DOE Announces Centers for U.S.-China Clean Energy Research

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that two consortia–one led by the University of Michigan and one led by the West Virginia University–will receive a total of $25 million over the next five years under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC).

The funding will be matched by the grantees to provide at least $50 million in total U.S. funding and will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by the United States and China.

Chinese counterparts will contribute an additional $50 million, with combined funding from both countries totaling $100 million. The University of Michigan’s award will advance technologies for clean vehicles, while West Virginia University will use its funding to focus on the next generation of so-called clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage.

President Obama and President Hu Jintao formally announced the establishment of the CERC during the President’s trip to Beijing last November. At the time, Secretary Chu joined Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and Chinese National Energy Administrator Zhang Guobao to sign the protocol launching the Center.

Details of the two winning consortia are as follows:

• Clean Coal: The West Virginia University will lead a consortium that includes the University of Wyoming, University of Kentucky, Indiana University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, World Resources Institute, U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum, General Electric (NYSE: GE), Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), LP Amina, Babcock & Wilcox (NYSE: BWC) and American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP). The consortium will develop and test new technologies for carbon capture and sequestration.
• Clean Vehicles: The University of Michigan will lead a consortium that includes Ohio State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, General Motors, Ford (NYSE: F), Toyota (NYSE: TM), Chrysler, Cummins (NYSE: CMI), Fraunhofer, MAGNET, A123 (NYSE: AONE), American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), First Energy (NYSE: FE) and the Transportation Research Center.  The consortium will focus on vehicle electrification.

The $25 million in U.S. government funding will be used to support work conducted by U.S. institutions and individuals only. Chinese partners will be announced in the coming months by the Chinese government.

The announcement of another $12.5 million to a third winning consortium focused on building energy efficiency will be made this fall.