Tag: DOE

Solar energy industry reaches its cost goal in the US

Stephen Vagus
Solar Energy Costs Goal

DOE report shows that the solar energy has achieved its SunShot Initiative goal The U.S. Department of Energy has released a new report that shows that the solar energy industry has achieved its 2020 utility-scale cost goal. The goal was set by the SunShot Initiative, a federal endeavor that calls for the adoption of solar power. The solar energy industry was able to achieve this goal well ahead of schedule due to the rapidly declining cost of photovoltaic technology. Currently, the average cost of utility-scale solar power is 6 cents…

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DOE to invest $15.8 million in support for projects focused on fuel cells

John Max
Fuel Cells Investment

Federal agency aims to support 30 new projects that seek to improve fuel cells The U.S. Department of Energy has announced some $15.8 million in investments for 30 new projects throughout the country. These projects will be focused on fuel cell technology, hydrogen production, and storage. The federal agency is still in the process of selecting projects that will receive funding. Selected projects will be able to take advantage of a coalition of the country’s national laboratory, which was brought together through the agency’s Energy Materials Network. Projects will take…

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New flow battery could bring about a brighter future for renewable energy

Stephen Vagus
Flow Battery - Renewable Energy

SEAS researchers have developed a new flow battery Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a flow battery that can operate for a decade. The new battery could be a major breakthrough in energy storage and the use of clean power. With an extensive lifespan, the battery could have a major impact on the residential sector, where renewable energy is becoming much more popular. The battery could also be used for other purposes, such as storing electricity for industrial purposes or…

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Department of Energy pulls funding from offshore wind energy project

Tami Hood
Offshore Wind Energy Funding - Building Wind Turbine

Department of Energy will no longer be supporting Fishermen’s Energy project Offshore wind energy has encountered yet another problem in the United States. The country is home to one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, but support for this sector has begun to drop off. The Department of Energy is set to pull funds from one of the offshore wind energy projects it was supporting; a project located in New Jersey. Fishermen’s Energy was slated to develop the project, but the company failed to submit power offtake contracts by…

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Solar energy market poised for growth in 2017

Stephen Vagus

Department of Energy has a favorable forecast for the US solar energy market The solar energy market in the United States may experience strong growth in 2017, according to the Department of Energy. While the recent election may have caused some concerns for clean power due to potential changes in energy policy, the solar energy market may not suffer as much as some had predicted. The Department of Energy expects solar capacity in the U.S. will grow alongside other forms of clean power, especially as new projects come online throughout…

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DOE to fund the launch of HydroGEN initiative

Tami Hood

HydroGEN could benefit from $10 million support from DOE The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a new initiative designed to launch the HydroGEN Advanced Water Splitting Materials Consortium (HydroGEN). The consortium is meant to utilize the expertise and capabilities of the country’s national laboratories, which haven focusing more heavily on hydrogen fuel cells in recent years. HydroGEN may be able to take advantage of some $10 million in financial support, based on whether or not the Department of Energy can gain approval for this level of funding. New initiative…

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DOE issues $14 million in funding to improve fuel cell technology

Erin Kilgore

DOE issues more funding to support the advancement of clean technology The U.S. Department of Energy has announced more funding for the advancement of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The federal agency is providing $14 million in funding for projects that focus on improving fuel cells. These projects are meant to accelerate innovation in fuel cell technology in order to make these energy systems more viable. While fuel cells have managed to acquire strong support in the auto industry, these energy systems have yet to find a place in other sectors…

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Hyundai and DOE extend partnership to promote fuel cell vehicles

John Max

Hyundai has extended its partnership with the DOE through 2017 South Korean automaker Hyundai has announced that it is extending its agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy for its fuel cell vehicle confirmation program. The program was originally slated to end last year, but has been extended through 2017. Through the program, Hyundai provides numerous of its fuel cell vehicles, the ix35, for use by the federal agency. These vehicles are supported by the current hydrogen fuel infrastructure available in the United States. Next phase of ambitious program will…

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DOE announces funding for new hydrogen fuel cell projects

Angie Bergenson

Federal agency to invest some $20 million into projects focused on fuel cell technology The U.S. Department of Energy will be investing more than $20 million into the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology throughout the country. Some 10 projects will be receiving funding through the agency, with these projects focusing on various aspects of the overall fuel cell market and hydrogen technologies. The agency believes that these projects will lead to the acceleration of the advancement of fuel cell technology in the country, making these energy systems more popular…

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Algae could be the next major source of alternative fuel

Angie Bergenson

Algae organisms might be an important and reliable energy source, says the DOE. In an effort to find clean alternative fuel in the United States, the Obama administration has been supporting algae biofuel research and development through the departments of Energy, Agriculture and Defense, and it appears that the research was well worth it, as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says that algae shows promise as a renewable energy source, and estimates that it can generate 60 times more oil per acre than plants found on land. Algae are…

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Solid oxide fuel cells are gaining momentum in the US

Erin Kilgore

FuelCell Energy is working on several projects supported by the DOE FuelCell Energy, a leading developer of hydrogen fuel cells, has announced that it has made significant progress toward the commercial deployment of its solid oxide fuel cells. This progress comes from three projects, which have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for funding support. These projects are meant to demonstrate the commercial viability of large fuel cell systems as well as reduce the cost of these energy systems in order to make them more attractive. Solid oxide…

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Taller Wind Turbines Could Expand U.S. Wind Power Potential

Angie Bergenson

Wind energy generation has grown in America but it is also limited. Last year, in the United States, wind power production experienced higher growth compared to all other sources of energy in the nation, supplying nearly 5% of total demand for electricity, but a new report from the Department of Energy (DOE) says that the U.S. wind energy industry has far greater potential and that this potential could be reached if wind turbines were taller. Taller turbines have the potential to generate more energy in more places. According to the…

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Geothermal energy research wins funding from Department of Energy

Bret Williams

DOE issues funding to research teams in five western states Geothermal energy is set to kick off in the western United States. The federal Department of Energy has awarded grants to research teams in five states. These teams aim to research methods to produce electrical power from geothermal sources. Combined, these efforts could open up the way to generate enough electricity to power approximately 100 million average homes. Overall, the Department of Energy has awarded some $2 million in grants to these research teams. Funding will help develop the Frontier…

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Research team aims to develop better hydrogen fuel storage solutions

Stephen Vagus

Researchers receive funding to developer better hydrogen fuel storage materials Researchers from the University of Michigan have been exploring for efficient materials that could be used to build hydrogen fuel storage solutions. The research team intends to develop what it believes to be a “best-in-class” storage solution that can overcome the problems that conventional hydrogen storage systems face currently. The Department of Energy has awarded the university’s research team a $1.2 million grant that will help in the endeavor. Metal-organic frameworks could make hydrogen storage more efficient The research project…

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New tools aim to assist the deployment of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure

Stephen Vagus

H2USA and DOE launch new tools for the hydrogen fuel space H2USA, a public-private organization, and the U.S. Department of Energy have launched new tools that are meant to aid in the development of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure. The tools, called the Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model and the Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool, where developed by Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory respectively. They are meant to address technical and financial barriers that face the establishment of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure. One tool aims to provide information…

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New fluid may be a boon for enhanced geothermal power systems

Amanda Giasson

A new nontoxic liquid may tap into unreachable geothermal areas. According to a paper recently published in Green Chemistry, a new reservoir stimulation fluid features a polymer that can not only expand the volume of the fluid and create minuscule cracks in deep underground rocks, which increases geothermal power production and may be beneficial to enhanced geothermal systems, but it is environmentally friendly, too. More homes in America could be powered by the Earth’s natural underground renewable energy source. This would be made possible with enhanced geothermal systems, which are…

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