Author: US DOE Staff Published: 4/26/2023 EERE
FUNDING UPDATES
DOE Announces $38 Million to Modernize the Electricity Grid
DOE announced a $38 million funding opportunity for National Laboratories to advance key research and development priorities to build a grid that can deliver resilient, reliable, flexible, secure, sustainable, affordable, and equitable electricity. Proposals must include at least two National Laboratories and participation from external stakeholders such as industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY NEWS
DOE Announces Annual Solar Decathlon Winners
DOE announced the winners of the 21st annual Solar Decathlon®, DOE’s longest running student competition that challenges the next generation of building professionals to design and construct high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy.
DOE Announces Finalists for Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) Prize
EERE’s Building Technologies Office awarded six finalists $5,000 in cash and a $75,000 voucher to work with DOE national laboratories to advance their electrification solutions. The EAS-E Prize awarded a total of $2.4 million in cash prizes and technical assistance for innovative solutions that advance electrification retrofits across various residential building types.
RENEWNBLE NEWS
DOE Announces $13 Million to Support Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling
EERE selected 11 communities across 10 states to support the design and deployment of community geothermal heating and cooling systems. The projects feature a variety of communities and a range of system sizes, technologies, and geographies—offering diverse case studies that will model how other communities could implement community geothermal.
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE announced several solar energy investments to cut home electricity bills and reduce local pollution.
- The National Community Solar Partnership selected 25 teams to participate in the $10 million Community Power Accelerator Prize, which aims to establish a strong, nationwide network of community solar project developers. Successful teams have the potential to deploy enough community solar to power nearly 30,000 American homes—and access $5 billion in private sector financing.
- The 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar launched, offering $200,000 in awards for community solar projects and programs that increase equitable access and ensure benefits go to subscribers and their communities. To apply, community solar project portfolios or programs must serve at least 50% residential customers and must have been energized on or after January 1, 2020. Applications are due July 14.
DOE announced $52 million for 19 projects to strengthen the U.S. domestic solar supply chain and $30 million in funding for technologies that will help integrate solar energy into the grid. The projects aim to enhance domestic solar manufacturing, support the recycling of solar panels, and develop American-made solar technologies.
On May 11, DOE will virtually convene stakeholders to discuss the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™—an ambitious initiative to cut the cost of enhanced geothermal systems by 90% by 2035. Register here.
CLEAN ENERGY IN ACTION
EERE Success Story—Hemp for Home Insulation by Hempitecture
U.S. homes and commercial buildings consume 39% of the country’s total energy, and to bring this number down, DOE partners with private companies and other organizations to develop unique approaches to improving building energy efficiency. One such company, Hempitecture Inc., produces industrial hemp for use in buildings as insulation.
EVENTS AND WEBINARS
April 27 | 1 p.m. ET
In this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call, learn about the successful projects and research findings that enabled integrated energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and demand response programs.
National Energy Codes Conference
May 2–4
Join experts from EERE’s Building Technologies Office in Chicago as they cover important code topics and discuss current funding opportunities.
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Comprehensive Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) In-Person Training
May 3–4 | 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. ET
This two-day workshop will help attendees understand the fundamental elements of a UESC and how these limited-source performance contracts can be used to maximize investment into energy and water conservation measures.
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AMMTO & IEDO Joint Peer Review
May 16–18
EERE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office will meet in Washington, DC, for a joint Peer Review to evaluate their strategic and operational impact.
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Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting
June 5–8 | 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
ETA, for DOE’s annual review of its hydrogen program. The Annual Merit Review will feature presentations and posters on DOE-funded work and a one-day, interagency track featuring presentations on hydrogen and fuel-cell initiatives from other federal agencies.