U.S. Department of Energy awards hundreds of millions of dollars to support development and deployment of transformative energy technologies

China Energy Storage Network News: Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced a $100 million grant under the "SCALEUP" theme research and development program framework, aiming to strengthen cooperation between research institutions and enterprises, support the research and development of transformative energy technologies with potential disruptive impacts, and assist relevant research and development institutions in accelerating the commercialization of technologies that have made laboratory progress and have application potential. The research projects funded this time cover seven major themes, including power grids, transportation, building energy efficiency, energy/power production based on fossil energy/nuclear energy, renewable energy electricity, bioenergy and other energy technologies. The specific contents are as follows:

1. Power grid

Develop advanced planning and operation technologies for AC and DC transmission and distribution networks operating at voltages greater than 69 kV; develop more advanced grid simulation, algorithms and control technologies to improve operational efficiency; develop advanced grid-level electrochemical energy storage technologies and physical energy storage technologies; and improve grid resilience to ensure operational stability with a high proportion of renewable energy connected to the grid.

2. Transportation

Develop non-biobased, low-emission alternative fuels; develop advanced, efficient, low-emission engines for liquid/gaseous fuels; develop next-generation electric vehicle drive motors with even better performance; develop advanced fuel cell technology for transportation; develop optimized automotive design, advanced architecture, and lightweight automotive materials; develop advanced automotive management technologies and systems for driverless cars; advanced aviation propulsion technologies; and develop advanced energy storage technologies with greater energy density and lower costs.

3. Building Energy Efficiency

Develop advanced technologies to improve the efficiency of combined heat and power (CHP); develop new technologies to improve the operating efficiency of building heating and cooling systems; develop advanced demand response/management technologies for building energy use (such as smart meters, smart energy management systems); develop environmentally friendly and energy-efficient lighting technologies; and optimize building design to improve building energy efficiency.

4. Energy/power production based on fossil fuels/nuclear energy

Develop advanced combined cycle power generation technologies (such as fuel cell and turbine combined power generation facilities) to achieve combined power generation of multiple energy sources; improve the fuel combustion efficiency of existing generators/turbines; develop advanced high-temperature and radiation-resistant nuclear fission materials to improve the operating efficiency of nuclear power plants; develop advanced nuclear fusion materials to enhance fusion efficiency; develop advanced carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies (CCUS) for application in power generation facilities; explore new technologies to improve the planning and operating efficiency of power plants; develop advanced technologies for storing, transmitting and monitoring gaseous fuels (such as pipeline sensors); and technologies for converting liquid/gas fuels into high-value chemicals.

5. Renewable energy

Optimize the design of wind turbines and blades, and develop lightweight materials to achieve more efficient wind energy collection and application; develop more advanced motors, magnetic materials and power electronics to achieve efficient conversion of wind energy into electricity; develop advanced geothermal technologies (such as high-efficiency heat pumps, high-sensitivity earthquake monitoring, resource exploration, etc.); develop advanced fluid power energy (such as ocean energy, hydropower, tidal energy, etc.) conversion technologies; develop more efficient photovoltaic/concentrated thermal power generation technologies; develop non-photovoltaic/concentrated thermal power generation solar energy conversion and utilization technologies (such as solar thermal utilization, solar fuel production technology, etc.).

6. Bioenergy

Develop new technologies to increase biomass production and reduce water usage and costs; develop new catalytic conversion technologies to achieve efficient one-step/two-step biomass to fuel conversion; build a complete bioenergy industry supply chain; bio-based high-value chemical conversion technology; microbial fuel cell technology.

7. Other energy technologies

Develop low-cost and efficient technologies for freshwater production; develop advanced manufacturing technologies to improve manufacturing energy efficiency; develop technologies to improve the energy efficiency of household appliances and various electronic consumer products (such as televisions, refrigerators, computers, mobile phones, etc.); develop technologies to improve the energy efficiency of data centers and large computer facilities; develop new technologies to improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes and reduce carbon emissions; develop efficient heat utilization technologies (such as Stirling engines, waste heat conversion and utilization, heat exchangers, etc.); develop advanced semiconductor technologies (such as photovoltaic semiconductors) for energy applications; and develop high-temperature resistant materials for power generation facilities.