DOE announced on July 22 the creation of the "Fuels from Sunlight Energy Innovation Hub" to develop revolutionary methods of generating fuels directly from sunlight.
The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), led by the California Institute of Technology in partnership with the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, will operate the initiative. JCAP will bring together leading researchers in an effort to simulate natural photosynthesis for practical energy production.
The goal is to build an integrated solar energy-to-chemical fuel conversion system.
The hub will receive up to $22 million in Fiscal Year 2010, then an estimated $25 million a year for the next four fiscal years.
Research will be directed at finding the functional components needed to assemble a complete artificial photosynthetic system, including light absorbers, catalysts, molecular linkers, and separation membranes. The hub will then integrate those components into an operational solar fuel system and will develop scale-up strategies to move the product from the lab to commercial viability.
The ultimate objective is to move from fundamental to applied research and technology development, setting the stage for a direct solar fuels industry. If successful, the concept-to combine sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make a clean fuel-would be an energy game changer.
DOE’s Office of Science will oversee the project. The hub is the second of three such interdisciplinary hubs that will receive funding in FY 2010. In May, DOE announced that a team led by DOE’s Oak Ridge National Lab would establish a hub on modeling and simulation for nuclear reactors. The selection for the remaining hub will be announced in the coming months. See the DOE press release, the Fuels from Sunlight award fact sheet (PDF 183 KB), and the Fuels From Sunlight Hub Web page.
DOE Announces $30 Million for Energy-Efficient Housing Partnerships
On July 20, DOE announced funding for 15 research and deployment partnerships to help improve the energy efficiency of American homes.
For the first 18 months, multidisciplinary teams will receive up to $30 million to deliver innovative energy efficiency strategies to the residential market and to break down barriers to high-efficiency homes. They will provide technical assistance to retrofit projects and leverage industry expertise and funding to support DOE’s energy efficiency retrofit programs.
DOE’s Building Technologies Program selected the projects, which will each receive between $500,000 and $2.5 million.
The Habitat Cost Effective Energy Retrofit Program Team-Dow Chemical Company, Michigan State University, Ferris State University, and Habitat for Humanity-will apply innovative retrofit technologies to affordable housing in cold and mixed-humid climate regions.
the University of Minnesota NorthernSTAR Energy Efficient Housing Research Partnership Team will develop and deploy high performance energy-efficient solutions for new and existing homes in cold and severe cold climates. Other projects will focus on efficiency solutions for homes in hot humid and marine climates, and on affordable housing, technical and market barriers, market delivery strategies, and systems-engineered solutions.
See the DOE press release for a complete list of recipients, the Building Technologies Program Web site, and the DOE Retrofit initiative press release.
DOE, Dept of Defense Announce Clean Energy Agreement
On July 27, DOE announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate clean energy innovation and enhance national energy security. The agencies are committed to reducing U.S. vulnerabilities through improved energy efficiency, reduced fossil fuel use, and on-site renewable energy generation.
The MOU, signed by Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn, also covers alternative fuels, efficient transportation technologies and fueling infrastructure, grid security, smart grid, storage, waste-to-energy, basic science research, and mobile/deployable power. The MOU builds on existing cooperation between DOE and the Defense Department, and will broaden collaboration on clean energy technology research, development, and demonstration.
The Defense Department wants to speed the transition of innovative energy and conservation technologies from labs to military end users. Partnering with the Defense Department gives DOE the chance to speed deployment of its technologies and expertise, and to promote scientific and technological innovation. See the MOU (PDF 328 KB).
Maine Signs Ocean Energy Agreement with Nova Scotia
On July 12, Maine Governor John Baldacci and Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter signed a MOU to work together on ocean electricity generation.
The MOU calls for sharing information on renewable electricity with a focus on ocean tidal energy and offshore wind. The MOU was signed during the 34th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, held to discuss energy security, efficiency, and renewable energy development in the region.
In June, Baldacci was one of 10 U.S. governors to sign a MOU with the U.S. Department of the Interior that formally established the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium. The consortium is promoting development of wind resources on the Outer Continental Shelf along the East Coast, primarily by coordinating state and federal efforts relating to permitting, environmental studies, technical and financial barriers, and infrastructure needed to deploy and maintain offshore wind plants. See the press release on Governor Baldacci’s Web site.
Unmanned Solar Aircraft Soars for 14 Days
The Zephyr, an unmanned solar-powered aircraft, landed safely on July 23 after flying nonstop for 14 days, unofficially smashing long-standing world records, according to manufacturer QinetiQ.
The craft launched and landed at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The journey quadrupled its unofficial world record for longest unmanned flight (82 hours, 37 minutes) set in 2008. Zephyr also surpassed the official world record for the longest flight for an unmanned air system (30 hours, 24 minutes) set by Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk in March 2001. Zephyr also bettered the record for non-stop flight, passing the Rutan Voyager milestone of 9 days set in December 1986.
Solar energy is delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays on its 74-foot wingspan. The energy collected during the day recharges lithium-sulfur batteries, allowing it to fly during darkness without refueling. Zephyr’s ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber frame weighs about 110 pounds.
This is the second notable solar-powered feat this month. On July 7-8, a pilot kept the Solar Impulse aloft over Switzerland through an entire 24-hour cycle, the first time this was accomplished with a manned craft. See the QinetiQ press release.
International Renewable Energy Agency Gets Global Status
18 months after it being established, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) announced on July 8 that it has become a fully-fledged organization. Under its charter, IRENA would become a recognized entity 30 days after the 25th government ratified its statute.
The agency promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all renewable energies. Founded in January 2009 with 75 member states, IRENA has grown to 149 members – 31 members ratified the charter. All United Nations’ members are eligible to join.
Its mandate is to help members define strategies across all renewable energies, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind. Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, has been IRENA’s headquarters since June 2009. The organization will develop an assembly, a council, and a secretariat as it evolves. See the IRENA press release.
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
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