The U.S. Department of Energy has selected thirteen institutions to receive $10.9 million in grants to perform scientific research for energy-efficient power generation, industrial and buildings systems, and transportation. This research will foster the development of more energy-efficient computers, engines, materials and alternative energy systems that should ease the demand on traditional energy sources, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson said.
Amounts awarded to the following grant recipients are subject to final negotiation:
- The University of Nevada, Reno, will receive $1,824,574 to demonstrate that solar energy systems can be made at an affordable cost for commercial buildings. In addition, the university will demonstrate that complex hybrid reactors used for emissions reduction at power plants can be made to compete favorably with existing technologies.
- The Colorado School of Mines will receive $1,082,377 to demonstrate how additional classes of proton conductivity will potentially result in greater power generation.
- Dartmouth College will receive $1,000,498 to develop software and manufacturing methods to improve the reliability and efficiency of magnetic compounds used in power-generating electronics.
- The University of Wisconsin, Madison, will receive $994,898 to conduct research in material properties resulting from combining microscopic-sized structures (nanostructures) in metal alloys that could lead to enhancements of energy efficiency.
- Battelle Memorial Institute in Richland, Wash., will receive $939,477 to conduct research that resolves key technical issues that restrict economic viability and improves energy efficiency of compact microtechnology-based heat pumps and gas absorbers.
- Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., will receive $814,215 to conduct research that enables high temperature ceramic coatings to be used in energy efficient heat engines, such as microturbines and industrial gas turbines.
- Washington State University will receive $800,000 to perform basic research on the utilization of animal manures as feedstock to produce low-cost energy products, including fuels, chemicals, electricity, and other products.
- Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., will receive $737,150 to promote energy efficiency through design, scale-up, and operation of anaerobic digesters (closed chamber reactors) that convert animal manure into chemicals and energy for use in agriculture and other industries.
- Holyoke Center in Cambridge, Mass., will receive $700,000 to study methods that improve the texture of silicone-based materials and increase energy efficiency.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University will receive $647,417 to develop and demonstrate the application of self-calibrating temperature and pressure sensors for several energy-intensive industries where conventional, commercially available sensors fail prematurely.
- Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., will receive $599,922 to advance the understanding of atomic-scale structure and dynamics of complex catalytic materials that produce reactions to improve energy efficiency.
- The California Institute of Technology will receive $406,559 to develop new proton conducting materials for fuel cells with higher chemical stability that improve energy efficiency.
- The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System will receive $350,000 to address key issues needed to improve the performance of super-conducting tapes to increase their energy efficiency and make them more economical.
For more information, contact the Department of Energy.
