ARPA-E Awards $130 Million for 66 Transformational Energy Technology Projects

(US Department of Energy) Today (November 28, 2012), Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced 66 cutting-edge research projects selected by the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to receive a total of $130 million in funding through its “OPEN 2012” program. ARPA-E seeks out transformational, breakthrough technologies that show fundamental technical promise but are too early for private-sector investment. These projects have the potential to produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology, form the foundation for entirely new industries, and have large commercial impacts. The selected projects encompass 11 technology areas in 24 states, and support the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to solving our nation’s most pressing energy challenges.
“With ARPA-E and all of the Department of Energy’s research and development efforts, we are determined to attract the best and brightest minds at our country’s top universities, labs and businesses to help solve the energy challenges of this generation,” said Secretary Chu. “The 66 projects selected today represent the true mission of ARPA-E: swinging for the fences and trying to hit home runs to support development of the most innovative technologies and change what’s possible for America’s energy future.”
The OPEN 2012 projects will focus on a wide array of technologies, including advanced fuels, advanced vehicle design and materials, building efficiency, carbon capture, grid modernization, renewable power, and energy storage. The projects were selected through a merit-based process from thousands of concept papers and hundreds of full applications. The projects are based in 24 states, with approximately 47% of the projects led by universities, 29% by small businesses, 15% by large businesses, 7.5% by national labs, and 1.5% by non-profits. Today’s announcement brings ARPA-E’s total portfolio of projects to about 285 projects for a total of approximately $770 million in awards.
ARPA-E’s first funding opportunity, “OPEN 2009,” was issued three years ago and was similarly an open call to America’s top scientists and engineers for transformational energy technology solutions. ARPA-E’s previously selected projects have already made major progress, by demonstrating the world’s first 400 Wh/kg lithium-ion battery poised to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry; building a wind turbine, inspired by the design of jet engines, that could deliver 300% more power than existing turbines of the same size and cost; and engineering a high power laser drilling system that can penetrate hard rock formations over long distances and is ten times more economical than conventional drilling technologies.
Information on all projects announced today is available here. READ MORE and MORE and MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine)
Grants related to biofuels include:
Allylix, Inc.
$4,499,256
Lexington, KY
Energy-Dense Aviation Fuels from Biomass
The Allylix project team will develop energy-dense terpenes as high performance liquid aviation fuels. The increased energy density of these terpene-based fuels could outperform existing petroleum fuels by increasing flight range up to 20%.

Colorado State University
$2,090,000
Fort Collins, CO
Synthetic Gene Circuits to Enhance Production of Transgenic Bioenergy Crops
Researchers from Colorado State University will develop a system to rapidly introduce new genetic traits into crops that currently cannot be engineered. If successful, this technology would widen the variety of plants that could be improved for biofuel production.

Cornell University
$910,000
Ithaca, NY
High-Density Algae-Fuel Reactor
Cornell University will develop a compact reactor that distributes sunlight more efficiently for use in algae-fuel production. A smaller reactor makes it more economical both to grow engineered algae and to collect fuel the algae produces. The reactor delivers sunlight through low-cost, plastic light-guiding sheets and then collects fuel through tiny porous tubes. By distributing optimal amounts a sunlight, Cornell’s design will increase efficiency and decrease water use compared to conventional algae reactors. READ MORE and MORE (Algae Industry Magazine)

Plant Sensory Systems
$1,800,000
Baltimore, MD
Development of High-Output, Low-Input Energy Beets
Researchers at Plant Sensory Systems will produce an enhanced energy beet, optimized for biofuel production. These beets will be engineered to use fertilizer and water more efficiently and produce higher levels of fermentable sugars than most existing crops. If successful, the new crop would have a lower cost of production and increased yield of biofuels without competing against food-grade sugar.

University of Tennessee
$441,747
Knoxville, TN
Transformable Single Cell Line for Rapid Assessment of Cell Wall Genes for Biofuels
The University of Tennessee will develop a technology that enables high throughput bioengineering and trait testing in switchgrass. This development will significantly reduce the time required to engineer switchgrass to maximize biofuel production.

Dioxide Materials, Inc.
$3,997,437
Champaign, IL
Enabling Efficient Electrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Fuels
Dioxide Materials will develop a technology to produce transportation fuels and industrial chemicals electrochemically from carbon dioxide emitted by power plants. Dioxide Material’s approach would improve conversion efficiency and reduce energy input that would cut costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

University of Massachusetts, Lowell
$3,000,000
Lowell, MA
Plasmonic-Enhanced Photocatalysis
The University of Massachusetts will develop a metal catalyst to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water into fuel. The catalyst’s microscopic shape focuses sunlight to cause a chemical reaction, producing precursors to transportation fuel. If successful, this process would reduce fossil fuel imports and net CO2 emissions.