Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
NODES
Award:
$3,056,046
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Incentive-Based Control of Distributed AssetsPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will develop and test a hierarchical control framework for coordinating the flexibility of a full range of DERs, including flexible building loads, to supply reserves to the electric power grid. The hierarchical control framework consists of incentive-based control strategies across multiple time-scales. The system will use a slower incentive-based approach to acquire flexible assets that provide services, combined with faster device-level controls that use minimal communication to provide desired responses to the grid. Each DER that chooses to…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$1,599,636
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Real-Time Transmission OptimizationPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing innovative high-performance-computing techniques that can assess unused power transmission capacity in real-time in order to better manage congestion in the power grid. This type of assessment is traditionally performed off-line every season or every year using only conservative, worst-case scenarios. Finding computing techniques that rate transmission capacity in real-time could improve the utilization of the existing transmission infrastructure by up to 30% and facilitate increased integration of renewable generation into the grid—…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2015
Award:
$3,063,034
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Power-Grid OptimizationThe team led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will develop a High-Performance Power-Grid Optimization (HIPPO) technology to reduce grid resource scheduling times to within a fraction of current speeds, which can lead to more flexible and reliable real-time operation. The team will leverage advances in optimization algorithms and deploy high-performance computing technologies to significantly improve the performance of grid scheduling. HIPPO will provide inter-algorithm parallelization and allow algorithms to share information during their solution process, with the objective of…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,500,000
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
High Performance Adaptive Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-based Real-time Emergency Control (HADREC) to Enhance Power Grid Resilience in Stochastic EnvironmentPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will construct an intelligent, real-time emergency control system to help safeguard the U.S. electric grid by providing effective and fast control actions to system operators in response to large contingencies or extreme events. PNNL’s scalable platform will utilize advanced machine learning techniques (deep-meta-reinforcement learning) as well as high-performance computing to automatically provide effective emergency control strategies seconds after disturbances or attacks. Platform development will focus on the determination, timing, coordination…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REACT
Award:
$5,387,368
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Manganese-Based MagnetsPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is working to reduce the cost of wind turbines and EVs by developing a manganese-based nano-composite magnet that could serve as an inexpensive alternative to rare-earth-based magnets. The manganese composite, made from low-cost and abundant materials, could exceed the performance of today's most powerful commercial magnets at temperature higher than 200°C. Members of PNNL's research team will leverage comprehensive computer high-performance supercomputer modeling and materials testing to meet this objective. Manganese-based magnets could…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
TERRA
Award:
$7,033,003
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
The Consortium for Advanced Sorghum Phenomics (CASP)Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), along with its partners, will use aerial and ground-based platforms to identify traits required for greater production yield and resistance to drought and salinity stresses to accelerate sorghum breeding for biofuel production. The project will combine plant analysis in both outdoor field and indoor greenhouse environments as each provides unique advantages; and will use robotics and imaging platforms for increased speed and accuracy of data collection. Traditionally aboveground biomass is measured by harvesting, drying, and weighing the plant…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$1,000,000
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
UNrealized Critical Lanthanide Extraction via Sea Algae Mining (UNCLE-SAM): Domestic production of critical minerals from seawaterPacific Northwest National Laboratory will use advanced climate-simulation photobioreactors with access to natural seawater to determine optimized cultivation and rare earth elements (REE) uptake conditions of seaweeds. The team will treat the seaweed biomass with heat and pressure in a process called hydrothermal liquefaction to concentrate its critical mineral portion, while concurrently generating a feedstock for biofuels, bioplastics, and biomedical compounds. Developing this technology could transform the bioproduct and REE mining industries and catalyze the development of a more…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GAMOW
Award:
$2,300,000
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Microstructure Optimization and Novel Processing Development of ODS Steels for Fusion EnvironmentsPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) aims to cost-effectively fabricate, at scale, high-performance, oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steel with advanced-manufacturing methods for fusion breeding-blanket applications. PNNL will enable cost-effective production of oxide-dispersion strengthened steel by consolidating and extruding powders made with gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) in just one step by using first-of-a-kind shear-assisted processing and extrusion (ShAPE). Solid-state dynamic shear deformation during ShAPE will offer highly distributed nucleation of nano-oxides…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ULTIMATE
Award:
$599,999
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Selective Thermal Emission Coatings for Improved Turbine PerformanceThermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on turbine blades are designed to protect the blade from reaching temperatures higher than the operational capability of the base metal. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory aims to develop a new type of TBC that performs dual functions. The coating will act as a barrier to conventional heat transfer and have ability to alter the wavelength of light radiated from the hot turbine blade surface. This normally wasted energy will be absorbed in the turbine exhaust where it can then produce additional electrical power or thrust. Simulations show this new coating…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
NEXTCAR
Award:
$4,626,962
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Autonomous Intelligent Assistant (AutonomIA): Resilient and Energy-Efficient City-wide Transportation OperationsThe Pacific Northwest National Laboratory team will combine artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced controls, while leveraging CAV and roadside infrastructure advances to transform transportation management. The team’s traffic management system, AutonomIA, will reduce congestion, improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions across regional transportation systems. The system includes four innovative components: (1) real-time and context-aware transportation state estimation, (2) scalable and computationally efficient traffic forecasting, (3) predictive control, and (4) hierarchical…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MINER
Award:
$2,275,000
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Supercritical CO2 Based Mining for Carbon-Negative Critical Mineral RecoveryPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will develop the first integrated, comprehensive suite of methods to deliver a proprietary supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)-based leaching fluid to mafic-ultramafic ores for in situ enhanced critical mineral (e.g., nickel, copper, and cobalt) recovery and CO2 sequestration. The project will increase the U.S. critical mineral supply chain by using existing horizontal drilling technologies to inject scCO2 to mine low-value mafic-ultramafic ores not typically mined. The goal is to create a carbon-negative pathway, reduce mineral beneficiation…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MINER
Award:
$1,000,000
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Re-Mining Red Mud Waste for CO2 Capture and Storage and Critical Element Recovery (RMCCS-CER)Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will advance in-situ and ex-situ techniques to determine the solubility and thermodynamic properties of various sodium rare earth element (REE) carbonates, REE (hydroxy)carbonates, REE phosphate, and REE (oxy)hydroxides in various solutions and pressures and temperature conditions, with or without the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2). The team will use the results to construct a database for optimizing conditions that efficiently recover energy-relevant minerals in red mud waste. https://arpa-e.energy.gov/news-and-media/press-releases/us…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HESTIA
Award:
$2,627,405
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
The Circular Home: Development and Demonstration of a Net-Negative-Carbon, Reusable ResidenceThe Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) team will develop an innovative design process and modular building system to construct a single-family home that is carbon-negative cradle-to-grave. The team will design the Circular Home primarily of biogenic materials, in a manner that will create zero operational carbon, and design it for easy disassembly and reassembly for reuse and minimal waste generation. Major components remain in use for three times longer time than the expected 50-year lifespan of a conventionally constructed single-family dwelling, ensuring the initial design will…
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
TBD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Exploring Macroalgae as Critical Mineral Crops, E=(MC)2Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is studying methods to efficiently extract rare earth elements and platinum group metals from “biological ore”: hyper-accumulating species of marine macroalgae. Extraction methods will also re-utilize chemical extractants and retain the value of the algae for other purposes such as biofuels and other industrial feedstocks, resulting in minimal tailings. New instrumentation capability at PNNL will allow for greater resolution analysis of the biological variability of minerals and metals, and the team will develop—among other advancements—adsorbents…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$3,114,700
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Advanced Manufacturing of High-Entropy Alloys as Cost-Effective Plasma Facing Components for Fusion Power GenerationMore information on this project is coming soon!
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
SEA-CO2
Award:
TBD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Integrated Experimental and Modeling Assessment of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement for Scalable Marine Carbon Dioxide RemovalPacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing a model and mesocosm experiments to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the marine carbon dioxide removal technique Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) in three major coastal areas in the United States. Unlike current models that lack ground-truth data to accurately simulate OAE, PNNL will conduct tank-based laboratory experiments to validate new models that may improve our capability to estimate the effectiveness of OAE. If successful, the project could inform the growth of the maritime carbon capture industry and protection…
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
GOPHURRS
Award:
TBD
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Subsurface Intelligence for Undergrounding Operations: Rapid AI-Based Geophysical Imaging and Advanced VisualizationPacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing an artificial intelligence system for processing geophysical survey data into digital twin and augmented reality in order to identify existing utilities and other subsurface obstacles before installing underground power distribution lines. The system would autonomously process data from multiple types of geophysical sensors to detect and classify anomalies underground and create a digital representation of the subsurface for geographic information systems. Analysis, visualization, and reporting typically takes weeks or months after data…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NM
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2015
Award:
$2,779,072
Pajarito Powder
High-Efficiency Hydrogen ProductionThe team led by Pajarito Powder will develop a reversible hydrogen electrode that would enable cost-effective hydrogen production and reversible fuel cells. Both electrolyzers and fuel cells, generally operate in acidic conditions that rely on expensive precious metal catalysts to avoid corrosion. Running the electrochemical cell in alkaline conditions reduces the requirements for the oxygen electrode, but effective and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the hydrogen electrode still need to be developed. This project aims to develop a bi-functional (i.e. two way) low-cost catalyst that runs in…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
AMPED
Award:
$4,773,952
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Embedded Fiber Optic Sensing System for Battery PacksPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing new fiber optic sensors that would be embedded into batteries to monitor and measure key internal parameters during charge and discharge cycles. Two significant problems with today's best batteries are their lack of internal monitoring capabilities and their design oversizing. The lack of monitoring interferes with the ability to identify and manage performance or safety issues as they arise, which are presently managed by very conservative design oversizing and protection approaches that result in cost inefficiencies. PARC's design…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ARID
Award:
$1,083,999
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Metamaterials-Enhanced Passive Radiative Cooling PanelsPalo Alto Research Center (PARC), working with SPX Cooling Technologies, is developing a low-cost, passive radiative cooling panel for supplemental dry cooling at power plants. PARC’s envisioned end product is a cooling module, consisting of multiple radiative cooling panels tiled over large, enclosed water channels that carry water from an initial cooling system, such as a dry-cooling tower. The cooling panel consists of a two-layer structure in which a reflective film sits atop a unique metamaterial-based emitter. In this architecture, the top layer completely reflects sunlight while the…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$499,834
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Large-Area Thermoelectric GeneratorsPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing high performance, low-cost thermoelectric devices on flexible substrates that will enable the capture of low-temperature waste heat (100°C to 250°C), an abundant and difficult-to-harness energy resource. PARC's innovative manufacturing process is based on their co-extrusion printing technology which can simultaneously deposit different materials at high speed thereby facilitating fast, large-area production at low cost. Flexible thermoelectric devices will broaden their utility to applications on non-flat surfaces such as wrapping heat…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
METALS
Award:
$1,492,128
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Electrochemical Probe for Rapid Scrap Metal SortingPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing an advanced diagnostic probe that identifies the composition of light metal scrap for efficient sorting and recycling. Current sorting technologies for light metals are costly and inefficient because they cannot distinguish between different grades of light metals for recycling. Additionally, state-of-the-art electrochemical probes rely on aqueous electrolytes that are not optimally suited for separating light metal scrap. PARC’s probe, however, uses a novel liquid, which enables a chemical reaction with light metals to represent their alloy…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MONITOR
Award:
$3,395,164
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
System of Printed Hybrid Intelligent Nano-Chemical Sensors (SPHINCS)Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) will work with BP and NASA’s Ames Research Center to combine Xerox’s low-cost print manufacturing and NASA’s gas-sensing technologies to develop printable sensing arrays that will be integrated into a cost-effective, highly sensitive methane detection system. The system will be based on sensor array foils containing multiple printed carbon nanotube (CNT) sensors and supporting electronics. Each sensor element will be modified with dopants, coatings, or nanoparticles such that it responds differently to different gases. Through principal component analysis and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$1,497,564
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Micro-Chiplet Printer for MOSAICPalo Alto Research Center (PARC), along with Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) will develop a prototype printer with the potential to enable economical, high-volume manufacturing of micro-PV cell arrays. This project will focus on creating a printing technology that can affordably manufacture micro-CPV system components. The envisioned printer would drastically lower assembly costs and increase manufacturing efficiency of micro-CPV systems. Leveraging their expertise in digital copier assembly, PARC intends to create a printer demonstration that uses micro-CPV cells or “chiplets” as the “…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$935,022
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Innovative Manufacturing Process for Li-Ion BatteriesPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing a new way to manufacture Li-Ion batteries that reduces manufacturing costs and improves overall battery performance. Traditionally, Li-Ion manufacturers make each layer of the battery separately and then integrate the layers together. PARC is working to manufacture a Li-ion battery by printing each layer simultaneously into an integrated battery, thereby streamlining the manufacturing process. Additionally, the battery structure includes narrow stripes inside the layers that increase the battery’s overall energy storage. Together, these…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$1,286,017
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis with a Nitride Ion Conducting ElectrolyteThe Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) will develop an electrochemical ammonia generator capable of using intermittent energy delivered by renewable sources. The team will build an electrochemical device based on a solid-state electrolyte that converts nitrogen from the air and hydrogen to ammonia in a single step at temperatures and pressures far lower than today’s dominant ammonia production technology, the Haber-Bosch process. The system will be modular and readily scalable, decoupling production cost from scale and allowing it to produce ammonia for diverse customers, from industry to farms…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,946,540
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
High-throughput Methane Pyrolysis for Low-cost, Emissions-free HydrogenPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) and its partners will explore a targeted molten metal as a catalyst in a methane pyrolysis mist reactor to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon at a low cost without carbon dioxide emissions. The technology could augment or replace current H2 production methods, while simultaneously sequestering carbon in high value materials.
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REBELS
Award:
$1,461,177
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Reformer-less Fuel CellPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) is developing an intermediate-temperature fuel cell that is capable of utilizing a wide variety of carbon-based input fuels such as methane, butane, propane, or coal without reformation. Current fuel cell technologies require the use of a reformer – which turns hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen and can generate heat and produce gases. PARC’s design will include a novel electrolyte membrane system that doesn’t have a methane-to-hydrogen reformer, and transports oxygen in a form that allows it to react directly with almost any fuel. This new membrane system…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
SHIELD
Award:
$2,887,312
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Window Thermal BarrierPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) and its partners are developing a low-cost, transparent thermal barrier, consisting of a polymer aerogel, to improve insulation in single-pane windows. The proposed high-performance thermal barrier is anticipated to achieve ultra-low thermal conductivity, while offering mechanical robustness and the visual appearance of clear glass. Additionally, the thermal barrier’s synthesis is scalable and thus amenable to high volume manufacturing. The envisioned replacement windowpane is a tri-layer stack consisting of the aerogel, glass, and a low-emissivity coating –…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
TRANSNET
Award:
$2,177,717
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Collaborative Optimization and Planning for Transportation Energy Reduction (COPTER)Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) will develop its COPTER system to identify the energy-efficient routes most likely to be adopted by a traveler. PARC’s system model will use currently available data from navigation tools, public transit, and intelligent transportation systems to simulate the Los Angeles transportation network and its energy use. For its control architecture, PARC will leverage its expertise in behavioral modeling and use machine-learning algorithms to predict the near-time travel needs of users, their constraints, and how likely they are to respond to suggested travel options…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$2,090,000
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
CACTUS: CO2 Aerogel Capture Towards Utilization and SequestrationPalo Alto Research Center (PARC) aims to develop a highly efficient sorbent material and MSA process for direct air capture of CO2, leveraging PARC's novel aerogel chemistry incorporating quaternary ammonium cation groups to reversibly adsorb CO2 with changes in humidity. The new material and process will substantially improve the capital and operating costs of CO2 capture through reduced materials and process costs as well as enhanced sorbent performance. The team will advance the critical sorbent materials parameters that drive MSA system performance to give a transformational…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$1,626,000
Panasonic Boston Laboratory
Low Profile CPV Panel with Sun Tracking for Rooftop InstallationPanasonic Boston Laboratory will develop a micro-CPV system that features a micro-tracking subsystem. This micro-tracking subsystem will eliminate the need for bulky trackers, allowing fixed mounting of the panel. The micro-tracking allows individual lenses containing PV cells to move within the panel. As the sun moves throughout the day, the lenses align themselves to the best position to receive sunlight, realizing the efficiency advantages of CPV without the cumbersome tilting of the entire panel. The Panasonic Boston Laboratory team will examine a number of methods to allow the individual…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$4,426,493
Parallel Systems
Transformative Rail Architecture to Decarbonize FreightParallel Systems is developing a highly scalable system of rechargeable electric rail vehicles to enable existing railroads to economically serve the short-haul market. This system will include all associated software including vehicle control, dispatch software, fleet management, and terminal operations. These independent rail cars would simplify terminal operations, enabling significantly more competitive services at congested ports, and unlock the construction of smaller inland terminals leading to more resilient freight infrastructure. The Parallel Systems team will focus on three key…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BEEST
Award:
$3,204,080
Pellion Technologies
Rechargeable Magnesium BatteriesPellion Technologies is developing rechargeable magnesium batteries that would enable an EV to travel 3 times farther than it could using Li-ion batteries. Prototype magnesium batteries demonstrate excellent electrochemical behavior, delivering thousands of charge cycles with very little fade. Nevertheless, these prototypes have always stored too little energy to be commercially viable. Pellion Technologies is working to overcome this challenge by rapidly screening potential storage materials using proprietary, high-throughput computer models. To date, 12,000 materials have been identified…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
AMPED
Award:
$1,355,208
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Reconfigurable Battery PacksPennsylvania State University (Penn State) is developing an innovative, reconfigurable design for electric vehicle battery packs that can re-route power in real time between individual cells. Much like how most cars carry a spare tire in the event of a blowout, today's battery packs contain extra capacity to continue supplying power, managing current, and maintaining capacity as cells age and degrade. Some batteries carry more than 4 times the capacity needed to maintain operation, or the equivalent of mounting 16 tires on a vehicle in the event that one tire goes flat. This overdesign is…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BEETIT
Award:
$3,233,147
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Helium-Based Soundwave ChillerPennsylvania State University (Penn State) is designing a freezer that substitutes the use of sound waves and environmentally benign refrigerant for synthetic refrigerants found in conventional freezers. Called a thermoacoustic chiller, the technology is based on the fact that the pressure oscillations in a sound wave result in temperature changes. Areas of higher pressure raise temperatures and areas of low pressure decrease temperatures. By carefully arranging a series of heat exchangers in a sound field, the chiller is able to isolate the hot and cold regions of the sound waves. Penn State…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Electrofuels
Award:
$1,602,863
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Genetically Modified Bacteria for Fuel ProductionPennsylvania State University (Penn State) is genetically engineering bacteria called Rhodobacter to use electricity or electrically generated hydrogen to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels. In collaboration with the University of Kentucky, Penn State is taking genes from oil-producing algae called Botryococcus braunii and putting them into Rhodobacter to produce hydrocarbon molecules, which closely resemble gasoline. Penn State is developing engineered tanks to support microbial fuel production and determining the most economical way to feed the electricity or hydrogen to the bacteria…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IONICS
Award:
$1,000,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Cold Sintering Composite StructuresPennsylvania State University (Penn State) will develop a process for cold-sintering of ceramic ion conductors below 200°C to achieve a commercially viable process for integration into batteries. Compared to liquid electrolytes, ceramics and ceramic composites exhibit various advantages, such as lower flammability, and larger electrochemical and thermal stability. One challenge with traditional ceramics is the propagation of lithium dendrites, branchlike metal fibers that short-circuit battery cells. Penn State will create ceramic and ceramic/polymer composite electrolytes that resist…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$3,129,385
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Wide-Angle Planar Microtracking Microcell Concentrating PhotovoltaicsPennsylvania State University (Penn State), along with their partner organizations, will develop a high efficiency micro-CPV system that features the same flat design of traditional solar panels, but with nearly twice the efficiency. The system is divided into three layers. The top and bottom layers use a refractive/reflective pair of tiny spherical lens arrays to focus sunlight onto a micro-CPV cell array in the center layer. The micro-CPV arrays will be printed on a transparent sheet that slides laterally between the top and bottom layer to ensure that the maximum amount of sunlight is…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
NEXTCAR
Award:
$3,000,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Fuel Efficiency through Co-OptimizationPennsylvania State University (Penn State) will develop a predictive control system that will use vehicle connectivity to reduce fuel consumption for a heavy duty diesel vehicle by at least 20% without compromising emissions, drivability, mobility, or safety. The technology will work to achieve four individual and complementary goals that co-optimize vehicle dynamic and powertrain control. First, it will exploit connected communication to anticipate traffic/congestion patterns on different roads, traffic light timing, and the speed trajectories of surrounding vehicles. Second, the system will…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2009
Award:
TBD
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Solar Conversion of CO2 and Water Vapor to Hydrocarbon FuelsPennsylvania State University (Penn State) is developing a novel sunlight to chemical fuel conversion system. This innovative technology is based on tuning the properties of nanotube arrays with co-catalysts to achieve efficient solar conversion of CO2 and water vapor to methane and other hydrocarbons. The goal of this project is to build a stand-alone collector which can achieve ~2% sunlight to chemical fuel conversion efficiency via CO2 reduction.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$4,703,906
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Integration of Sensors Through Additive Manufacturing Leading to Increased Efficiencies of Gas Turbines for Power Generation and PropulsionPennsylvania State University is developing a novel manufacturing process that prints integrated sensors into complex systems such as gas turbine hot section parts for real time monitoring. Incorporating these durable, integrated sensors into the geometry would provide critical knowledge of key operating conditions such as temperature of key components and their thermal heat fluxes. These sensors enable the unique possibility to gain direct knowledge of critical parameters currently inferred with only varying degrees of success. This innovation—developed in partnership with Georgia Institute…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
RANGE
Award:
$769,144
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Structural Battery Power PanelsPennsylvania State University (Penn State) is using a new fabrication process to build load-bearing lithium-ion batteries that could be used as structural components of electric vehicles. Conventional batteries remain independent of a vehicle’s structure and require heavy protective components that reduce the energy to weight ratio of a vehicle. PowerPanels combine the structural components with a functional battery for an overall reduction in weight. Penn State’s PowerPanels use a “jelly roll” design that winds battery components together in a configuration that is strong and stiff enough to…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMOTE
Award:
$3,000,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Methane-to-AcetatePennsylvania State University (Penn State) is engineering a type of bacteria known as Methanosarcina acetivorans to produce acetate from methane gas. Current approaches to methane conversion are energy-intensive and result in substantial waste of carbon dioxide. Penn State will engineer a pathway for converting methane to a chemical called acetate by reversing the natural pathway for acetate to methanol conversion. This new approach is advantageous because it consumes carbon dioxide, produces energy-rich carbon-carbon bonds, and conserves electrons to make the molecules produced reactive and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ROOTS
Award:
$7,212,894
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Deeper Phenotyping PlatformPennsylvania State University (Penn State) will develop DEEPER, a platform for identifying the traits of deeper-rooted crops that integrates breakthroughs in nondestructive field phenotyping of rooting depth, root modeling, high-throughput 3D imaging of root architecture and anatomy, gene discovery, and genomic selection modeling. The platform will be deployed to observe maize (corn) in the field under drought, nitrogen stress, and non-stressed conditions. Their key sensor innovation is to measure leaf elemental composition with x-ray fluorescence, and use it as a proxy for rooting depth.…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$800,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Cryogenic Solid-state Circuit BreakerThis project will develop a medium voltage (MV) cryogenic power switch to enable solid-state circuit breakers operating at cryogenic temperatures. Deploying MV and superconducting cables in electric aviation requires the ability of circuit breakers that can block high voltage at the reduced pressure of high attitudes and operate at cryogenic temperatures (down to 20 K or -424 ºF). This project aims to (1) develop a power switch that can block 10 kV and (2) improve the power switch design so it is immune to carrier freezeout (malfunction) and exhibits a lower on-resistance (power loss) at…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ULTIMATE
Award:
$1,200,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Design and Manufacturing of Ultrahigh Temperature Refractory AlloysPennsylvania State University (PSU) will develop an integrated computational and experimental framework for the design and manufacturing of ULtrahigh TEmperature Refractory Alloys (ULTERAs). PSU will generate alloy property data through high-throughput computational and machine learning models; design ULTERAs through a neural network inverse design approach; manufacture the designed alloys utilizing field assisted sintering technology and/or additive manufacturing; and demonstrate the performance through systematic characterization in collaboration with industry. The proposed platform, with a…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$1,220,000
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Synthesis of Consists as Rolling Energy micro-grids (SCORE)The Penn State team is developing a fully open-source toolset for exploring and optimizing Energy Storage and Power (ES&P) systems for rail transportation. The core of the toolset will be an Energy-Longitudinal Train Dynamics (E-LTD) model that represents the train as a complex rolling micro-grid of power sources and sinks, determining the optimal power flow policy for each. The E-LTD will model power demands and calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel consumption, power, acquisition, operations and support, and infrastructure costs. A Route Generation Toolset will ingest…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$1,486,829
Perlumi Chemicals
Novel Biological Carbon Fixation Pathway to Increase Plant YieldPerlumi Chemicals will develop a novel biological carbon fixation pathway with a more efficient carboxylase to better utilize CO2. Rubisco, the carbon-fixing enzyme central to the carbon fixation cycle in plants, is rather inefficient, limiting how much CO2 a plant can convert into sugars per unit time. The Perlumi team will improve pathway enzymes using metabolic modeling and directed evolution, and implement the novel pathway in living systems. Perlumi’s modeling shows the theoretical maximum speed increase is three times as fast as the Calvin-Benson cycle, the pathway for carbon…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$498,767
Perseus Materials
Variable Cross-sectional Casting: New Composite Fabrication Process for Wind Turbine BladesPerseus Materials will develop a new mode of composite manufacturing for wind turbine blades that could rapidly replace vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding as the dominant blade manufacturing process. Perseus’s unique additive manufacturing method—known as variable cross-sectional molding—could significantly reduce labor costs, cycle times, and factory footprints for blade manufacturers at the same output levels.