Dear Colleagues,

Let me first thank you for your interest in ARPA-E. I want to use this opportunity to explain and elaborate on ARPA-E’s vision and report on where we are now.

We are living in challenging times, but are surrounded by opportunities. The widespread use of fossil fuels has long driven the engine of economic growth, and yet our dependence on these fuels severely threatens our national and environmental security due to our growing foreign energy dependence as well as climate change. Business as usual is not an option, as the outcome will be devastating.   This is true not only for the US, but also for all nations in this interconnected world. The nation that successfully grows its economy with more efficient energy use, a clean domestic energy supply, and a smart energy infrastructure will lead the global economy of the 21st century. In many cases, we are lagging behind. We as a nation need to change course with fierce urgency.

Let us try to comprehend the scale of this challenge with the following question: What were those innovations of the 20th century that changed the course of humankind’s history? Read More...

CO2 Capture with Enzyme Synthetic Analogue

Nature’s solution to carbon dioxide management in organisms is to create and use one of the fastest enzymes known, carbonic anhydrase (CA). Unfortunately, CA is not robust enough to survive the harsh flue gas environment in a coal-fired power plant. However, recent academic research has created synthetic analogue molecules to better understand CA enzyme mechanisms. In this ARPA-E program, United Technologies Research Center (East Hartford, CT) will incorporate a synthetic CA analogue into a membrane to capture carbon dioxide. The objective is to reduce the parasitic power requirements currently associated with carbon capture by 30%, which would greatly accelerate deployment of this much-needed technology.  Read More...