The Dept of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of its fourth Energy Innovation Hub, this one for advanced research on batteries and energy storage.
The DOE will invest $120 million over five years, starting with $20 million in 2012, to accelerating R&D in electrochemical energy storage for transportation and the electric grid.
The goal is to develop cutting-edge technologies that can improve grid reliability and efficiency, better integrate renewable energy into the grid, and to improve the power while reducing the cost of batteries used in electric and hybrid vehicles.
"As part of the Obama Administration’s investments in science and innovation, this Energy Innovation Hub will bring together scientists, engineers, and industry to develop fresh concepts and new approaches that will ensure America is at the leading-edge of the growing global market for battery technology," says DOE Secretary Chu. "With the advances from this research and development effort, we will be able to design and produce batteries here in America that last longer, go farther, and cost less than today’s technologies."
Energy Innovation Hubs bring together teams of scientists and engineers across intellectual disciplines to rapidly accelerate scientific discoveries and shorten the path from lab to technological development and commercial deployment of critical energy technologies.
The Batteries and Energy Storage Hub will develop radically new scientific approaches, including the exploration of new materials, devices, systems and novel approaches for transportation and utility-scale storage.
Universities, national labs, nonprofits, and private firms are eligible to compete and are encouraged to form partnerships when submitting their proposals. The award selection is expected this summer. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is available HERE. Letters of Intent to apply are due March 1, 2012 with full applications due on May 31, 2012.
Since 2010, DOE has launched three other hubs:
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis: advanced research to develop fuels directly from sunlight
- Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors: seeks to improve nuclear reactors through sophisticated computer-based modeling and simulation
- Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy-Efficient Buildings: working to achieve major breakthroughs in energy efficient building design.
Learn more about the hubs:
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