by Brianna Crandall — September 20, 2010—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced some $87 million in funding over the last several days for research and development projects for a variety of renewable energy technologies.
In the largest single U.S. funding commitment to date for this technology, DOE announced selections for more than $37 million in funding to accelerate the technological and commercial readiness of emerging marine and hydrokinetic technologies. The 27 projects in 17 states will leverage private-sector investments through industry and industry-led partnerships.
DOE also announced the award of up to $16.5 million for two major research and development cost-share initiatives. Under the first, DOE will invest up to $12 million in four projects that will explore processes to turn biomass into advanced biofuels compatible with existing fueling infrastructure. Under the second, DOE will provide up to $4.5 million to three projects focused on developing sustainable methods of biomass crop production in various locations and environments.
In addition, DOE announced that its Sandia National Laboratories is investing $8.5 million in four projects that have reached Stage III of the Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) program, with a high likelihood of commercialization, along with matching funds for a total of more than $20 million. The selections are part of DOE’s work to improve electrical grid reliability as the flow of cost-competitive solar energy technologies into the U.S. grid increases.
DOE is also awarding more than $5 million to support U.S. wind energy development. Two projects will receive $3.4 million to improve short-term wind forecasting, which will allow utilities and grid operators to more accurately forecast when and where electricity will be generated from wind power. Three other projects will receive more than $1.8 million to boost the speed and scale of midsize wind turbine technology development and deployment.
Further, DOE announced $20 million to research, develop, and demonstrate cutting-edge geothermal technologies. Seven projects will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of non-conventional geothermal energy technologies.
