Two Department of Energy (DOE) offices have funded $6 million in research projects for an inaugural partnership to better prepare the nation for multiple disruptive power events and enable rapid response in a crisis for U.S. grid operators.
Tag: Clean Energy
Catalyst for ‘One-Step’ Conversion of Methane to Methanol
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborating institutions have engineered a highly selective catalyst that can convert methane, a major component of natural gas, into methanol, an easily transportable liquid fuel, in a single, one-step reaction.
Esther Takeuchi Honored in Special Festschrift Issue
Esther Sans Takeuchi, a materials scientist and chemical engineer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, was honored by the Journal of Physical Chemistry C in a special Festschrift issue earlier this year.
Turning Agricultural Trash to Treasure
New funding will help Berkeley Lab and partners improve how the diverse agricultural waste in California’s Northern San Joaquin Valley can be used to make sustainable bioproducts and biofuels.
Multi-step photovoltaic power forecasting using transformer and recurrent neural networks
Abstract Affordable and clean energy is an important UN sustainable development goal. Solar energy is more difficult to control than fossil fuels, highlighting the need for accurate solar power forecasts. This study develops three variants of the transformer networks, called…
Biological Science Helps Fuel the Future of Electric Air Travel
In a new study, a team of researchers led by Berkeley Lab used a bioscience technique to study the intricate interactions within the anode, cathode, and electrolyte of electric aircraft batteries. One of the most significant findings was the discovery that certain salts mixed into the battery electrolyte formed a protective coating on cathode particles, making them far more resistant to corrosion, thereby enhancing battery life.
Texas Tech Researcher Finds Lithium Ion Batteries a Growing Source of Pollution
The use of certain substances in the batteries is polluting air and water, according to a peer-reviewed study.
Texas Tech Professor Receives DOE Grant to Advance Clean Energy
The project is part of more than $17 million invested in university-led research.
UC San Diego Experts–why we need to work with China on accelerating the clean energy revolution
The tariffs recently placed on a variety of goods from China including electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar cells and batteries are the latest in a slew of actions Washington DC has taken to be tough on China. David Victor is the…
Scientists Make and Test Efficient Water-Splitting Catalyst Predicted by Theory
Scientists have developed a new efficient catalyst for the most challenging part of “water splitting,” a series of two simultaneous electrochemical reactions that generate hydrogen gas, a green energy source, from water. The new catalyst was designed based on theoretical predictions and validated in laboratory tests and industrially relevant demonstrations.
Five facilities at Argonne where climate solutions are front and center
Learn more about five research centers at Argonne National Laboratory that help researchers bring climate science from the lab to the world.
ORNL, University of Kentucky focus on clean energy in Appalachia
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted the second annual Appalachian Carbon Forum in Lexington March 7-8, 2024, where ORNL and University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research scientists led discussions with representatives from industry, government and academia to discuss ways to transition to clean energy.
When Planning Sustainable Energy Systems, Don’t Forget About People
New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that models commonly used to shape climate mitigation need to include human behaviors and rules—and shows models can be adapted to do so
UT-Battelle donates $186,000 to support SEEED’s green construction program
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s managing contractor, UT-Battelle, presented a donation of $186,000 to Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development, or SEEED, to support the nonprofit’s third green solar home as part of their Green Construction Program.
Cornell expert: Hydrogen hubs too reliant on fossil fuels
The Biden administration has announced the locations of seven regional manufacturing hubs that will receive a portion of $7 billion in initial funding to help jumpstart a hydrogen industry. Hydrogen is seen by some as a cleaner alternative to fossil…
Metal-loving microbes could replace chemical processing of rare earths
Cornell University scientists have characterized the genome of a metal-loving bacteria with an affinity for rare earth elements. The research paves the way towards replacing the harsh chemical processing of these elements with a benign practice called biosorption.
Department of Energy Announces up to $500 Million for Basic Research to Advance the Frontiers of Science
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $500 million in funding for basic research in support of DOE’s clean energy, economic, and national security goals.
Lawrence Livermore grabs two spots in DOE’s Energy Earthshot program
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists will lead and co-lead projects in support of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Energy Earthshot program.
Benefit breakdown, 3D printed vs. wood molds
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have conducted a comprehensive life cycle, cost and carbon emissions analysis on 3D-printed molds for precast concrete and determined the method is economically beneficial compared to conventional wood molds.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California State University, Bakersfield and Livermore Lab Foundation sign MOU to advance clean energy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) and the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF) have signed an agreement to collaborate on advanced and clean-energy technologies, research opportunities and community partnerships that have the potential to shape the future of energy in the state and bring high-quality jobs to the region.
Safe train transport
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers used images from a photo-sharing website to identify crude oil train routes across the nation to provide data that could help transportation planners better understand regional impacts.
DOE Announces $72 Million For Small Business Research and Development Grants
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $72 million in funding for small businesses to pursue scientific, clean energy, and climate research, development, and demonstration projects. The funding will support 296 projects across 44 states and addresses multiple topic areas, such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, cybersecurity, advanced materials and manufacturing, microelectronics, and artificial intelligence. Today’s announcement underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s deep commitment to advancing innovative climate solutions and strengthening America’s global scientific leadership, which are critical to achieving the President’s goal of a carbon-free grid by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
How Fiber-Optic Sensing and New Materials Could Reduce the Cost of Floating Offshore Wind
In this Q&A, Berkeley Lab’s Yuxin Wu discusses how scientists are developing sensing technologies that could be installed on floating offshore structures. This would allow the structures to self-monitor damaging conditions that could lead to costly repairs, and could also gauge impacts to marine mammals.
ASU to lead new DOE Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Arizona State University to receive up to $70 million to establish a new Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute devoted to the challenge of fighting greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heating.
Chemists Unravel Reaction Mechanism for Clean Energy Catalyst
Chemists at the University of Kansas and Brookhaven National Laboratory have unraveled the entire reaction mechanism for a key class of water-splitting catalysts. Their work could help pure hydrogen be produced from renewable energy sources such as solar power.
Researchers capture elusive missing step in the final act of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis plays a crucial role in shaping and sustaining life on Earth, yet many aspects of the process remain a mystery. One such mystery is how Photosystem II, a protein complex in plants, algae and cyanobacteria, harvests energy from sunlight and uses it to split water, producing the oxygen we breathe. Now researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, together with collaborators from Uppsala University and Humboldt University and other institutions have succeeded in cracking a key secret of Photosystem II.
Tax credit tool tracks EV savings
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have developed an online resource to help consumers understand the electric vehicle tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
UAH researchers win awards totaling $750K to advance steps toward “holy grail” fusion clean energy project
Mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have won a pair of research awards totaling $750,000 to collaborate with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) on research to advance knowledge toward one of the most sought-after goals of plasma physics, plasma fusion energy. This project marks the first experimental collaboration between the university and the LANL, helping to bring fusion and high energy density (HED) plasma research to UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System.
S&T professor leads $2 million DOE project to curb climate change, critical minerals crisis
A researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology was recently tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to lead a $2 million grant project related to critical minerals and clean energy.
Have no fear: Electric vehicles will get you where you need to go
“Range anxiety” has been shot down by new research led by the University of Delaware that found electric vehicles with smaller batteries, combined with community charging, can meet all driving trip needs.
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $68 Million For Small Businesses Developing Technologies to Cut Emissions and Study Climate
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced awards totaling more than $68 million that will go to 53 small businesses that are solving scientific problems. Projects include developing tools for climate research and advanced materials and technologies for clean energy conversion. Understanding the climate and the ability to convert and store energy are instrumental to meeting President Biden’s goal of a completely clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
How a Record-Breaking Copper Catalyst Converts CO2 Into Liquid Fuels
Since the 1970s, scientists have known that copper has a special ability to transform carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals and fuels. But for many years, scientists have struggled to understand how this common metal works as an electrocatalyst, a mechanism that uses energy from electrons to chemically transform molecules into different products.
‘Green’ energy patents more focused on ‘clean’ conventional energy instead of renewables
A new study by world leaders in patent data has revealed some unusual trends in energy tech R&D, questioning whether companies are more committed to extracting fossil fuels or in pursuing genuinely ‘green’, renewable energy technologies.
Researchers Create Smaller, Cheaper Flow Batteries for Clean Energy
Flow batteries offer a solution. Electrolytes flow through electrochemical cells from storage tanks in this rechargeable battery. The existing flow battery technologies cost more than $200/kilowatt hour and are too expensive for practical application, but Liu’s lab in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) developed a more compact flow battery cell configuration that reduces the size of the cell by 75%, and correspondingly reduces the size and cost of the entire flow battery. The work could revolutionize how everything from major commercial buildings to residential homes are powered.
Media Tip: Scientists use Argonne accelerator to study star-like environment created during National Ignition Facility laser shots
The recent achievement of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) marks a monumental scientific step in controlling the physics involved in the quest for future limitless clean energy.
Department of Energy Announces $35 Million to Build Research Capacity, Infrastructure, and Expertise at Institutions Historically Underrepresented in Science
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $35 million to build research capacity, infrastructure, and expertise at institutions historically underrepresented in science, including minority serving institutions (MSIs) and emerging research institutions (ERIs). FAIR will enhance research at these institutions on clean energy, climate, and additional topics spanning the Office of Science portfolio. This investment will help develop a diverse, vibrant, and excellent scientific workforce and contribute to the science innovation ecosystem.
Tulane nuclear physicist explains massive potential of fusion breakthrough
A Tulane University scientist said today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy of a major fusion energy breakthrough has the potential to change the world but cautioned that the technology is many years — and experiments — away. Energy…
Will we ever fully embrace clean energy? One climate change policy expert says the Inflation Reduction Act has changed the landscape for renewables
Did The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 change the national conversation about clean energy? Tulane University climate change policy and politics expert Joshua Basseches says the sweeping bill’s incentives for renewables and other investments have states and policymakers moving from…
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1.5 Billion From Inflation Reduction Act to Strengthen America’s National Laboratories
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today announced $1.5 billion from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to build and upgrade America’s national laboratories.
Binghamton University-led battery initiative wins $113 million to bolster domestic battery manufacturing and supply chain, reinvigorate region
Binghamton University’s New Energy New York project has been awarded more than $113 million to establish a hub for battery technology innovation in upstate New York. The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced Friday that the region would receive $63.7 million; the State of New York will support the project with an additional $50 million.
Brookhaven Lab, AABE, Con Edison Team up on Sustainable Energy Course at Brooklyn’s Bedford Academy
Through a collaboration among the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, educators, the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), and local energy companies like ConEdison, students at Brooklyn’s Bedford Academy were offered a unique opportunity to participate in a pilot course on sustainable energy and learn about careers within the energy sector.
ORNL welcomes sixth cohort of Innovation Crossroads clean energy entrepreneurs
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Innovation Crossroads program welcomes six new science and technology innovators from across the United States to its sixth cohort.
New biobatteries use bacterial interactions to generate power for weeks
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed a “plug-and-play” biobattery that lasts for weeks at a time and can be stacked to improve output voltage and current.
Chula’s Own Solar Cell Project High-powered and Diverse Formats that Meet World Standards
Chula’s researchers have garnered themselves a world-class reward for their latest solar cell project which increases the capacity of electricity production and can be applied to numerous types of merchandise. These new solar cells are guaranteed to meet international standards and develop clean energy for society.
5 clean energy startups chosen for Argonne’s Chain Reaction Innovations
Seven new innovators representing five clean energy startups will join Chain Reaction Innovations, Argonne National Laboratory’s entrepreneurship program, as part of the elite program’s sixth cohort.
DOE Announces $53 Million for Small Businesses Pursuing Clean Energy and Climate Solutions
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $53 million in funding awards for diverse small businesses to pursue advanced scientific instrumentation and technologies to address climate change.
Tracking data: DOE’s 40th edition Transportation Energy Data Book monitors U.S. mobility trends, charges up on electric outlook
For decades, the Department of Energy’s annual Transportation Energy Data Book has tracked trends in U.S. transportation, serving as the definitive guide for industry, policymakers, researchers and consumers. The most recent version is now available online, marking the book’s 40th edition.
Senator Cantwell, Science Leaders Help Break Ground on $75 Million Grid Storage Launchpad
New facility will accelerate energy storage innovation, increase clean energy adoption and grid resilience.
ORNL brings big science to address the climate challenge
Tackling the climate crisis and achieving an equitable clean energy future are among the biggest challenges of our time. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the largest Department of Energy science and energy laboratory in the country, is deeply invested in the big science capabilities and expertise needed to address the climate challenge on multiple fronts.
COP 26 ushers ‘new domain of geopolitics’ as Russia demands sanction relief
Russia’s climate negotiators are expected to seek sanctions relief for green energy projects during next month’s climate summit in Scotland. This includes relief for state-run energy companies like Gazprom, which has been targeted by sanctions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea…