched earlier this year.

The commercial-scale carbon-capture project, based in Florence, Colorado, is a partnership of Svante Inc., LafargeHolcim, Kiewit Engineering Group Inc., Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (OLCV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, and Total.

With DOE funding in place the partnership has committed to evaluate the feasibility of the facility designed to capture up to 2 million tpy of CO2 directly from the Holcim cement plant and the natural gas-fired steam generator, which would be sequestered underground permanently by Occidental.

Santa Clarita, California-based Electricore, Inc. will facilitate management of the federal grant, and Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. will lead the engineering development.

This joint initiative follows the recently-launched Pilot Plant Project CO2MENT between Burnaby, British Columbia-based Svante, cement maker LafargeHolcim and Total in Canada at the Lafarge Richmond B.C. cement plant where progress has been made towards re-injecting captured CO2 into concrete. (Source: Total, PR, Business Wire, 17 Sept., 2020) Contact: Savante, (604) 456-0504, info@svanteinc.com; www. svanteinc.com; Total, www.total.com; Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, www.oxy.com; Electricore, 661-607-0160, www.electricore.org; Kiewit Engineering, www.kiewit,ca DOE NETL, www.doe.netl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE NETL,  Total,  Carbon Capture,  DOE NETL,  LafargeHolcim,  Kiewit ,  

ARPA-E
Date: 2020-09-04
In Washington, the US DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is reporting $16.5 million in funding for six projects as part of the Systems for Monitoring and Analytics for Renewable Transportation Fuels from Agricultural Resources and Management (SMARTFARM) program. These projects will develop technologies that bridge the data gap in the biofuel supply chain by quantifying feedstock-related GHG emissions and soil carbon dynamics at the field-level. These technologies will allow for improved efficiency in feedstock production and enable new ag-sector carbon removal and management opportunities.

SMARTFARM teams will work to design and develop systems to quantify feedstock production life cycle GHG emissions at the field level reliably, accurately, and cost-effectively. Selected projects are capable of delivering a positive return on investment when field-level carbon emissions reductions are connected to associated biofuel carbon markets. The program also focuses on potential economic benefits to feedstock producers and future carbon management markets, potentially complementing yield-based revenues with incentives for input efficiency and restorative practices. This focus will also help to lay the groundwork for market structures to shift away from national averages and toward lower uncertainty field-based estimates for incentivizing efficiency and other services.

Working to make the biofuel supply chain carbon-negative through the removal or sequestration of carbon would greatly improve biofuel's economic and environmental benefits. Achieving reductions in carbon emissions also encourages feedstock producers to adopt new technologies and practices to quantify their impact. SMARTFARM teams are working to develop robust quantification methods through these awards so that management practices can be linked to environmental and economic outcomes simultaneously.

Download SMARTFARM projects funding recipients and details HERE (Source: ARPA-E, Website PR, Sept., 2020) Contact: ARPA-E, Lane Genatowski, Dir., www.arpa-e.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News ARPA-E,  Biofuel,  Renewable Fuels,  

U.S. Department of Energy
Date: 2020-09-04
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports the awarding of $72 million for the development and advancement of carbon capture technologies.

Of the total, $51 million will go to nine new projects for coal and natural gas power and industrial sources. These efforts seek to design initial engineering studies to develop technologies to capture CO2 generated as a by-product of manufacturing at industrial sites. The remaining $21 million will support 18 projects for "direct air carbon capture' technologies and the development and field testing of new materials for use in direct air capture.

"The primary mission of our office is to ensure that the United States can continue to rely on its fossil fuel resources for clean and secure energy. The advancement of carbon capture technologies, including direct air capture, contributes to that mission. Our ultimate goal is to mature these technologies so that they can be commercialized and brought to market", according to Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg. (Source: US DOE, 3 Sept., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Department of Energy,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  Direst Air Carbon Capture,  

Date: 2020-09-02
According to a Northern Arizona University (NAU) release, researchers have been trying to harness the crop-growing benefits of the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi. To that end, the US DOE is particularly interested in producing sorghum more efficiently to reduce the need for irrigation and fertilizer, and has awarded Regents' Professor Nancy Johnson of NAU's School of Earth and Sustainability a $1.3 million grant to study the beneficial associations between biofuel sorghum and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).

For Prof. Johnson's study, a series of field and greenhouse experiments will examine the genetic and environmental factors that cause the variable performance of mycorrhizal symbioses in field conditions. The research study will also conduct shotgun (metagenomic) sequencing to understand what microscopic communities exist in samples of sorghum roots and how the plant can select which fungi it associates with to form mycorrhizal symbioses.

The researchers will be growing more than 350 different genotypes of sorghum at agricultural experiment stations in Maricopa, Arizona and near Athens, Georgia to examine how sorghum genetics are interacting with AMF and other organisms in their microbiome.

Systems models will be constructed that link sorghum performance with the communities of AMF and other microbes in the field experiments, and these models will be tested in the NAU Research Greenhouse complex.

The study findings will help advance basic understanding of the genetic mechanisms by which plants control their associations with potentially beneficial root-associated microbes. (Source: Northern Arizona University, PR, 30 Aug., 2020) Contact: Northern Arizona University, Regents' Prof. Nancy Johnson, 928-523-6473, Nancy.Johnson@nau.edu, www.nau.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sorghum,  Biofuel,  US DOE,  

Advanced Biofuel
Date: 2020-08-31
A new study led by Colorado State University is predicting significant climate benefits stemming from the use of advanced biofuel technologies. Accounting for all of the carbon flows in biofuel systems and comparing them to those in grasslands and forests, the team found clear strategies for biofuels to have a net carbon benefit.

John Field, research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Lab at CSU, said it has been a challenge for the biofuel industry to demonstrate commercial viability for cellulosic biofuels created from switchgrass and other non-edible plants.

The research team used modeling to simulate switchgrass cultivation, cellulosic biofuel production and carbon capture and storage (CCS), tracking ecosystem and carbon flows. Scientists then compared this modeling to alternative ways to store carbon on the land, including growing forest or grassland.

CCS technology is being used by at least one facility in Illinois that is processing corn to ethanol as a conventional biofuel to create ethanol, but these systems are not yet widespread. As part of the study, researchers created models to simulate what this would look like at a cellulosic biofuel refinery. "What we found is that around half of the carbon in the switchgrass that comes into the refinery becomes a byproduct that would be available for carbon capture and storage. The resulting byproduct streams of high-purity CO2 would not require much separation or clean-up before being stored underground," the study noted.

The research team analyzed three contrasting U.S. case studies and found that on land where farmers or land managers were transitioning out of growing crops or maintaining pastures for grazing, cultivating switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol production had a per-hectare mitigation potential comparable to reforestation and several-fold greater than grassland restoration.

Using switchgrass can be particularly helpful in parts of the country where planting more trees is not an option.

This research was partially funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the US DOE via the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, and the Sao Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil.

The study illustrates how deliberate land use choices support the climate performance of present-day cellulosic ethanol technology and how technological advancements and CCS addition could produce several times the climate mitigation potential of competing land-based biological mitigation schemes. These results affirm the climate mitigation logic of biofuels, consistent with their prominent role in many climate stabilization scenarios, the study concludes. (Source: Colorado State University, Green Car Congress, Aug., 2020) Contact: Colorado State University, Natural Resource Ecology Lab, John Field, (970) 491-1604, John.L.Field@colostate.edu, www.nrel.colostate.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Advanced Biofuel,  Cellulosic Biofuel,  Switchgrass,  

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Date: 2020-08-31
As previously reported, researchers at the US DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have designed simulations to determine how much biofuel is needed for the whole bioproduct extraction process to decrease the demand for petroleum-based gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels and to be labeled as "cost-efficient." Their study results found the target levels to be modest and that Biofuels can compete with petroleum-based fuels in terms of cost production, according to a release.

Conventional biofuel production often involves genetically engineered plants that can produce essential chemical compounds, or bioproducts. These bioproducts are extracted from the plant, and the remaining plant parts are converted into fuel. This led LBNL scientists to investigate exactly how much bioproduct does a plant need to determine if the whole extraction process to be determined efficient, and how much bioproduct should be produced to reach the target ethanol selling price of $2.50 per gallon.

To do this, the researchers studied existing data of well-studied plant-based bioproduct production. They used this data to make simulations that will determine the factors involved in extracting bioproducts using the context of bioethanol refinery, which means that bioproducts will be extracted from the plant and the remaining plant materials will be converted to ethanol. Their results determined that the bioproduct levels needed to accumulate in plants to offset the production cost recovery is quite feasible. Using limonene as an example, they calculated that an accumulated 0.6 pct of biomass dry weight would already produce net economic benefits to biorefineries. To illustrate, it means harvesting 10 dry metric tons of sorghum mass from one acre will only need 130 pounds of recovered limonene from that biomass to say that the whole production process is efficient, according to the release.

The LBNL researchers note this new finding can provide new insights into the role of bioproducts to improve biorefinery economics and offer the first quantitative basis for implementation of this cost-saving strategy for future studies on plant-based biofuel breeding and engineering. The scientists also recommended that crops need to be engineered to produce a broad range of bioproducts in order to provide options and diversify products in the market. (Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, April, 2020) Contact: LBNL, Laurel Kellner, Media, 510-590-8034, LKellner@lbl.gov, www.lbl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory news,  Biofuel news,  

US DOE,SoCalGas
Date: 2020-08-28
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports awarding more than $7.1 million for three vehicular emissions R&D projects aimed at advancing zero and near-zero emissions technologies for heavy and medium duty transportation vehicles. The R&D projects are run by Cummins, Inc., the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and the West Virginia University Research Corporation respectively with $730,000 in additional funding from SoCalGas.

Cummins will work to develop a prototype, modular, scalable zero-emissions fuel cell design meant for both heavy-duty trucks and transit buses. The GTI project seeks to create a hybrid line-haul rail locomotive that runs on renewable natural gas, while West Virginia University will study the difference in maintenance and labor costs for alternative fuel trucks powered by natural gas, propane, and electric when compared against standard diesel trucks. In particular, it will examine the link between the operational facets of alternative fuel vehicles and their effects on maintenance and repair. (Source: US DOE, Daily Energy Insider, 28 Aug., 2020) Contact: GTI, 847-768-0500 847-768-0501 - fax, info@gti.energy, www.gti.energy; Cummins Inc., (317) 610-4244, www.cummins.com; SoCalGas, (800) 427-2200, www.socalgas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE,  Vehicle Emissions,  Cummins,  GTI,  SoCalGas,  

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-08-14
In Washington, the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). has announced $20 million in funding to advance perovskite solar photovoltaic technologies. When used to create solar cells, perovskites have shown potential for high performance and low production costs. To be competitive in the marketplace, perovskite’s long-term durability must be tested and verified, the aim of this funding opportunity announcement.

The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office is aiming to improve understanding of perovskite stability; establish methods to produce high-efficiency, stable perovskite devices using industry-relevant fabrication techniques; and develop test protocols that enable high confidence in long-duration field performance of perovskite-based photovoltaic technologies. DOE will fund projects in three topic areas: Device R&D (Efficiency and Stability); manufacturing and R&D; and validation and Bankability.

This topic area seeks to establish a neutral, independent validation center that can be used to verify perovskite device performance and address acceptance and bankability challenges. Independence and neutrality are required to ensure there are no conflicts of interest between this effort and other projects seeking to demonstrate high-performance devices. This center will be responsible for developing and refining test protocols, including accelerated life testing that closely correlates with long-term field performance. The center will also be responsible for operating an extensive field testing effort using devices produced by the R&D community to iteratively refine all test protocols and improve community understanding of remaining stability and performance issues. The center will investigate the environmental impact of perovskite technologies and serve as an objective source of information and analysis for the investment and finance communities. Teams must be led by a DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center/National Laboratory. (Source: US DOE, EERE Solar Energy Technology Office, PR, 13 Aug., 2020) Contact: EERE Solar Energy Technology Office, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

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

Illinois State University
Date: 2020-08-05
Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, is reporting genetics Prof. John Sedbrook will head-up a nation-wide collaboration of university's and scientists to develop field pennycress oil into bio-jet fuel or biodiesel The $13 million project is being funded by the US DOE.

Field pennycress, a member of the mustard family, can develop up to 65 gallons of oil and yield more than 1,500 pounds per acre of seeds.

Field pennycress is primarily a winter cover crop throughout the United States and requires few inputs, little labor, and no land charge. Pennycress seed meal remaining from biodiesel production can be further processed to yield aviation fuel, livestock feed or protein isolates for human food, or as an organic fertilizer or a biofumigant, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. (Source: Illinois State University, 4 Aug., 2020) Contact: Illinois State University, Prof. John Sedbrook, (309) 438-3374, (309) 438-3722 - fax, jcsedbr@ilstu.edu, www.illinoisstate.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pennycress,  Biofuel,  

ENERGY STAR
Date: 2020-08-03
The US DOE ENERGY STAR® program is reporting a new focus on helping the commercial baking industry cuts energy consumption and costs with improved energy efficiency. With the new focus, bakers can use the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management to build a bakery-specific energy management program focused on best practices from the industry.

ENERGY STAR plant energy performance indicator (EPI) tools assess the energy performance of plants relative to similar plants and provide a 1 -- 100 ENERGY STAR score for a quick understanding of how the plant is performing. Plants receiving a score of 75 or higher are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification.

Download details on EPIs and Benchmarking Industrial Energy Performance HERE.

Download Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the Baking Industry HERE. (Source: US DOE, ENERGY STAR, Aug., 2020) Contact: US DOE, ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmark,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

Petro Nova, NRG Energy
Date: 2020-07-31
Houston-headquartered power utility NRG Energy confirmed to the Australian Financial Review that it has mothballed its Petra Nova carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Texas due to its poor financial performance.

Since coming online in Jan., 2017, Petra Nova, the world's largest coal-fired power plant post-combustion CO2 capture system, captured over 3.9 million short (US) tons of CO2 which was used to produce over 4.2 million barrels of oil through enhanced oil recovery (EOR). (Source: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy, NRG Energy, Australia Financial Review, 30 July, 2020)Contact: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy; NRG Energy, Mauricio Gutierrez, CEO, (609) 524-4500, www.nrgenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Enhanced Oil Recovery,  Petro Nova,  NRG Energy,  CCS,  

US Agency for International Development
Date: 2020-07-27
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have announced a collaborative partnership between the SAID-supported South Asia Group for Energy (SAGE) and MNRE's national technical institutions.

The SAGE partnership will provide a formal platform for collaboration on clean energy development and provide advanced technical knowledge on clean energy development from the US DOE National Laboratories to MNRE's National Institute of Wind Energy, National Institute of Biomass Energy, and others.

The SAGE consortium includes USAID, the US Department of Energy and three of the Department of Energy's National Laboratories -- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. (Source: USAID, EconimicTimes India, July, 2020) Contact: USAID, www.usaid.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Agency for International Development ,  Clean Energy,  Renewable Energy,  Bioenergy,  

US DOE
Date: 2020-07-27
In Washington, the U.S. DOE is reporting approximately $64 million in Fiscal Year 2020 funding for 18 projects that will support the H2@Scale vision for affordable hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and use. These projects will fuel the next round of research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities under H2@Scale's multi-year initiative.

The projects will be funded through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO). The projects will feature collaborations with EERE's Advanced Manufacturing Office on manufacturing reliable and affordable electrolyzers and with EERE's Vehicle Technologies Office on developing low-cost carbon fiber for hydrogen storage tanks. Other areas of focus include identifying durable and cost-effective fuel cell systems and components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

The funding will also spur demonstrations of large-scale hydrogen utilization at ports and data centers and across industrial sectors like steel making, and help build a comprehensive training program for a robust hydrogen and fuel cells workforce in the U.S. (Source: US DOE, PR, July 20, 2020) Contact: US DOE , H2@Scale, www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2scale

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogen,  US DOE,