by Jbs072209 i3 — July 29, 2009—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offered $52.5 million on July 15 for research, development, and demonstration of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, and selected 28 new wind energy projects on July 16 for up to $13.8 million in funding, including $12.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.
DOE offered $52.5 million for research, development, and demonstration of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems that provide low-cost electrical power both day and night. CSP technologies concentrate the sun’s energy and capture that energy as heat, which then drives an engine or turbine to produce electrical power, explains DOE.
The new funding will seek to improve energy storage technology and develop novel system designs that will extend operations to a level of production that would make it possible for a CSP plant to displace a traditional coal power plant. The competitive funding opportunity focuses on developing a CSP system capable of operating at least 18 hours per day.
DOE also selected 28 new wind energy projects for up to $13.8 million in funding. The projects will help address market and deployment challenges, including wind turbine research and testing and efforts to better integrate wind power into the nation’s electrical grid.
In addition, DOE released the 2008 Wind Technologies Market Report (.pdf file), which details the $16 billion investment made in U.S. wind power projects in 2008. The report finds that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 8,558 megawatts in 2008, continuing the United States’ four-year streak of leading the world in annual wind power capacity growth. The rapid growth rate also led the U.S. to overtake Germany and claim the world lead in cumulative wind power capacity.
