THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office
of Public Affairs
________________________________________________________________________
News Media Contact: For Immediate Release:
(202) 586-4940 Monday, July 12, 2010
New York Based Projects Win $5.5 Million for Groundbreaking Energy Research
New projects will accelerate innovation in clean energy technologies, increase America's competitiveness and create jobs
Washington, D.C. – Three New York based projects have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $5.5 million for research projects that aim to dramatically improve how the U.S. uses and produces energy. In an announcement made today by Secretary Steven Chu, the DOE – through the Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) – is awarding a total of $92 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to 43 cutting-edge projects that focus on accelerating innovation in green technology while increasing America's competitiveness in grid scale energy storage, power electronics and energy efficient cooling systems.
“These innovative ideas will play a critical role in our energy security and economic growth,” said Secretary Chu. “It is now more important than ever to invest in a new, clean energy economy.”
The New York based projects selected for award today include:
CUNY Energy Institute (New York, NY) Capacitors - Lighting: Metacapacitors: This project will develop a novel electrically insulating material for a new breed of capacitors that increases the capacitor's storage capability and allows for low-cost, efficient grid interfaces for applications from solid-state lighting to solar photovoltaics. The thin film capacitor can be printed in rolls similar to newspaper printing. Transistors are sealed into these capacitor films to form Metacapacitors. The resulting Metacapacitors are a flexible fabric for electrical power conversion. DOE award: $1,568,330
GE Global Research (Niskayuna, NY) Magnetics - Photovoltaics: Nanostructured Scalable Thick-Film Magnetics: This project will develop a novel magnetic component that supports compact power interfaces between solar photovoltaics and the electrical grid. This new component uses nanostructured magnetic materials scaled to millimeter dimensions. DOE award: $949,545
CUNY Energy Institute (New York, NY) Battery: Low-cost Grid-Scale Electrical Storage using a Flow-Assisted Rechargeable Zinc-Manganese Oxide Battery: In this project, the CUNY Energy Institute, in partnership with Rechargeable Battery Corporation (RBC) and the Ultralife Corporation, will develop a novel battery that radically transforms the chemistry and low-cost materials found in disposable consumer-grade alkaline batteries into a long-lasting, fully-rechargeable energy storage system. While CUNY has already demonstrated some of the basic scientific principles, work in this high-risk project aims to achieve a rechargeable battery system that lasts for over ten years and costs under $100/kWh, demonstrating potential for use on the electricity grid.
DOE award: $3,000,000
In total, the projects announced today are based in 18 states, with 36% of projects led by universities, 33% by small businesses, 24% by large businesses, 5% by national labs, and 2% by non-profits. These awards complete ARPA-E’s grants under its Recovery Act funding: in three rounds of awards since last year, the agency has selected a total of 117 projects for $349 million in funding, supporting research that can deliver breakthrough changes in how the U.S. generates, stores, and utilizes energy.
View the project selections announced today.
View technical descriptions for the projects announced today.
ARPA-E received 529 initial concept papers and encouraged approximately 164 applicants to submit full applications. Multiple review panels composed of leading U.S. science and technology experts reviewed each proposal and made recommendations based on scientific and technical merit and the potential to dramatically advance national energy and economic goals. Potential additional applications for funding innovative research projects are pending further review.
To learn more about ARPA-E and previous awards, visit arpa-e.energy.gov.
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