Status: ALUMNI
State: ME
Project Term: 02/06/2018 - 12/04/2022
Program: MARINER
Award: $1,323,867

University of New England (UNE)

The University of New England (UNE) will lead a MARINER Category 3 project to develop a high-resolution, 3D computational modeling tool for simulating hydrodynamic forces on macroalgae cultivation and harvest systems. Advanced modeling tools can help inform decisions about farm structure and the significant capital investment required. UNE’s modeling tool will quantify fluid dynamics and mechanical stress at the sub-meter level. The tool will have the capability to evaluate a wide range of offshore macroalgae systems and allow specification of components to withstand storm events, prevent…

Status: ALUMNI
State: NM
Project Term: 03/22/2016 - 10/22/2019
Program: OPEN 2015
Award: $3,187,273

University of New Mexico (UNM)

The team led by the University of New Mexico will develop a modular electrochemical process for a power-to-fuel system that can synthesize ammonia directly from nitrogen and water. The proposed synthesis approach will combine chemical and electrochemical steps to facilitate the high-energy step of breaking the nitrogen-nitrogen bond, with projected conversion efficiencies above 70%. By operating at lower temperature and pressure and reducing the air-separation requirement, this technology reduces overall system complexity, thus potentially enabling smaller-scale production at equal or lower…

Status: ALUMNI
State: ND
Project Term: 04/01/2013 - 06/30/2014
Program: OPEN 2012
Award: $471,353

University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC)

University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC) is developing an air-cooling alternative for power plants that helps maintain operating efficiency during electricity production with low environmental impact. The project addresses the shortcomings of conventional dry cooling, including high cost and degraded cooling performance during daytime temperature peaks. UND-EERC’s device would use an air-cooled adsorbent liquid that results in more efficient power production with no water consumption. The technology could be applied to a broad range of plants including…

Status: ALUMNI
State: ND
Project Term: 05/21/2021 - 11/20/2022
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $500,000

University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC)

Hydrolytic softening is a lower-cost process to remove CO2 from the oceans. It has similarities to processes at conventional water treatment facilities, which mix hydrated lime to “soften” water by precipitating dissolved inorganic carbon as calcium carbonate. In hydrolytic softening, however, instead of a consumptive use of lime, the calcium carbonate is decomposed. This releases CO2 gas for sequestration or industrial use and regenerates the lime for continued cycles of carbon removal. Hydrolytic softening can reduce energy input costs for CO2 removal by 77% compared to state-of-the-art…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 01/16/2023 - 03/06/2026
Program: CURIE
Award: $2,711,342

University of North Texas (UNT)

The University of North Texas (UNT), University of Michigan, Northeastern University, General Electric Research Center, and Idaho National Laboratory are researching a novel self-powered wireless differential pressure sensor for long-term, in situ, real-time monitoring of high-temperature (600 ºC) molten salt density and level for safeguarding and monitoring electrochemical processing of nuclear spent fuel. The team will use micro-electromechanical systems technology to fabricate the pressure sensor which enables measurements of great sensitivity, accuracy and high repeatability. To provide…

Status: ALUMNI
State: IN
Project Term: 10/01/2010 - 09/30/2013
Program: BEETIT
Award: $2,601,715

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is developing an air-conditioning system with a new ionic liquid and CO2 as the working fluid. Synthetic refrigerants used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems are potent GHGs and can trap 1,000 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2 alone—making CO2 an attractive alternative for synthetic refrigerants in cooling systems. However, operating cooling systems with pure CO2 requires prohibitively high pressures and expensive hardware. Notre Dame is creating a new fluid made of CO2 and ionic liquid that enables the use of CO2 at low pressures and requires…

Status: ALUMNI
State: IN
Project Term: 07/01/2010 - 12/31/2013
Program: IMPACCT
Award: $2,559,562

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is developing a new CO2 capture process that uses special ionic liquids (ILs) to remove CO2 from the gas exhaust of coal-fired power plants. ILs are salts that are normally liquid at room temperature, but Notre Dame has discovered a new class of ILs that are solid at room temperature and change to liquid when they bind to CO2. Upon heating, the CO2 is released for storage, and the ILs re-solidify and donate some of the heat generated in the process to facilitate further CO2 release. These new ILs can reduce the energy required to capture CO2 from the exhaust…

Status: ACTIVE
State: IN
Project Term: 09/25/2023 - 09/27/2025
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $334,318

University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame will develop a novel low-cost power transistor design that leverages the properties of the semiconductor gallium nitride for mid-range voltage applications and could disrupt the market for devices in electric vehicles, renewable energy grid integration, industrial power control, and grid resilience. The proposed design could lead to possible energy savings of one quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTU) per year, roughly equivalent to 1% of annual energy consumption in the U.S.

Status: ALUMNI
State: OK
Project Term: 04/15/2019 - 07/14/2022
Program: OPEN 2018
Award: $608,333

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma will develop a novel, zero-liquid discharge freeze system to remove dissolved salt from contaminated water, such as is produced by industrial processes like oil and gas extraction. The project will take advantage of the density difference between water and ice to extract pure ice from a salty brine, using a cooling approach that maximizes efficiency and avoids the need for energy-intensive evaporation methods. The system will operate under atmospheric pressure and be capable of treating highly concentrated/contaminated water. If successful, the treated water would…

Status: ACTIVE
State: PA
Project Term: 12/14/2022 - 12/13/2024
Program: HESTIA
Award: $2,407,364

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania will develop a comprehensive building structure strategy with high-performance, prefabricated, funicular structures for minimized mass and maximized surface area for carbon absorption. The team will use innovative carbon-absorbing, 3D printable concrete as a primary structural material and bio-based carbon-storing materials for the building's envelope and finishes. Additive manufacturing technology will be used in fabrication to reduce waste. The building design’s thermal mass, adaptive envelope, and electrified building systems with heat pumps will reduce…

Status: ACTIVE
State: PA
Project Term: 04/22/2024 - 04/21/2027
Program: ULTRAFAST
Award: $2,240,309

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is developing an integrated module featuring wide-bandgap power devices to improve electric grid control, resilience, and reliability. The proposed co-packaged module integrates high-speed gate driving, optical power delivery, signal isolation, remote sensing, and protection. The module will non-invasively monitor the voltage and current of wide-bandgap devices and would have higher noise immunity than state-of-the-art.

Status: ALUMNI
State: PA
Project Term: 05/01/2013 - 04/30/2016
Program: OPEN 2012
Award: $2,400,000

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is developing a compound to increase the viscosity of—or thicken—liquid carbon dioxide (CO2). This higher-viscosity CO2 compound could be used to improve the performance of enhanced oil recovery techniques. Crude oil is found deep below the surface of the earth in layers of sandstone and limestone, and one of the ways to increase our ability to recover it is to inject a high-pressure CO2 solvent into these layers. Unfortunately, because the solvent is less viscous—or thinner—than oil, it is not robust enough to uniformly sweep the oil out of the rock and…

Status: ALUMNI
State: PA
Project Term: 01/01/2021 - 06/30/2022
Program: REPAIR
Award: $999,999

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburg team will pursue a new vision for in-situ repair and rehabilitation of pipelines with value added embedded sensing to complement existing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and in-line inspection techniques. The team will demonstrate robotically deployable cold spray-based processes for producing a metallic pipe within the original structure and explore the feasibility of embedded fiber optic sensors within the newly constructed internal pipe. Acoustic NDE methods will be coupled with embedded fiber optic sensors as well as machine learning-based frameworks to…

Status: ALUMNI
State: PA
Project Term: 11/19/2020 - 09/30/2022
Program: FLECCS
Award: $789,486

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh’s team will develop a hybrid plant model consisting of a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant coupled with membrane and sorbent carbon capture systems. During peak hours, the NGCC plant produces power, and the two sequential carbon capture systems capture roughly 99% of the CO2 produced by the combustion of natural gas. During off-peak hours, the NGCC plant powers the two carbon capture systems to capture the CO2 from the air, as well as capturing all the CO2 produced by the plant. The team will optimize the hybrid model to minimize cost and study how the…

Status: ACTIVE
State: PA
Project Term: 06/28/2024 - 06/27/2027
Program: SEA-CO2
Award: $2,500,490

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh is developing buoy-based optical fiber sensors for measuring pH and carbon dioxide in seawater from the ocean’s surface to the seafloor. Using chemically selective and optically sensitive coatings, the proposed project would integrate a fiber optic sensing technology into low-cost commercial fibers used for marine buoy sensor systems. A reel-to-reel continuous manufacturing approach enables straightforward large-scale manufacturing. University of Pittsburgh’s approach would aid monitoring of nearshore marine carbon dioxide removal technologies, particularly those in…

Status: ALUMNI
State: NY
Project Term: 06/18/2020 - 06/17/2023
Program: BETHE
Award: $1,749,960

University of Rochester

The University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics ($1.75M) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) ($1.75M) will advance inertial fusion energy (IFE) by developing (1) innovative direct-drive, high-bandwidth, high-gain target designs using high-bandwidth laser technologies with < 1 MJ of laser input energy, and (2) high-efficiency, high-bandwidth IFE drivers to eventually enable experimental demonstration of the advanced target designs. The new laser-driver technologies, including both diode-pumped solid-state and excimer lasers, are expected to mitigate laser-plasma…

Status: ALUMNI
State: NY
Project Term: 01/01/2016 - 09/30/2020
Program: MOSAIC
Award: $3,069,168

University of Rochester

The University of Rochester along with partners Arzon Solar and RPC Photonics will develop a micro-CPV system based on Planar Light Guide (PLG) solar concentrators. The PLG uses a top lenslet layer to focus and concentrate sunlight towards injection facets. These facets guide and redirect light, like a mirror, towards a PV cell at the edge of the device. Combined, these methods lead to higher efficiency over conventional FPV systems. At fewer than 3 mm thick, the system will be thin and flat, similar to traditional FPV panels. The PLG system also reduces complexity and costs by only requiring…

Status: ACTIVE
State: NY
Project Term: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2025
Program: BETHE
Award: $2,249,095

University of Rochester

Numerical simulations are critically important for the design and development of fusion concepts. However, establishing an adequate simulation capability for a fusion concept can easily be more expensive and time-consuming than building the first experiment. This Capability Team will provide simulation support for fusion-concept teams and independent analysis of fusion concepts. The FLASH, TriForce, and OSIRIS codes were chosen for this project because they are flexible, high-performance, multi-dimensional codes, all with the potential to be used by concept teams to carry out their own…

Status: ALUMNI
State: NY
Project Term: 01/08/2020 - 06/30/2022
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,000,000

University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Form a diagnostic resource team to provide travelling diagnostics, calibrations, analysis techniques, and diagnostic consultants to fusion projects. The diagnostics that will be provided are a neutron time of flight detector, neutron activation detectors, and a time-resolved x-ray imaging system.

Status: ALUMNI
State: SC
Project Term: 10/01/2014 - 09/30/2017
Program: REBELS
Award: $3,200,000

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is developing an intermediate-temperature, ceramic-based fuel cell that will both generate and store electrical power with high efficiencies. Reducing operating temperatures for fuel cells is critical to enabling distributed power generation. The device will incorporate a newly discovered ceramic electrolyte and nanostructured electrodes that enable it to operate at temperatures lower than 500ºC, far below the temperatures associated with fuel cells for grid-scale power generation. The fuel cell’s unique design includes an iron-based layer that stores…

Status: ALUMNI
State: FL
Project Term: 12/13/2011 - 09/30/2015
Program: HEATS
Award: $2,664,640

University of South Florida (USF)

The University of South Florida (USF) is developing low-cost, high-temperature phase-change materials (PCMs) for use in thermal energy storage systems. Heat storage materials are critical to the energy storage process. In solar thermal storage systems, heat can be stored in these materials during the day and released at night—when the sun is not out—to drive a turbine and produce electricity. In nuclear storage systems, heat can be stored in these materials at night and released to produce electricity during daytime peak-demand hours. Most PCMs do not conduct heat very well. Using an…

Status: ALUMNI
State: CA
Project Term: 08/17/2017 - 08/27/2023
Program: ENLITENED
Award: $3,100,000

University of Southern California (USC)

The University of Southern California (USC) will develop a framework and testbed for evaluating proposed photonic and optical-electronic interconnect technologies, such as those developed under the ARPA-E ENLITENED program. These new approaches will develop novel network topologies enabled by integrated photonics technologies, which use light instead of electricity to transmit information. USC’s effort aims to offer an impartial assessment of these emerging datacenter concepts and architectures and their ability to reduce overall power consumption in a meaningful way. The team will focus on…

Status: ALUMNI
State: CA
Project Term: 10/01/2010 - 09/30/2013
Program: GRIDS
Award: $1,481,528

University of Southern California (USC)

University of Southern California (USC) is developing an iron-air rechargeable battery for large-scale energy storage that could help integrate renewable energy sources into the electric grid. Iron-air batteries have the potential to store large amounts of energy at low cost—iron is inexpensive and abundant, while oxygen is freely obtained from the air we breathe. However, current iron-air battery technologies have suffered from low efficiency and short life spans. USC is working to dramatically increase the efficiency of the battery by placing chemical additives on the battery's iron-…

Status: ALUMNI
State: CA
Project Term: 03/01/2013 - 03/19/2018
Program: OPEN 2012
Award: $2,719,018

University of Southern California (USC)

University of Southern California (USC) is developing a water-based, metal-free, grid-scale flow battery that will be cheaper and more rapidly produced than other batteries. Flow batteries store chemical energy in external tanks instead of within the battery container. This allows for cost-effective scalability because adding storage capacity is as simple as expanding the tank. Batteries for grid-scale energy storage must be inexpensive, robust, and sustainable—many of today’s mature battery technologies do not meet all these requirements. Using innovative designs and extremely low-cost…

Status: ACTIVE
State: CA
Project Term: 05/15/2024 - 05/14/2026
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,000,000

University of Southern California (USC)

The University of Southern California is developing geologic hydrogen production and extraction techniques by utilizing industrial oil and gas methods. The proposed technology would be a modified version of the Huff-n-Puff process, which is practiced for shale gas recovery. Multiple process scenarios would be used to optimize the generation, accumulation, and extraction of geologic hydrogen. Laboratory studies on rock cores would be explored over multiple length scales and modeling would be used to determine how large-scale reservoirs will interact with this production method.

Status: ALUMNI
State: MS
Project Term: 06/29/2018 - 07/15/2019
Program: MARINER
Award: $500,000

University of Southern Mississippi (USM)

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will lead a MARINER Category 1 project to design and develop a novel, robust seaweed growth system capable of deployment across the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The technology will enable precise positioning of large farm structures to maximize productivity and actively avoid surface hazards such as weather or marine traffic. The seaweed will grow while affixed to support ropes strung between concentric rings. The structure will have automated buoyancy compensation devices to optimize depth minute-by-minute for maximum light…

Status: ALUMNI
State: MS
Project Term: 07/02/2018 - 07/15/2019
Program: MARINER
Award: $499,999

University of Southern Mississippi (USM)

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will lead a MARINER Category 1 project to design and develop a semi-autonomous enclosure, called a seaweed paddock, to contain and grow mats of free-floating Sargassum, a brown seaweed species native to the eastern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. One of the major cost drivers for production of macroalgae is the expense of the farming equipment, particularly anchors used to hold the farms in place in a particular spot in the ocean. Unlike most kelps, Sargassum does not require anchoring to a fixed structure, but rather will grow as…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TN
Project Term: 06/06/2019 - 09/05/2021
Program: DAYS
Award: $1,499,149

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville team will develop an energy storage system based on an innovative electrolyzer/fuel cell combination. Typically, fuel cells produce water from hydrogen and oxygen. The Tennessee team will instead use the fuel cell to produce hydrogen peroxide, a liquid that can be stored. When extra power is needed on the grid, the fuel cell will produce peroxide and electricity. Available electricity then can be used to convert the peroxide back to hydrogen and oxygen during the charging cycle, which can be stored for future use. The benefit of using peroxide rather…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TN
Project Term: 11/10/2016 - 03/19/2018
Program: IDEAS
Award: $500,000

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee (UT) will develop a reversible Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) catalyst that can be used both as a peroxide-producing electrolyzer and in reversible air batteries. The ORR catalyst development seeks to significantly improve peroxide electrolysis efficiency and achieve high charge and discharge rates in air-breathing batteries. In conjunction with the new catalyst, an anion exchange membrane (AEM) will be used to further increase the electrolyzer efficiency and reduce peroxide production costs. In the reversible air battery, the AEM increases battery power…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TN
Project Term: 02/01/2013 - 07/31/2016
Program: OPEN 2012
Award: $2,261,744

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee (UT) is developing technology to rapidly screen the genetic traits of individual plant cells for their potential to improve biofuel crops. By screening individual cells, researchers can identify which lines are likely to be good cellulosic feedstocks without waiting for the plants to grow to maturity. UT’s technology will allow high throughput screening of engineered plant cells to identify those with traits that significantly reduce the time and resources required to maximize biofuel production from switchgrass.

Status: ALUMNI
State: TN
Project Term: 02/04/2016 - 02/03/2020
Program: OPEN 2015
Award: $3,589,719

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee (UT) team proposes to develop a tool that will revolutionize plant metabolic engineering by using a large scale DNA synthesis strategy. The UT team will develop synthetic chloroplast (the part of the plant cell where photosynthesis occurs) genomes, called “synplastomes.” Rather than introducing or editing genes individually inside the plant cell, the UT team will synthesize a complete chloroplast genome in the laboratory that can be readily modified and then introduced into the plant. UT’s synplastomes will have significant advantages over conventional…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TN
Project Term: 06/24/2016 - 12/23/2021
Program: OPEN 2015
Award: $3,400,000

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

University of Tennessee (UT), along with their partners, will develop a new type of microgrid design, along with its corresponding controller. Like most other microgrids, it will have solar PV-based distributed generation and be capable of grid-connected or disconnected (islanded) operations. Unlike other microgrids, this design will incorporate smart grid capabilities including intelligent switches and high-speed communication links. The included controller will accommodate and utilize these smart grid features for enhanced performance and reduced costs. The microgrid controller will be open…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TN
Project Term: 06/21/2021 - 12/20/2024
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,400,000

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

A medium voltage direct current (MVDC) system provides lower distribution losses, higher power carrying capacity, and reduced conductor material compared with its low voltage alternative current counterpart. These benefits are critical to meet stringent weight and size requirements for aviation applications. The University of Tennessee will develop a lightweight, reliable, efficient, and flexible protection solution for future electrified aircraft propulsion systems that are expected to use a 1 kV to 10 kV MVDC distribution system. The team will develop a modular architecture with a highly…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TN
Project Term: 08/29/2022 - 08/28/2025
Program: OPEN 2021
Award: $2,418,576

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) will develop a high-temperature, chemically resistant, diamond-based microfluidic alpha spectrometer (DiMAS) that will enable accurate online and/or at-line (the sample is removed and analyzed near the production process) measurement of alpha-emitting isotopes in LF-MSR fuel. The team will develop an optimal spectrometer design by using experimental and computational methods to evaluate the sensor architecture, packaging, and performance. The team also plans to develop on-site data processing algorithms that will provide rapid information via remote…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TN
Project Term: 10/28/2022 - 10/27/2024
Program: HESTIA
Award: $2,557,383

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK) will develop higher performance, carbon-negative, and eco-friendly lignin polyurethane (PU) foams as a building insulation material via non-isocyanate synthesis. Non-isocyanate PU via polyaddition of cyclic carbonates and amines is non-toxic and non-moisture sensitive. Lignin is inherently hydrophobic, antibacterial, and fire-resistant, which are essential properties of insulation materials. Lignin’s propensity to char instead of ignite is advantageous but insufficient to address modern anti-flammability requirements. UTK will apply anti-…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TN
Project Term: 05/10/2024 - 05/09/2027
Program: ULTRAFAST
Award: $2,759,821

University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville will develop scalable light-triggered semiconductor switch modules for the protection of grid and aviation power systems. The proposed switch module seeks to achieve cost savings, fast switching speeds, and built-in redundancy by using sub-modules featuring lower-voltage and lower-current silicon carbide devices for desired higher application voltage and current levels. The University of Tennessee’s switch modules are controlled by light instead of electrical signals to minimize the electromagnetic interference and to simplify electrical isolation design.

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 01/18/2023 - 05/31/2023
Program: MINER
Award: $2,999,994

University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington)

The University of Texas at Arlington will develop two technologies to produce lithium (Li) and nickel (Ni) from CO2-reactive minerals and rocks that contain calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), while sequestering CO2 in the form of carbonate solids (calcium carbonate, or CaCO3; magnesium carbonate, or MgCO3; and variants thereof). The technologies, acoustic stimulation and electrolytic proton production, use electricity to liberate valuable metal ions from the surrounding mineral matrix at sub-boiling temperatures (~20-80°C). Feedstocks will include Li, Ca, Mg-rich igneous and sedimentary…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 08/23/2023 - 08/24/2026
Program: COOLERCHIPS
Award: $2,843,224

University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington)

The University of Texas at Arlington and collaborators will develop a novel hybrid cooling technology to address the growing need for advanced thermal management solutions for high-power data centers. At the server level, the design combines direct-to-chip evaporative cooling module including electrodeposition of metal on high-powered devices to eliminate thermal interface materials and to reduce chip-to-coolant thermal resistance, and air cooling including Rear Door Heat Exchanger for the rest of the system and thus enabling a robust and extendible solution for the future as well as an easy…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 05/08/2020 - 11/30/2022
Program: DIFFERENTIATE
Award: $1,616,524

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin proposes to create efficient, accurate, and scalable deep neural network (DNN) representations of design optimization problem solutions. The inputs to these DNN representations will be the vector of design requirement parameters, the outputs will be the optimal design variables, and the goal is to learn the map from inputs to outputs (i.e., inverse design). The team will focus on the problem of the optimal shape design of aerodynamic lifting surfaces—in particular aircraft wings—using Reynolds-Average Navier Stokes models for minimal drag and energy savings.…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 11/21/2011 - 06/30/2015
Program: HEATS
Award: $2,602,961

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will demonstrate a high-energy density and low-cost thermal storage system that will provide efficient cabin heating and cooling for EVs. Compared to existing HVAC systems powered by electric batteries in EVs, the innovative hot-and-cold thermal batteries-based technology is expected to decrease the manufacturing cost and increase the driving range of next-generation EVs. These thermal batteries can be charged with off-peak electric power together with the electric batteries. Based on innovations in composite materials offering twice the energy…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 10/01/2012 - 12/31/2015
Program: MOVE
Award: $4,238,439

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is developing an at-home natural gas refueling system that compresses natural gas using a single piston. Typically, at-home refueling stations use reciprocating compressor technology, in which an electric motor rotates a crankshaft tied to several pistons in a multi-stage compressor. These compressor systems can be inefficient and their complex components make them expensive to manufacture, difficult to maintain, and short-lived. The UT Austin design uses a single piston compressor driven by a directly coupled…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 03/28/2013 - 09/26/2016
Program: OPEN 2012
Award: $2,986,145

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is developing low-cost coatings that control how light enters buildings through windows. By individually blocking infrared and visible components of sunlight, UT Austin’s design would allow building occupants to better control the amount of heat and the brightness of light that enters the structure, saving heating, cooling, and lighting costs. These coatings can be applied to windows using inexpensive techniques similar to spray-painting a car to keep the cost per window low. Windows incorporating these coatings and a simple control system have…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 04/08/2021 - 05/29/2024
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,800,000

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) will use novel nanotechnology to develop a power transformer capable of operating for 80 years, increasing U.S. grid reliability. Key elements of UT- Austin’s research includes (1) the development and synthesis of cellulosic material and nano-additives (boron nitride, oxides) for paper and pressboard, (2) use of validated high-fidelity models to predict the thermal and electrical performance and life of transformers, (3) refurbishing a transformer to assess the impact of new materials, and (4) scale-up manufacturing of down-selected nanomaterials.

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 06/26/2023 - 06/25/2026
Program: MINER
Award: $4,997,015

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas, Austin, will conduct an in-situ injection of CO2 dissolved in water to permanently sequester CO2 via carbon-negative reactions (carbon mineralization), chemically fracture the rock via reaction-driven cracking before mining to reduce extraction and comminution energy by at least 50%, replace the CO2-reactive rock waste with carbonate to reduce energy needed for separation, improve concentrate grade, and increase ore recovery, and expand the lifespan of the mine as a CO2 sink once the ore is exhausted. The methodology applies to ultramafic rock-hosted mining operations…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 05/22/2024 - 05/21/2027
Program: SEA-CO2
Award: $2,238,393

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin is developing an acoustic sensor network to quantify ecosystem activity and how effectively carbon is stored in shallow seagrass beds, an important sink in the coastal blue carbon cycle. The proposed sensor network detects the acoustic signature of bubbles that are released from seagrass leaves as photosynthesis produces excess oxygen. The network also analyzes the refraction of sound through the seafloor to estimate the quantity of carbon locked in seagrass roots and sediment. This passive listening technology would aid in monitoring the performance of large…

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 05/07/2024 - 05/07/2025
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,000,000

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin is developing a foam injection approach to extract geologic hydrogen. Conventional fluids like water or steam may present challenges for extracting hydrogen because of the insolubility of the hydrogen gas and bubbles being trapped. Instead, the injected foam sweeps, captures, and extracts clustered hydrogen bubbles from mineral surfaces to enable higher recovery efficiency and transport. The project team will design, synthesize, and characterize foam compositions for optimal stability and hydrogen uptake behavior in the reservoir.

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 06/13/2024 - 06/12/2026
Program: Exploratory Topics
Award: $1,699,986

University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin is investigating effective and economical catalyst-enhanced reaction mechanisms to spur geologic hydrogen production. The team will analyze reaction catalysts that exist naturally in iron-rich rock, including nickel and platinum group elements, that could increase serpentinization reaction rates and lower the required reaction temperatures. The study will evaluate the most likely regions for geologic hydrogen production in North America, including mafic basalts in the Midcontinent Rift system, which have the potential to be a large source of geologic hydrogen.

Status: ACTIVE
State: TX
Project Term: 04/16/2020 - 07/15/2027
Program: ATLANTIS
Award: $7,720,000

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas)

The University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas) team plans to develop a floating turbine design featuring a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The design will exploit inherent VAWT characteristics favorable to deep water environments and use a CCD approach to overcome common challenges. VAWTs offer advantages over traditional offshore wind designs because they have a lower vertical center of gravity and center of pressure; require a smaller, less expensive floating platform; do not need yaw control systems; and have the potential to reduce operations and maintenance costs due to platform-level…

Status: ALUMNI
State: TX
Project Term: 06/07/2012 - 02/15/2015
Program: REACT
Award: $2,848,278

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas)

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is developing a unique electric motor with the potential to efficiently power future classes of EVs and renewable power generators. Unlike many of today's best electric motors—which contain permanent magnets that use expensive, imported rare earths—UT Dallas' motor completely eliminates the use of rare earth materials. Additionally, the motor contains two stators. The stator is the stationary part of the motor that uses electromagnetism to help its rotor spin and generate power. The double-stator design has the potential to generate very high…

Status: ALUMNI
State: OK
Project Term: 11/07/2016 - 12/31/2018
Program: FOCUS
Award: $922,378

University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa is developing a hybrid solar converter with a specialized light-filtering mirror that splits sunlight by wavelength, allowing part of the sunlight spectrum to be converted directly to electricity with photovoltaics (PV), while the rest is captured and stored as heat. By integrating a light-filtering mirror that passes the visible part of the spectrum to a PV cell, the system captures and converts as much as possible of the photons into high-value electricity and concentrates the remaining light onto a thermal fluid, which can be stored and be used as needed. University…