Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2009
Award:
$5,584,267
Makani Power
Airborne Wind TurbineMakani Power is developing an Airborne Wind Turbine that eliminates 90% of the mass of a conventional wind turbine and accesses a stronger, more consistent wind at altitudes of near 1,000 feet. At these altitudes, 85% of the country can offer viable wind resources compared to only 15% accessible with current technology. Additionally, the Makani Power wing can be economically deployed in deep offshore waters, opening up a resource which is 4 times greater than the entire U.S. electrical generation capacity. Makani Power has demonstrated the core technology, including autonomous launch, land,…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$449,065
Marathon Fusion
Advanced Metal Foil Pumps and Integrated Test Environment for the Fusion Fuel CycleMarathon Fusion will develop a test stand to support the evaluation of metal foil pumps in nuclear fusion systems that could propel the novel technology into pilot plants within a decade. Metal foil pumps tested by the proposed device could drastically reduce tritium inventories and the cost of tritium processing, significantly improving the fuel cycle cost for fusion power.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MARINER
Award:
$3,477,787
Marine BioEnergy
Biofuel Production from KelpThe team led by Marine BioEnergy will develop an open ocean cultivation system for macroalgae biomass, which can be converted to biocrude. Giant kelp is one of the fastest growing sources of biomass, and the open ocean surface water is an immense, untapped region for growing kelp. However, kelp does not grow in the open ocean because it needs to attach to a hard surface, typically less than 40 meters deep. Kelp also needs nutrients that are only available in deep water or near shore but not on the surface of the open ocean. To overcome these obstacles, the team proposes to build inexpensive…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MARINER
Award:
$7,515,793
Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)
Techniques for Tropical Seaweed CultivationThe Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), located in Woods Hole, will lead a MARINER Category 1 project to design and develop a cultivation system for the tropical seaweed Eucheuma isiforme to produce biomass for biofuels. Eucheuma is a commercially valuable species of “red” macroalgae, primarily cultivated in Asia, which has been difficult to propagate in a cost-effective manner. Cultivation of Eucheuma is labor intensive — making up almost 70% of the production costs — and is limited to easily accessible areas near shore. The MBL team will design and development a farm system…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WI
Project Term:
-
Program:
BREAKERS
Award:
$496,849
Marquette University
Ultra Fast Resonant DC BreakerMarquette University will leverage the technology gap presented by the lack of DC breaker technology. The project objective is to create an industry standard DC breaker that is compact, efficient, ultra-fast, lightweight, resilient, and scalable. The proposed solution will use a novel current source to force a zero current in the main current conduction path, providing a soft transition when turning on the DC breaker. A state-of-the-art actuator that can produce significantly more force than current solutions will also be used. The approach represents a transformational DC breaker scalable…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WI
Project Term:
-
Program:
CIRCUITS
Award:
$632,437
Marquette University
AC-to-DC Ultra-Fast EV ChargerMarquette University will develop a small, compact, lightweight, and efficient 1 MW battery charger for electric vehicles that will double the specific power and triple power density compared to the current state-of-the-art. The team aims to use MOSFET switches based on silicon carbide to ensure the device runs efficiently while handling very large amounts of power in a small package. If successful, the device could help to dramatically reduce charging times for electric vehicles to a matter of minutes - promoting faster adoption of electric vehicles with longer range, greater energy…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WI
Project Term:
-
Program:
ASCEND
Award:
$5,419,340
Marquette University
High Power Density Motor Equipped with Additively Manufactured Windings Integrated with Advanced Cooling and Modular Integrated Power ElectronicsMarquette University and its partners are developing the next generation of electric drivetrains for aerospace propulsion. The proposed system consists of a high-power density motor enabled by (1) an additively manufactured winding and heat pipe based thermal management scheme, (2) a modular power electronics topology, and (3) tight system integration and shared thermal management between the motor and power electronics to meet or exceed system-level targets. In the project’s first phase, the team will develop concepts, perform tradeoff studies and perform sub-component/component testing and…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
WI
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMEDY
Award:
$3,975,058
Marquette University
Prechamber Enabled Mixing Controlled Combustion of Natural Gas for Ultra-Low Methane Emissions from Lean-Burn EnginesMarquette University will enable an innovative combustion technology for lean-burn (high air-fuel ratio) natural gas engines to potentially reduce the amount of methane slip—or methane in the inlet fuel stream that escapes to the atmosphere—to 0.25% of the inlet fuel stream. The 0.25% target would represent a 90% reduction from current levels. The proposed system aims to achieve a non-premixed, mixing-controlled combustion process with natural gas in a lean-burn engine through an actively fueled prechamber. Simulations have shown that this non-premixed combustion system yields a 10-fold…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ADEPT
Award:
$4,414,003
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Advanced Power Electronics for LED DriversMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is teaming with Georgia Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania to create more efficient power circuits for energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) through advances in 3 related areas. First, the team is using semiconductors made of high-performing gallium nitride grown on a low-cost silicon base (GaN-on-Si). These GaN-on-Si semiconductors conduct electricity more efficiently than traditional silicon semiconductors. Second, the team is developing new magnetic materials and structures to reduce the size…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
DIFFERENTIATE
Award:
$1,350,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Machine Learning Assisted Models for Understanding and Optimizing Boiling Heat Transfer on Scalable Random SurfacesThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will develop a machine learning (ML) approach to optimize surfaces for boiling heat transfer and improve energy efficiency for applications ranging from nuclear power plants to industrial process steam generation. Predicting and enhancing boiling heat transfer presently relies on empirical correlations and experimental observations. MIT’s technology will use supervised ML models to identify important features and designs that contribute to heat transfer enhancement autonomously. If successful, MIT’s designs will lead to more readily adopted…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
DIFFERENTIATE
Award:
$3,381,819
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Global Optimization of Multicomponent Oxide Catalysts for OER/ORRThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will develop machine learning (ML) enhanced tools to accelerate the development of catalysts that promote the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) or the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). These reactions are critical to the cost-effective generation (OER) or oxidation (ORR) of hydrogen. Available catalysts for promoting these reactions include scarce and costly precious metals like platinum. Hence, their practical applications are limited by high cost and low abundance in addition to moderate stability. The MIT team will tailor the chemical…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Electrofuels
Award:
$1,770,269
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Liquid Fuel from BacteriaMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is using solar-derived hydrogen and common soil bacteria called Ralstonia eutropha to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) directly into biofuel. This bacteria already has the natural ability to use hydrogen and CO2 for growth. MIT is engineering the bacteria to use hydrogen to convert CO2 directly into liquid transportation fuels. Hydrogen is a flammable gas, so the MIT team is building an innovative reactor system that will safely house the bacteria and gas mixture during the fuel-creation process. The system will pump in precise mixtures of hydrogen, oxygen…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Electrofuels
Award:
$3,863,563
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Natural Oil Production from MicroorganismsMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is using carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen generated from electricity to produce natural oils that can be upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels. MIT has designed a 2-stage biofuel production system. In the first stage, hydrogen and CO2 are fed to a microorganism capable of converting these feedstocks to a 2-carbon compound called acetate. In the second stage, acetate is delivered to a different microorganism that can use the acetate to grow and produce oil. The oil can be removed from the reactor tank and chemically converted to various hydrocarbons. The…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ENLITENED
Award:
$1,564,812
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Seamless Interconnect NetworksThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will develop a unified optical communication technology for use in datacenter optical interconnects. Compared to existing interconnect solutions, the proposed approach exhibits high energy efficiency and large bandwidth density, as well as a low-cost packaging design. Specifically, the team aims to develop novel photonic material, device, and heterogeneously integrated interconnection technologies that are scalable across chip-, board-, and rack-interconnect hierarchy levels. The MIT design uses an optical bridge to connect silicon…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
FOCUS
Award:
$2,765,422
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Stacked Hybrid Solar ConverterMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a hybrid solar converter that integrates a thermal absorber and solar cells into a layered stack, allowing some portions of sunlight to be converted directly to electricity and the rest to be stored as heat for conversion when needed most. MIT’s design focuses concentrated sunlight onto metal fins coated with layers that reflect a portion of the sunlight while absorbing the rest. The absorbed light is converted to heat and stored in a thermal fluid for conversion to mechanical energy by a heat engine. The reflected light is directed to…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
FOCUS
Award:
$594,327
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Low-Cost Hetero-Epitaxial Solar Cell for Hybrid ConverterMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a high-efficiency solar cell grown on a low-cost silicon wafer, which incorporates a micro-scale heat management system. The team will employ a novel fabrication process to ensure compatibility between the indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) solar cell and an inexpensive silicon wafer template, which will reduce cell costs. MIT will also develop a color-selective filter, designed to split incoming concentrated sunlight into two components. One component will be sent to the solar cells and immediately converted into electricity and the…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$2,966,654
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Solar Thermal Energy Storage DeviceMIT is developing a thermal energy storage device that captures energy from the sun; this energy can be stored and released at a later time when it is needed most. Within the device, the absorption of sunlight causes the solar thermal fuel's photoactive molecules to change shape, which allows energy to be stored within their chemical bonds. A trigger is applied to release the stored energy as heat, where it can be converted into electricity or used directly as heat. The molecules would then revert to their original shape, and can be recharged using sunlight to begin the process anew. MIT's…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$871,612
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Efficient Heat Storage MaterialsMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing efficient heat storage materials for use in solar and nuclear power plants. 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's 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. MIT is designing nanostructured heat storage materials that can store a…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$3,555,627
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Advanced Thermo-Adsorptive BatteryMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a low-cost, compact, high-capacity, advanced thermo-adsorptive battery (ATB) for effective climate control of EVs. The ATB provides both heating and cooling by taking advantage of the materials' ability to adsorb a significant amount of water. This efficient battery system design could offer up as much as a 30% increase in driving range compared to current EV climate control technology. The ATB provides high-capacity thermal storage with little-to-no electrical power consumption. MIT is also looking to explore the possibility of…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HITEMMP
Award:
$1,835,929
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Multiscale Porous High-Temperature Heat Exchanger Using Ceramic Co-ExtrusionMIT will develop a high performance, compact, and durable ceramic heat exchanger. The multiscale porous high temperature heat exchanger will be capable of operation at temperatures over 1200°C (2192°F) and pressures above 80 bar (1160 psi). Porosity at the centimeter-scale will serve as channels for the flow of working fluids. A micrometer-scale porous core will be embedded into these channels. A ceramic co-extrusion process will create the channels and core using silicon carbide (SiC). This core design will significantly improve heat transfer and structural strength and minimize pressure…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IMPACCT
Award:
$998,111
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
CO2 Capture Using Electrical EnergyMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Siemens Corporation are developing a process to separate CO2 from the exhaust of coal-fired power plants by using electrical energy to chemically activate and deactivate sorbents—materials that absorb gases. The team found that certain sorbents bond to CO2 when they are activated by electrical energy and then transported through a specialized separator that deactivates the molecule and releases it for storage. This method directly uses the electricity from the power plant, which is a more efficient but more expensive form of energy than heat,…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$3,343,250
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Integrated Micro-Optical Concentrator PhotovoltaicsThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with partner Arizona State University will develop a new concept for PV power generation that achieves the 30% conversion efficiency associated with traditional concentrated PV systems while maintaining the low cost, low profile, and lightweight of conventional FPV modules. MIT aims to combine three technologies to achieve their goals: a dispersive lens system, laterally arrayed multiple bandgap (LAMB) solar cells, and a low-cost power management system. The dispersive lens concentrates and separates light that passes through it, providing 400-…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$1,795,704
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Wafer-Level Integrated Concentrating PhotovoltaicsThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with partner Sandia National Laboratories will develop a micro-CPV system. The team’s approach integrates optical concentrating elements with micro-scale solar cells to enhance efficiency, reduce material and fabrication costs, and significantly reduce system size. The team’s key innovation is the use of traditional silicon PV cells for more than one function. These traditional cells lay on a silicon substrate that has etched reflective cavities with high-performance micro-PV cells on the cavity floor. Light entering the system will hit a…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2009
Award:
$6,949,584
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Electroville: Grid-Scale BatteriesLed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Donald Sadoway, the Electroville project team is creating a community-scale electricity storage device using new materials and a battery design inspired by the aluminum production process known as smelting. A conventional battery includes a liquid electrolyte and a solid separator between its 2 solid electrodes. MIT's battery contains liquid metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. Because metals and salt don't mix, these 3 liquids of different densities naturally separate into layers, eliminating the need for a solid…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$749,119
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Scalable, Low-Power Water Treatment SystemMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a water treatment system to treat contaminated water from hydraulic fracking and seawater. There is a critical need for small to medium-sized, low-powered, low-cost water treatment technologies, particularly for regions lacking centralized water and energy infrastructure. Conventional water treatment methods, such as reverse osmosis, are not effective for most produced water clean up based on the high salt levels resulting from fracking. MIT’s water treatment system will remove high-levels of typical water contaminants such as salt,…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,726,606
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
CarbonHouseThis CarbonHouse project seeks to validate that carbon derived from methane pyrolysis can be used as both structural and non-structural building materials. Carbon composites already offer an alternative material paradigm for large, lightweight, high-performance structural uses such as boats and aircraft. CarbonHouse targets gas-pyrolysis production of carbon nanotube (CNT) threads and sheets, with hydrogen co-generated as a supplemental high-energy fuel, which would offer an essentially benign new building logic if it can be managed economically and at vast scale. This…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$1,688,982
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Multimetallic Layered Composites (MMLCs) for Rapid, Economical Advanced Reactor DeploymentThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will lead a team including Georgia Tech, Louisiana Tech, and the Idaho National Lab in developing multimetallic layered composites (MMLCs) for advanced nuclear reactors and assessing how they will improve reactor performance. Rather than seeking complex alloys that offer exceptional mechanical properties or corrosion resistance at unacceptable cost, this team will develop materials with functionally graded layers, each with a specific function. The team will seek general design principles and engineer specific MMLC embodiments. The materials…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$1,500,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Thermal Energy Grid Storage (TEGS) Using Multi-Junction Photovoltaics (MPV)MIT will develop critical components for a new, cost-effective, high efficiency power storage system to store renewable energy at grid scale and discharge it on demand. The system combines low-cost, very high-temperature energy storage with high-efficiency, innovative semiconductor converters used to transform heat into electricity. MIT’s technology would store heat at temperatures above 2000°C (3600°F) and convert it to electricity using specialized photovoltaic cells designed to remain efficient under the intense infrared heat a high-temperature emitter radiates. MIT will also develop…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMOTE
Award:
$3,000,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Single-Step Methane to Liquid FuelsThe Bioinformatics and Metabolic Engineering Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) led by Prof. Greg Stephanopoulos will develop a comprehensive process to directly convert methane into a usable transportation fuel in a single step. MIT's unique technologies integrate methane activation with fuel synthesis, two distinct processes required to convert methane that are typically performed separately. Today, activating methane prior to converting it to useful fuel is a high-temperature, energy-intensive process. MIT's unique approach would use nitrate instead of oxygen to oxidize…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
TRANSNET
Award:
$3,990,128
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Sustainable Travel Incentives with Prediction, Optimization and Personalization (TRIPOD)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will develop and test its "Sustainable Travel Incentives with Prediction, Optimization and Personalization" (TRIPOD), a system that could incentivize travelers to pursue specific routes, modes of travel, departure times, vehicle types, and driving styles in order to reduce energy use. TRIPOD relies on an app-based travel incentive tool designed to influence users’ travel choices by offering them real-time information and rewards. MIT researchers will use an open-source simulation platform, SimMobility, and an energy model, TripEnergy, to…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GEMINA
Award:
$1,787,065
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
High-Fidelity Digital Twins for BWRX-300 Critical SystemsThe BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation small modular reactor designed by GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to provide flexible energy generation that is cost-competitive with natural gas-fired plants. GE Research (GER) has 10+ years experience in developing probabilistic machine learning (ML) methods/tools integrated with their domain expertise in thermo-mechanical lifing/durability. GER has applied this industrially proven capability to build digital twins for military and commercial applications. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will assemble, validate, and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BETHE
Award:
$1,250,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Radio Frequency tools for Breakthrough Fusion ConceptsFusion requires confining plasmas at extraordinarily high temperatures. One of the most promising ways to heat plasmas to these temperatures is with high-power radio-frequency (RF) waves. Beyond providing heating, RF waves can enable control of the radial current profile in a plasma, which can help improve confinement and control or mitigate plasma instabilities. Complex analytic theory and computer simulations are required to design effective and efficient plasma-heating scenarios, which must be tailored for various fusion concepts. MIT’s Capability Team will apply established state-of-the-…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GEMINA
Award:
$899,825
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Generation of Critical Irradiation Data to Enable Digital Twinning of Molten-Salt ReactorsMolten salt reactors (MSRs) produce radioactive materials when nuclear fuel is dissolved in molten salt at a high temperature and undergoes fission as it flows through the reactor core. MIT will target two technical gaps: (1) fission product release and transport during normal MSR operations, and (2) radioactive dose rates for MSR primary system maintenance due to fuel salt deposition. In MSRs the primary system serves as the first radiological release barrier during normal reactor operation. Workers performing maintenance related to the primary system would be exposed to a considerable…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$650,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Electrochemically Modulated Co2 Removal from Ocean WatersThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology proposes to use electrochemical modulation of a proton gradient within electrochemical cells to initially release the CO2 in seawater, and then to alkalize the water before it is returned to the ocean. This battery-like electro-swing approach does not require expensive membranes or addition of chemicals, is easy to deploy, and does not lead to formation of byproducts. Innovative electrode configurations will be employed to reduce overall transport and electrical resistances while still enabling large quantities of water to be treated efficiently.…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
FLECCS
Award:
$810,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Power Plant CO2 Capture Integrated with Lime-based Direct Air CaptureThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will investigate the cost-effective design and operation of a negative carbon emissions power plant concept, invented by 8 Rivers Capital, that combines flue gas CO2 capture with a lime-based direct air capture (DAC) process while not affecting power plant flexibility. First, the power plant flue gas is fed into a calciner, a reactor that breaks down calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into lime and CO2. Next, the CO2-rich gas (>30% CO2) from the calciner is separated to recover high- purity CO2, which can be stored. Last, the lime goes through a novel…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ULTIMATE
Award:
$1,016,416
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Additive Manufacturing of Oxidation-Resistant Gradient Refractory CompositesMassachusetts Institute of Technology will develop a new additive manufacturing (AM) process, capable of producing refractory composite materials for use in high-temperature, oxidation-resistant turbine blades and other demanding energy-conversion applications. The AM process will incorporate hardware and software to establish uniform, high-quality refractory materials that are traditionally prone to micro-cracking and oxidation during AM, thereby establishing the required mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of a target alloy. The project will also incorporate a high-throughput…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$2,700,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Electrochemical Mining of MSWI AshMIT will develop an electrochemical approach to extracting and purifying valuable elements from municipal solid waste incinerator ash, powered solely by electricity from the waste-to-energy plant. The approach is capable of recovering at least 95% of critical materials and at least 90% of other metals while avoiding producing additional hazardous emissions. MIT’s approach uses electrochemical reactions to extract elements that include rare-earth elements and valuable base and noble metals. The proposed technology can upcycle major elements in fly and bottom ash, including calcium and silicon…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ECOSynBio
Award:
$2,108,532
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Zero-Carbon Biofuels: An Optimized Two-Stage System for High Productivity Conversion of CO2 to Liquid FuelsThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has demonstrated a two-stage system where acetate is produced from CO2 and H2 via acetogenic fermentation in the first stage and then fed to the yeast reactor for converting acetate to lipids or alkanes. MIT proposes to reduce or eliminate CO2 generation during lipid production by (1) engineering an oleaginous yeast with the enzymes necessary to generate reducing equivalents from hydrogen, formic acid, or methanol, and (2) installing a carbon-conserving non-oxidative glycolysis. The system’s commercial competitiveness is currently limited by the…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$3,062,320
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Liquid Immersion Blanket: Robust Accountancy (LIBRA)The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Idaho National Laboratory, with its Safety and Tritium Applied Research Facility, propose a critical-path tritium-breeding experiment for LIB technology. The technological development for LIBs requires high temperatures, hazardous material handling and access to D-T fusion neutron sources. The Liquid Immersion Blanket: Robust Accountancy (LIBRA) experiment will investigate tritium-breeding capabilities under these extreme conditions. It will examine a simple molten-FLiBe-salt approach to tritium-breeding for…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$4,973,760
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
8" GaN-on-Si Super Junction Devices for Next Generation Power ElectronicsThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and collaborators will develop a new generation of power electronics based on vertical GaN superjunction diodes and transistors that can break the theoretical limit of today’s GaN unipolar power devices. MIT’s new superjunction structure will provide transistors and diodes with an on-resistance at least 5X better than today’s best GaN or silicon carbide (SiC) power devices, and at least 50-100X better than today’s commercial Si power devices with similar voltage ratings. The advantages of the new GaN power devices significantly improve their…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMEDY
Award:
$3,722,376
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Ventilation Air Methane Abatement via Catalytic Oxidation (VAMCO) with Machine-Learning Enhanced Sensing and Feedback ControlsThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to develop a complete system to remove low-level methane from high-flow gaseous streams associated with coal mining. Because state-of-the-art mine ventilation air systems offer zero methane conversion, the system will be developed and tested on ventilation air methane. MIT’s design will include real-time input determination, output performance sensing, advanced machine learning algorithms, and feedback control for process optimization. Incorporation of MIT’s system could mitigate nearly 39 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2 equivalents (CO2e…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$2,256,346
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Nitrogen Fertilizer: New Strategies for Low-energy, Low-emission Production and UseThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to develop technologies that can collectively replace N fertilizer derived from the HB process. Their approach uses biological N fixation performed by the plant or associated bacteria with current and future sources of synthetic N. Each of the approaches provides N to the crops at different times and impacts energy, yield, and emissions. If successful, these advances will eliminate the need for the energy intense HB-derived N from agriculture. The application of N fertilizer is critical to obtain high crop yields, and has directly…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$2,000,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Neutron Emission from Laser-Stimulated Metal HydridesMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposes a hypothesis-driven experimental campaign to examine prominent claims of low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) with nuclear and material diagnostics, focusing on unambiguous indicators of nuclear reactions such as emitted neutrons and nuclear ash with unnatural isotopic ratios. The team will develop an experimental platform that thoroughly and reproducibly test claims of nuclear anomalies in gas-loaded metal-hydrogen systems.
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
TBD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Towards Efficient Geological Hydrogen Production: Rate Determination, Control and Reactor DevelopmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a laboratory reactor that will test many parameters and variables for geologic hydrogen production, such as temperature, pressure, and fluid composition. MIT’s customized reactor would utilize artificial intelligence, allowing for rapid screening of different parameters that can affect stimulated hydrogen. Since one of the largest hurdles in pioneering geologic hydrogen stimulation is the slow reaction rate between rock and water, the team will focus on identifying methods to increase the rates, yields, and user control over the…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BEETIT
Award:
$200,962
Material Methods
Sound Wave RefrigerantsMaterial Methods is developing a heat pump technology that substitutes the use of sound waves and an environmentally benign refrigerant for synthetic refrigerants found in conventional heat pumps. Called a thermoacoustic heat pump, 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 heat pump is able to isolate the hot and cold regions of the sound waves. This…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
AZ
Project Term:
-
Program:
METALS
Award:
$3,287,109
Materials & Electrochemical Research (MER)
Advanced Electrowinning of TitaniumMaterials & Electrochemical Research (MER) is scaling up an advanced electrochemical process to produce low-cost titanium from domestic ore. While titanium is a versatile and robust structural metal, its widespread adoption for consumer applications has been limited due to its high cost of production. MER is developing an new electrochemical titanium production process that avoids the cyclical formation of undesired titanium ions, thus significantly increasing the electrical current efficiency. MER will test different cell designs, reduce unwanted side reactions to increase energy…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
UT
Project Term:
-
Program:
GRIDS
Award:
$3,224,916
Materials & Systems Research, Inc. (MSRI)
Advanced Sodium BatteryMaterials & Systems Research, Inc. (MSRI) is developing a high-strength, low-cost solid-state electrolyte membrane structure for use in advanced grid-scale sodium batteries. The electrolyte, a separator between the positive and negative electrodes, carries charged materials called ions. In the solid electrolyte sodium batteries, sodium ions move through the solid-state ceramic electrolyte. This electrolyte is normally brittle, expensive, and difficult to produce because it is formed over the course of hours in high-temperature furnaces. With MSRI’s design, this ceramic electrolyte will be…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
UT
Project Term:
-
Program:
REBELS
Award:
$2,799,978
Materials & Systems Research, Inc. (MSRI)
Electrogenerative Cells for Flexible Cogeneration of Power and Liquid FuelMaterials & Systems Research, Inc. (MSRI) is developing an intermediate-temperature fuel cell capable of electrochemically converting natural gas into electricity or liquid fuel in a single step. Existing solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) convert the chemical energy of hydrocarbons—such as hydrogen or methane—into electricity at higher efficiencies than traditional power generators, but are expensive to manufacture and operate at extremely high temperatures, introducing durability and cost concerns over time. Existing processes for converting methane to liquid transportation fuels are also…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
SENSOR
Award:
$1,529,831
Matrix Sensors
CO2 Sensor for Demand-controlled VentilationMatrix Sensors and its partners will develop a low-cost CO2 sensor module that can be used to enable better control of ventilation in commercial buildings. Matrix Sensor's module uses a solid-state architecture that leverages scalable semiconductor manufacturing processes. Key to this architecture is a suitable sensor material that can selectively adsorb CO2, release the molecule when the concentration decreases, and complete this process quickly to enable real-time sensing. The team's design will use a new class of porous materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MD
Project Term:
-
Program:
MONITOR
Award:
$1,900,073
Maxion Technologies
Tunable Laser for Methane DetectionMaxion Technologies is partnering with Thorlabs Quantum Electronics (TQE), Praevium Research, and Rice University to develop a low cost, tunable, mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser source to be used in systems for detecting and measuring methane emissions. The new architecture is planned to reduce the cost of lasers capable of targeting methane optical absorption lines near 3.3 microns, enabling the development of affordable, high sensitivity sensors. The team will combine Praevium and TQE’s state-of-the-art Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System tunable Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (MEMS-VCSEL)…