Author: US DOE Staff Published: 5/17/2023 EERE
Funding Updates
DOE Invests $26 Million to Support a Modern, Reliable, and Resilient American Clean Energy Grid
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE announced $26 million for eight selected projects across 13 states and Puerto Rico to demonstrate how solar, wind, storage, and other clean energy resources can support a reliable and efficient U.S. power grid.
DOE Expands Funding for Small Business to advance Floating Offshore Wind Anchoring Systems
EERE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office announced $1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Triton Systems to test and advance a first-of-its kind anchoring system for floating offshore wind. This selection is one of three small businesses funded to accelerate wind energy deployment as part of DOE’s Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
Wind Energy Funding for Offshore Wind Centers of Excellence
EERE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office released a $4.75 million funding opportunity that will create one or more university-led Centers of Excellence to increase offshore wind expertise at U.S. universities; develop partnerships to address key offshore wind development challenges; and educate the next generation of offshore wind experts in the United States.
Sustainable Transportation
BRIDGE the Gap: Bioenergy Research Case Studies for Educators
EERE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office launched the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES), a case study-based curriculum designed to encourage careers in bioenergy fields. The BRIDGES case studies can be used in high school or universities in biology, environmental science, or chemistry courses.
Renewable News
DOE Announces Winners of 2023 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions
Endicott College won first place in the inaugural DOE Hydropower Collegiate Competition, where 10 student-led teams analyzed a case study on how hydropower fits into a future power grid supported by 100% renewable energy.
The University of New Hampshire was awarded the top prize in the fourth annual DOE Marine Energy Collegiate Competition, where 19 student-led teams developed designs and business plans to power activities using a range of marine energy technologies.
Solar Workers Needed for National Lab Study
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are seeking solar workers for 1-hour, one-on-one interviews to inform a study about the solar workforce. People with knowledge and experience on solar installation, deployment, and worker well-being in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, and/or Texas are encouraged to sign up.
Keeping Solar in the Field by Keeping Water Out
Solar panels need to withstand weather conditions to keep producing power for decades. Using clever measurement and modeling methods, researchers are optimizing sealants on solar modules to keep water out.
Meet Sparky, the star of our new Clean Energy 101 video series. He’s here to help shed some light on clean energy technologies around the home.
Energy Efficiency
DOE Selects Arizona State University to Lead Institute to Electrify Process Heating
DOE selected Arizona State University to lead the seventh Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute, The Electrified Processes for Industry without Carbon (EPIXC) Institute. EPIXC will mobilize a coalition of private, public and community partners and will allocate up to $70 million in federal funding for projects that electrify process heating and decarbonize the industrial sector.
DOE, in partnership with the Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, selected seven projects that will advance smart manufacturing technologies and processes, including artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Projects will demonstrate energy productivity and/or operational efficiencies of smart manufacturing technologies within energy-intensive industries, including cement, chemicals, food, and steel.
Events and Webinars
Building with Benefits: Greater Household Savings
May 22 | 2 p.m. ET
Learn from leaders in the field about best practices in building equitable community solar systems.
Reducing Embodied Carbon and Operational Energy Across the Built Environment
May 23 | 2 p.m. ET
Join experts from EERE’s Technology Offices to discuss funding Technology Commercialization Fund programs that reduce embodied energy/carbon of materials and processes across residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
Indeterminate Savings Energy Conservation Measures: Get More Savings from Performance Contracts
May 24 | 1 p.m. ET
This training will discuss innovative ways to integrate energy conservation measures with “indeterminate” savings into energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts.
Learn How Efficiency Programs are Preparing for Inflation Reduction and Infrastructure Act Funding
May 25 | 1 p.m. ET
Join this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call to learn about the significant levels of U.S. government investment, and what states, cities, utilities and residential energy-efficiency programs are doing to plan for it.
DOE Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting
June 5–8 | 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
Join us in Arlington, VA, 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.
Workshop: Deploying Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
June 6–7 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET
Join us in Kansas City, Missouri to discuss successes, challenges, information gaps, and opportunities for deploying energy crops to produce sustainable aviation fuel on a commercial scale.