Government Technology

$151 Million Awarded for Energy Research Projects


You May Also Like

November 2, 2009 By

Last week The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $151 million in funding is being awarded through the Department's recently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy ("ARPA-E"). for 37 energy research projects -- including some that could allow intermittent energy sources like wind and solar to provide a steady flow of power, or use bacteria to produce automotive fuel from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. ARPA-E's mission "is to develop nimble, creative and inventive approaches to transform the global energy landscape while advancing America's technology leadership," according to a DOE release. This is the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E, which is receiving a total of $400 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Projects include:

  • Converting waste heat from autos into electricity to reduce fuel consumption.
  • The wave disc engine, a gas-fueled electric generator that is five times more efficient than traditional engines for electricity production, as well as lighter and cheaper to manufacture. Could replace current generators for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
  • "Blown Wing" technology for wind turbines. Creates a virtual airfoil by jetting compressed air along a wing.
  • A silicon-coated carbon nanofiber paper for the anode of next generation Lithium-ion batteries.

An article in the Christian Science Monitor quotes sources about the projects that range from "pie in the sky mad science" to "so crazy it just might work."


You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/budget-finance/151-Million-Awarded-for-Energy-Research.html


| More

Comments

Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. We reserve the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

Related To This Story

GovTech Papers and Case Studies View Library


Government Best Practices


Collaboration for the Public Sector


Collaborative Justice: Transforming Criminal Justice Services Through Unified Collaboration
This issue brief examines video collaboration in every stage of the human justice process, demonstrating how this technology can not only make services more efficient, affordable, and accessible.

Cloud-Based Services Accelerate Public Sector Adoption of Video Collaboration
Today, thanks to new cloud technologies and high-quality networks, mobile video services - which provide not only cost savings but which help governmental interactions become more efficient - are more feasible than ever before.

Modernization as a Service: Acquiring IT through Innovative Procurement

Five Ways Collaboration is Driving Government Performance

Mobile Video Collaboration: The New Business Reality
 

Government Technology
Public CIO
Emergency Management
Digital Communities