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The large-scale cultivation of macroalgae (also known as seaweed) is increasingly recognized as a potential solution for removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, the economic bioextraction of nitrogen and phosphorus from eutrophic systems, and a source of carbon-neutral biomass for biofuels and bioproducts. ARPA-E views macroalgae as a robust carbon-negative and resource-efficient feedstock for biofuels and bioproducts that does not compete with existing agricultural land. ARPA-E’s MARINER program targets the development and deployment of new technologies for the economi
Update
ARPA-E Program Director Dr. Jack Lewnard held a webinar on reducing methane emissions on November 10, 2020. Presentation slides from the webinar are available here. A video recording of the presentation can be seen below:
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This workshop will focus on the innovation of microgrid design and control to improve or enable: reliability, resiliency, self-healing, black-start capability, prosumer capabilities, macrogrid support, plug and play functions, networks of microgrids, multi-objective systems, standardization, low-inertia/inverter-based systems, and more.
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This potential program would aim to develop ultrahigh temperature materials that would enable drastic improvements in gas turbine and aircraft engine efficiency as well as operating temperatures of nuclear reactors. Developing such ultrahigh temperature materials might be feasible today because of the availability of modern material research tools including multiscale modeling, machine learning, and in particular the advancement of manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing.
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The workshop convened leading experts in waste-to-energy, combustion, pyrolysis, and cement to identify technology approaches capable of significantly improving the consistency and value of ash from municipal solid waste incineration through pre- and post-combustion analytics, pre-combustion additives, combustion conditions, and ash processing.
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The Rapid Encapsulation of Pipelines Avoiding Intensive Replacement Workshop (REPAIR) workshop sought to reduce costs for replacing bare steel and cast iron gas distribution pipes by fabricating new, “smart” pipes inside the old pipes using robotics, advanced composite materials, and new inspection tools.
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ARPA-E sought information regarding promising pathways toward improving the carbon-conversion efficiency of renewable feedstocks to products. This workshop explored opportunities to reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions from biofuel and bioproduct pathways through highly efficient directed flux of biomass carbon into products with minimal carbon loss as CO2. Workshop participants explored how inexpensive clean power can enable novel bioprocess designs that limit or completely avoid carbon loss during biomass conversion.
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Building on the ARPA-E ALPHA program and synergies with the Fusion Industry Association and the National Academies recommendation, ARPA-E is exploring opportunities for a potential new fusion program that is broader in R&D scope than ALPHA while pursuing the same vision as ALPHA: catalyze R&D pathways to lower the cost and accelerate the development time scale for commercially viable fusion energy.
This event convened leading experts in electric motors, power electronics, thermal transport, advanced materials and manufacturing, and hybrid/electric aviation to identify innovative research paths forward for the development of disruptive technologies in electric propulsion that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of commercial aviation while improving its economic viability and competitiveness.
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ARPA-E seeks information regarding the role of flexible carbon capture in terms of plant- and grid-level performance, economics and emissions. This workshop will focus on the impact of a growing share of renewable generation on conventional power plants equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems.