elementale-enterprises

https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-workforce-trends-nuclear-energy-2025

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:53:31 GMT

3 Workforce Trends in Nuclear Energy in 2025

The nuclear energy workforce held steady in 2024, but growth is on the horizon as companies prepare to expand hiring. Careers in this field continue to rank among the highest-paying in the energy sector, with several nuclear roles offering top-tier salaries. As new technologies and reactor developments move forward, the demand for skilled workers is increasing—making workforce training and development more important than ever.

Learn more in the full article.

Science Corner: How clean is the air around us?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:11:19 GMT

Science Corner: How clean is the air around us?

Air might seem invisible, but there’s a lot going on in it. The air around us is a mix of different gases that work together to support life—but when pollution enters the picture, that balance gets thrown off. Things like car exhaust, industrial emissions, and even everyday activities can change the quality of the air we breathe.

The cool part? You can actually explore this yourself. This science project walks you through how to observe and better understand air quality in your own environment—helping you see firsthand how clean (or polluted) your air really is.

Try it out here: https://www.energy.gov/etec/articles/science-corner-how-clean-air-around-us

FACT SHEET: Delivering On U.S. Oil And Natural Gas Production

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:32:36 GMT

FACT SHEET: Delivering On U.S. Oil And Natural Gas Production

The Energy Department Is Unleashing U.S. Oil And Natural Gas Production, Resulting In Lower Costs For American Families And Businesses

RECORD-LEVELS OF DOMESTIC OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION ARE LOWERING COSTS FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES

Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, domestic oil and gas production has achieved record-high levels of output.
U.S. crude oil production set an all-time high records of output at 13.6 million b/d in 2025 —a trend that is expected to continue in 2026.
Record-levels of domestic oil production has resulted in lower gas prices for American drivers.
Gas prices are at a 4-year low averaging about $2.90/gal and are continuing to plummet. Gas can now be found for under $3 per gallon in 43 U.S. states .
Under President Trump’s leadership, natural gas production has reached record-high levels of output.
Natural gas is expected to reach 109 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) this year , a new all-time high.
Thanks to the Energy Dominance Financing Program (EDF) created under the Working Families Tax cut, the Energy Department will continue to sponsor the development of natural gas projects in the U.S.
Expanding natural gas production will keep costs low for American households.
According to the American Gas Association, over the last 17 years, including forecasts from 2025, natural gas has led to an overall inflation-adjusted savings of $1.6 trillion compared to re-recovery prices in 2008. This equates to $3,445 in savings for the average American household.
The Energy Department is continuing to rebuild our strategic strength and has begun the process of refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) , after it was recklessly depleted by the Biden administration with its 180-million-barrell drawdown in 2022.
In November 2025, the Energy Department awarded contracts for deliveries of one million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) , from the Bryan Mound site, beginning December 2025 through January 2026.

U.S. LNG EXPORTS ARE INCREASING AT A RECORD PACE AND ON TRACK TO DOUBLE BY THE END OF THE DECADE

Under President Trump’s leadership, the Energy Department has returned to regular order on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export reviews, and LNG exports are increasing at a record pace after restrictions were placed on exports of LNG by the Biden administration.
In January 2024, the Biden administration paused pending and future applications to export LNG, in order to review its impact on the environment.
The former administration’s decision was made despite a September 2023 study from the DOE, which showed U.S. LNG exports and natural gas did not impact on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The study also revealed LNG exports did not correlate with an uptick in energy costs.
In his first Secretarial Order, Secretary Wright directed the Energy Department to “Unleash Golden Era of American Energy Dominance,” and as a result—U.S. LNG exports are on track to double by the end of the decade .
In 2025, the Energy Department authorized or re-authorized more than 17.6 Bcf/d of LNG exports— more than 70% greater than the volume exported today by the world’s second-largest LNG supplier.
Under President Trump’s leadership, the Energy Department has removed regulatory barriers blocking LNG exports, including rescinding a Biden-era policy statement that required LNG exporters to meet strict criteria before the agency would request to extend a commencement date for an approved project.
Under the current administration, the Energy Department removed a barrier that banned the use of LNG as a marine fuel to power vessels, also known as LNG bunkering. The Biden administration had previously issued oversight over JAX LNG—a small coastal LNG facility in James Point near Jacksonville, Florida, that uses LNG as fuel for ships.
On June 11, 2025, JERA—a Tokyo-based Japanese energy company joined U.S Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to announce they have committed to U.S. LNG purchases through several 20-year off-take agreements with American LNG companies.
JERA’s agreements will procure up to 5.5 million tonnes per year of LNG to the U.S., contribute over $200 billion to U.S. GDP, and support more than 50,000 U.S. jobs annually .
In May 2025, the Energy Department finalized the 2024 LNG export study showing key findings, including that the United States has a robust natural gas supply; exports increase GDP, expand jobs, and improve trade; and LNG exports improve national security.

8 Big Wins for Nuclear in the Trump Administration’s First Year

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:09:00 GMT

8 Big Wins for Nuclear in the Trump Administration’s First Year

During the first year of the Trump administration, several initiatives were introduced to strengthen and expand the U.S. nuclear energy sector. A series of executive orders in 2025 aimed to modernize nuclear regulations, accelerate reactor testing, support national security applications, and rebuild the domestic nuclear industrial base. These actions were intended to speed up the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors and improve the overall regulatory process.

The Department of Energy also launched programs designed to help companies move advanced reactor technologies toward demonstration and commercial use more quickly. One initiative selected multiple reactor projects to test new pathways for deployment, with the goal of bringing several advanced reactors online in the near future.

In addition, the administration focused on strengthening the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain. Programs were created to help companies build domestic fuel production capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and other critical materials.

Overall, these efforts were intended to boost investment in nuclear technology, reduce regulatory barriers, restart or extend the life of nuclear plants, and position the United States for long-term growth in nuclear energy production.

America’s new power barons: Who will rule the AI-grade megawatt megasector?

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:58 GMT

America’s new power barons: Who will rule the AI-grade megawatt megasector?

The winning model will be hybrid: gas for firmness, renewables for optics and cost, and storage for stability, writes NOVUS Energy Advisors’ Emily Easley.

In a recent opinion piece for Utility Dive, Emily Easley, CEO of NOVUS Energy Advisors, argues that the rapid rise of AI and hyperscale data centers is creating a new kind of energy race in the U.S. — one focused on delivering immense amounts of reliable electricity for computation rather than traditional power uses.

The piece highlights Fermi America’s high-profile plan for an 11-gigawatt energy campus in Amarillo, Texas, combining nuclear, natural gas and solar generation to supply major data center customers. This project illustrates the growing demand for so-called “AI-grade” power — electricity that is clean enough to satisfy investors, inexpensive enough for operators, and dependable enough to meet the extremely high uptime requirements of modern data centers.

Easley notes that federal energy policy is shifting. Recent decisions by the U.S. Department of Energy to curtail certain wind and solar grant programs have signaled a broader “energy dominance” strategy that now includes electricity generation for digital infrastructure. But she stresses that natural gas alone can’t meet the long-term needs of data centers, which require continuous, 24/7 power. Instead, a hybrid energy mix — blending gas for reliability, renewables for cost and public perception, and energy storage for stability — will likely become the industry standard.

The article explains that this shift isn’t a rollback of the clean energy transition but rather an evolution, where power markets and grid rules must adapt to massive, unpredictable loads from AI workloads. Easley points to ongoing federal efforts to reform grid interconnection processes to accommodate large users more flexibly and to allow private developers to build generation capacity directly tied to big customers like data centers.

Investors are taking note: there’s growing interest from infrastructure and private-equity funds in companies that can solve the complex challenge of integrating different energy sources and reliably serving data center loads. The firms that succeed in this “hybrid power” model may emerge as the dominant players in the next era of America’s energy and technology economy.

The interdependence of two critical resources

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:56:36 GMT

The interdependence of two critical resources: Energy & Water

Energy and water are deeply and fundamentally connected

Water is essential for almost every aspect of producing energy, from electricity generation to fossil fuel extraction to biofuels cultivation. In fact, the energy sector accounts for roughly 10% of all global freshwater withdrawals. Meanwhile, energy is crucial to maintaining global water supply. It is needed to extract water from lakes, rivers and oceans; lift groundwater from aquifers and pump it through pipes and canals; and treat water and deliver it to users.

This interdependence is set to intensify in the coming years. Each resource faces rising demand and growing constraints in many regions because of economic and population growth, as well as climate change. This has significant implications for ensuring both energy and water security.

Energy demand for water desalination is poised to double to 2030

Almost all of the world’s water demand is met by groundwater and surface water. However, water stress has led to an increase in the use of non-traditional resources, such as saltwater. This requires desalination, the process of separating saline water (seawater or brackish water) into freshwater and concentrated salt.

Global energy demand for desalination has nearly doubled since 2010, and current trends point to another doubling to 2030. Some 21,000 desalination plants currently operate in about 150 countries, from the United States and China to Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia – though half of global installed capacity is located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Renewables can help ease the energy sector's water problem

In a scenario in which global energy sector emissions reach net zero by 2050, water withdrawals by the energy sector decline by almost 20 bcm by 2030. The biggest reductions happen in the power sector, where withdrawals fall nearly 15% as coal-fired power generation is quickly replaced by solar PV and wind. Greater energy efficiency also plays an important role in reducing the volume of water needed to meet global energy demand.

Source: IEA

U.S. Department of Energy Reverses Biden LNG Pause, Restores Trump Energy Dominance Agenda

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:41:58 GMT

U.S. Department of Energy Reverses Biden LNG Pause, Restores Trump Energy Dominance Agenda

These Day One Actions will Return the Department to Regular Order.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), effective today, is ending the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pause and returning to regular order following direction given by President Donald J. Trump to “ unleash American Energy Dominance .” The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) is directed to resume consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States in accordance with the Natural Gas Act. Proper consideration of LNG export applications is required by law and shall proceed accordingly.

Last month, the Department published a multi-volume analysis of selected issues concerning LNG exports and established February 18, 2025, as the deadline for public comments of the study. To ensure such public interest determinations receive appropriate stakeholder input, the Department is extending the comment period from February 18, 2025 to March 20, 2025.

Notwithstanding the goal of expeditious determinations, the importance of appropriate administrative records justifies an extension of the period for public comment.

Acting DOE Secretary Ingrid Kolb has directed the FECM to return to regular order and resume consideration of all applications. This process should occur simultaneously with the multi-agency NEPA review process to streamline and reduce inefficiencies in the regulatory process.

5 simple steps to reduce energy consumption in process systems

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:01:13 GMT

5 simple steps to reduce energy consumption in process systems

As applications for new and innovative products are continually expanding, manufacturing is faced with added environmental regulations, as well as compressed margins to meet demand.

Thus, plants must constantly drive to improve their competitiveness by streamlining operations and reducing costs wherever possible. When industrial processes are designed with energy savings in mind, production, safety and cost efficiencies are all increased to create higher profits and better competitive positioning. Here are five things to consider in order to achieve greater profitability.

1. Focus on the large energy costs:

Use the 80/20 rule; 80% of energy is consumed by 20% of the processes. What is the most costly operation in your manufacturing process? How much energy is consumed? How can that energy be minimized? The greatest energy consumers in manufacturing are the heating and cooling units.

Since transporting and treating water requires energy, saving water saves energy. Additionally, the efficient use of water can also lead to a more reliable water supply and improved water quality.

Cooling towers can consume a significant portion of a site’s total water consumption and can also offer the best opportunities for water and energy savings. General objectives in cooling tower energy management include proper management of the recirculation of water. By optimizing the variable process heating load, the tower can be properly sized for proper functioning and eliminate wasting energy.

Other objectives for efficient management of cooling water is to avoid over treating with chemicals and investigating alternate sources of make-up water. Specific areas of focus to meet these objectives include pumping energy, flow, evaporation rates, drift, blow down, basin leaks, water chemistry, and cycles of concentration.

Another major contributor to energy loss is process heating equipment.

There are numerous types of process heating equipment in the plants that can be better managed for energy efficiency. Process heating equipment is defined as an enclosed device using controlled flame whose primary purpose is to transfer heat indirectly to a process material (liquid, gas or solid) or to a heat transfer material (i.e. glycol or a mixture of glycol & water) for use in a process heater. ¹

2. Review process heating equipment:

The higher the operating temperature, the more costly the fuel/energy will be. What advanced combustion equipment do you use? At what temperatures do they operate? What fuel is used? How can this be optimized?

In many instances, the process heating equipment has several operational variables that must be considered.

What is the composition of the process stream?
What temperature or range of temperatures are experienced?
Are heated products corrosive in nature?
Are these units subjected to high temperature cycling (i.e. start-up and shut down)?

By understanding these variables, processes can be managed and controlled to optimize properties and right size heating units and/or maximize product throughput.

As an example, an incinerator or Thermal Oxidizer, can operate up to 1200 deg F, with concentrations not exceeding 25% lower flammability limit (LFL), unless a flammable monitoring system is installed that can easily shut down the system at 50% LFL.

3. Investigate the use of flexible gases and solvents:

Using gases and solvents is necessary in many industrial processes. What are the cost implications of burning solvents, SYNGAS and other combustibles versus traditional fuels? What are the safety impacts to the plant?

Waste heat is a major contribution of losses incurred. Significant cost savings can be realized through advanced heat recovery systems. This can be by using technologies to capture low-temperature heat or to cost-effectively capture high-temperature exhaust heat.

Another way to repurpose waste gas is to use it to produce electricity and/or steam within a facility to create added savings.

4. Know your Environmental Regulations:

In many cases, the volatile organic compounds (VOC) abatement control technology is the limiting factor in manufacturing operations. Can the VOCs be reduced, reused, or recycled? What opportunities can you achieve if your VOC abatement equipment is optimized or minimized?

In flares, there are many EPA-regulated opportunities to reuse waste gas to minimize the use of natural assist-gas while allowing for 98%+ destruction efficiency of the waste.

In oxidizers there are opportunities to increase the input load safely to run more product through, while minimizing emissions.

When the process stream that is going into the VOC abatement equipment is variable, proper online measurement and control is needed to eke out the best scenario for production efficiency and emission output.

5. Measure and control:

In order to efficiently manage these processes, it is critical to perform the proper measurements and take the necessary action quickly for real-time process control. Innovative sensor and control technologies that provide accurate measurements of physical properties and data collection are available to enhance these systems and aide in energy reduction. These systems can also capture the data for evaluation and continuous improvement year-on-year.

Elementale Enterprises Inc. offers clients value-added sustainability – and safe – engineering solutions in both industrial and commercial areas to ensure energy reduction. If varying physical components can be measured and precisely controlled within a process, production units do not need to be oversized which will result in substantial savings.

Rising natural gas prices expected to drive up electricity costs: IEEFA

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:21:52 GMT

Rising natural gas prices expected to drive up electricity costs: IEEFA

Wamsted said it’s becoming increasingly difficult for most U.S. electric utilities to avoid higher electricity rates as natural gas prices climb and federal support for renewable energy declines.

“I think this is where things are headed,” he said. “Electricity costs are going to rise for everyone. I don’t see a realistic way to prevent it.”

According to IEEFA, LNG exports consumed roughly half as much natural gas in March and April as the entire U.S. power sector. LNG exports are projected to increase by 84% over the next four years, yet domestic gas production has not kept up with demand. As producers pursue more profitable international markets, basic supply-and-demand economics suggest gas prices will continue to rise, Wamsted said.

Higher gas prices have already begun to shift the U.S. electricity mix. Gas-fired generation fell from 42% in 2024 to 40% by mid-2025 as utilities leaned more heavily on coal, solar, and hydropower, according to EIA data. However, Wamsted does not expect this shift toward coal to last. Many coal plants are aging out, and there is little interest in building new ones.

“They’re extremely expensive to construct,” he said. “And in most regulated markets, regulators would question whether a new coal plant would realistically operate for 40 years. In most cases, the answer would be no.”

Wamsted noted that U.S. gas prices have already proven highly sensitive to global events and LNG market dynamics. Prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and have fluctuated when major LNG facilities temporarily shut down.

To recover past fuel cost spikes, utilities have implemented rate case settlements that added fuel surcharges to customer bills — charges that are expected to persist for years. If future global disruptions or extreme winter weather cause additional gas price increases, overlapping surcharges could spark significant consumer backlash.

Wamsted said renewable energy — particularly paired with battery storage — offers the most promising path forward. Battery costs continue to fall, and storage systems can capture excess, low-cost solar energy, potentially delivering far more stable electricity prices than natural gas over time.

However, fully realizing the benefits of energy storage will require major upgrades to the U.S. power grid, which is already facing a significant interconnection backlog. At the same time, utilities must rapidly expand generation capacity to meet growing demand from AI data centers. As a result, Wamsted said, higher electricity prices appear unavoidable in the near future.

Energy Department Announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to Accelerate Commercial Fusion Power

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:39:20 GMT

Energy Department Announces Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to Accelerate Commercial Fusion Power

WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, a national strategy to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion energy on the most rapid, responsible timeline in history. The Roadmap defines DOE’s Build–Innovate–Grow strategy to align public investment and private innovation to deliver commercial fusion power to the grid by the mid-2030s.

This effort advances President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy , reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to expand domestic energy production and restore U.S. energy dominance. By accelerating progress toward commercial fusion power, DOE is strengthening America’s grid, rebuilding critical supply chains, and securing a new era of abundant, reliable, American-made energy.

“The Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap brings unprecedented coordination across America's fusion enterprise,” said Energy Department Under Secretary for Science Dr. Darío Gil . “For the first time, DOE, industry, and our National Labs will be aligned with a shared purpose—to accelerate the path to commercial fusion power and strengthen America’s leadership in energy innovation. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department is streamlining the full strength of the U.S. scientific and industrial base to deliver fusion energy faster than ever before.”

The FS&T Roadmap was unveiled as part of a series of U.S. Fusion Energy Enterprise Events being held this week in Washington, D.C. this week. The Summit brings together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the future of American fusion energy.

Developed with input from more than 600 scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders, the Roadmap identifies the key research, materials, and technology gaps that must be closed to realize a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) and strengthen U.S. leadership in the global fusion industry.

The FS&T Roadmap establishes a unified strategy for the U.S. fusion enterprise built around three primary drivers:

Build critical infrastructure to close fusion materials and technology gaps;
Innovate through advanced research, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence; and
Grow the U.S. fusion ecosystem through public-private partnerships, regional manufacturing hubs, and workforce development.

“Fusion is real, near, and ready for coordinated action,” said Jean Paul Allain, Associate Director of DOE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences . “This roadmap provides the strategic foundation for building the scientific, technical, and industrial base needed to ensure American leadership in commercial fusion on an ambitious timeline.”

With more than $9 billion in private investment already advancing burning-plasma demonstrations and prototype reactor designs, DOE is coordinating a national effort to close the remaining technical gaps—spanning materials, plasma systems, fuel cycles, and plant engineering. Through the Build–Innovate–Grow strategy, DOE and its partners across national laboratories, industry, universities, and allied nations are strengthening domestic supply chains, advancing fusion science, and securing America’s leadership in the race to deliver commercial fusion energy. The Roadmap outlines DOE’s plan to address these challenges through coordinated investments in six core fusion science and technology areas: structural materials, plasma-facing components, confinement systems, fuel cycle, blankets, and plant engineering and integration.

The activities outlined in the Fusion S&T Roadmap are focused on prioritizing strategic directions for the DOE to further collaborate with the US Fusion Industry. DOE’s ability to support this Roadmap’s milestones and timelines of scaling up the domestic fusion private sector by the 2030s is contingent on the development of future public private partnerships. This Roadmap is not committing DOE to specific funding levels, and future funding will be subject to Congressional appropriations.

AI can change how farmers water their fields from cloud to soil

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:16:13 GMT

AI can change how farmers water their fields from cloud to soil

Ananya Das ’26 and Kshiti Kangovi ’26 are working to address the global crisis of water scarcity and the inequities it creates for farmers and communities around the world. Their answer is an AI-powered irrigation system that blends soil sensor data, crop needs, and weather forecasts to tell farmers exactly when—and how much—to water.

The two multidisciplinary engineering technology (MXET) students from Texas A&M University won a $100,000 prize at the university’s “Building a Better Future Through Business and AI” competition, which invited undergraduates to pitch AI-driven solutions to real-world problems. Their idea took first place out of 103 entries from 37 universities.

Das and Kangovi believe their concept stood out because it addresses a global challenge with a solution that is practical, low-cost, and scalable for communities that lack resources.

“With more than 60% of Texas currently facing drought conditions, the issue hits close to home, which made our project even more meaningful,” Kangovi said.

Their proposed company, SomaTech, uses biodegradable polymers that absorb and store water in the soil, creating a natural reserve for plant roots. This is especially important in drought-stricken regions where water often evaporates or washes away before plants can use it. By pairing these water-holding polymers with intelligent irrigation, their system reduces water waste, lowers costs, and boosts crop production.

“Smarter irrigation can transform not only farmers’ yields but entire communities,” Das explained. “Our research showed that drought-prone areas remain underserved, with few solutions built specifically for their needs. That gap fueled our determination to build this venture.”

Both students are on MXET’s mechatronics track and minoring in embedded systems—experience they say gave them the technical foundation to design a real, scalable solution using sensors, data, and system integration.

They worked closely with Dr. Gaurav Pandey, an associate professor in the MXET program, who helped them strengthen the technical side of the project.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Dr. Pandey’s guidance, time, and belief in our idea,” Das said.

“As a mentor, it’s inspiring to watch students grow as they take charge of their innovations,” Pandey said. “Kshiti and Ananya’s creativity, persistence, and dedication to solving real-world challenges represent the best of the MXET program and Texas A&M.”

Kangovi also noted the strong support they received from the ETID Department’s faculty and teaching assistants, who offered feedback and expertise throughout the process.

They further credited mentors Jim Donnell, Chris Curran, and Chris Westfall from the Meloy Program for their insight.

Along with the cash prize, the award includes a year-long mentorship with a venture capitalist—support that will help them advance SomaTech, refine their design, run pilot tests, and pursue partnerships to bring the system to the communities most affected by water shortages.

“We’re excited to see where this journey leads and how much impact we can create,” Das said.

API Applauds EPA Approval of Texas Class VI Primacy

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:15:22 GMT

API Applauds EPA Approval of Texas Class VI Primacy

WASHINGTON, November 13, 2025 — The American Petroleum Institute (API) released the following statement from President and CEO Mike Sommers on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to grant primacy to the state of Texas over Class VI wells.

“We commend EPA for granting Texas primacy over Class VI wells, a move critical to improving permitting efficiency and creating the regulatory certainty needed to drive investment. Texas has long been at the forefront of developing and delivering America’s energy, and this decision empowers the state to continue that leadership in a way that supports jobs, communities, and responsible energy production.”

The American Petroleum Institute (API) represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry, supporting nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. With approximately 600 members, API companies produce, process, and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy. Founded in 1919, API has developed over 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Source: American Petroleum Institute

Texas DOT works to leverage artificial intelligence’s power

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:54:00 GMT

Texas DOT works to leverage artificial intelligence’s power.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has launched a three-year initiative — the 2025–2027 Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan — to integrate AI technology into its operations to make Texas roads safer and improve mobility statewide.

According to TxDOT’s December 2024 press release, the 70-page plan outlines how AI will:

Optimize infrastructure by increasing the efficiency and resilience of the state’s transportation network.
Enhance decision-making through AI-powered analytics that support roadway operations and maintenance.
Improve public service delivery by helping employees and partners serve travelers more effectively.
Empower the workforce by automating repetitive tasks, allowing staff to focus on higher-value, innovative work.

TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams emphasized that adopting AI “securely and responsibly” will transform how the agency monitors traffic, detects incidents in real time, and manages projects more efficiently.

Current AI Projects

The strategic plan highlights several ongoing and completed AI initiatives, such as:

Invoice verification automation: Previously, reviewing engineering invoices could take up to seven days. AI now completes the process in about 30 minutes by automating line-item checks and approvals.
AI-driven traffic incident detection: In Austin, a pilot program uses cameras, sensors, and external data (like navigation apps) to quickly identify roadway incidents and improve response times, safety, and traffic flow.
Robotic process automation for employee onboarding: TxDOT now uses AI-based systems to automatically manage user accounts and access, cutting manual work from hours to seconds.

Future AI Applications

The plan also identifies 230 potential AI use cases , derived from ideas submitted by TxDOT staff across 14 focus groups. Examples include:

Creating unified utility maps from multiple data sources to prevent construction delays.
Using drones and computer vision for bridge inspections to predict maintenance needs.
Analyzing material test data to forecast failures and improve quality control.
Tracking pedestrian and bicycle activity through sensors and AI to guide infrastructure investments.
Automating form submissions and project documentation.
Optimizing pavement design, signal timing, and intersection flow based on real-time traffic data.

Looking Ahead

Over the next three years, TxDOT will focus on using AI to refine its processes, policies, and infrastructure management , ensuring that future technological innovations continue to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability throughout the Texas transportation system.

Written by: Robert L. Reid

Cracking the Code: Deciphering How Concrete Can Heal Itself

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:06:33 GMT

Cracking the Code: Deciphering How Concrete Can Heal Itself

Imagine if concrete could repair its own cracks the way skin heals after a cut. That’s the goal of Dr. Congrui Grace Jin, whose latest research—published in Materials Today Communications—explores how lessons from nature can revolutionize construction.

Dr. Jin, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, is tackling one of the most expensive challenges in infrastructure: cracked concrete. Her team has developed a synthetic lichen-inspired system that enables concrete to self-repair without human intervention.

Concrete is the world’s most commonly used building material, but it’s prone to cracking from stress, temperature changes, and environmental wear. Even tiny fissures can allow moisture and gases to seep in, corroding the steel inside and compromising structural safety. Detecting and repairing these cracks costs the U.S. tens of billions of dollars every year—and inspecting active bridges and highways only adds to the difficulty.

For decades, researchers have explored “self-healing” concrete that uses microbes to produce minerals that seal cracks. However, as Dr. Jin explains, none of the existing methods are fully independent—they rely on added nutrients to sustain the microbes. In practical terms, that means repair crews still have to inject or spray nutrients into cracks, which is inefficient and costly.

To solve this, Jin turned to an unlikely teacher: lichen. This hardy organism—often seen on rocks and trees—survives in extreme environments thanks to its partnership between fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria). Inspired by that relationship, Jin’s team created a synthetic lichen system that mimics this self-sustaining balance.

In their design, cyanobacteria use air and sunlight to produce food, while fungi generate the minerals that fill cracks. Together, they thrive using only air, light, and water—no added nutrients required. This makes Jin’s system truly autonomous, setting it apart from previous self-healing methods.

Lab experiments have shown promising results: the microbial pairs were able to grow and produce sealing minerals even within the harsh environment of concrete.

Beyond the technical achievements, Jin is also exploring how people feel about using living systems in construction. She’s collaborating with social scientists at Texas A&M to study public perceptions and ethical, environmental, and legal considerations surrounding this bio-based approach.

If successful, this innovation could transform how we build and maintain infrastructure. Self-healing concrete would dramatically reduce repair costs, extend the lifespan of structures, and improve safety. The potential even extends beyond Earth—Jin’s research could one day support sustainable construction in space.

Corpus Christi Is an Energy Powerhouse. It’s Running Out of Water.

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:07:45 GMT

Corpus Christi Is an Energy Powerhouse. It’s Running Out of Water.

Corpus Christi, Texas, once viewed as a prime spot for energy firms, is facing a looming water crisis. For years, the city enticed corporations like Tesla and ExxonMobil with deals involving land, low energy costs, and — most crucially — seemingly plentiful water. These companies invested billions to build factories that consume enormous volumes of water to produce fuels, plastics, and battery materials. In recent years, others followed suit, refining lithium and manufacturing plastic pellets, drawn by favorable tax incentives, access to a deep-water port, and an interconnected pipeline network.

Now, however, Corpus Christi’s water supply is under extreme stress. A prolonged drought has depleted reservoirs, and local officials warn that within as little as 18 months, the city may not be able to satisfy demand. The city’s water system serves over 500,000 people across seven counties — yet industrial users already consume roughly half of the total supply. One plastics plant alone accounts for about 13 % of the city’s daily winter water usage.

The timing could not be worse. As water dwindles, energy companies are warning that they may have to scale back operations, potentially threatening jobs and economic growth in the region. The city is under pressure to find alternatives as residents brace for tighter restrictions and higher rates.

One controversial plan had been a municipally owned desalination plant, intended to convert Gulf seawater into potable supply and ease pressure on inland sources. The plant was projected to deliver up to 36 million gallons per day starting around 2028. But cost estimates ballooned — eventually as high as $1.2 billion — and the city council canceled the project. Prior to its cancellation, the city had already borrowed substantial funds and spent tens of millions on preliminary work. Critics argued that the plan disproportionately benefited industry, while residents would bear much of the cost.

With desalination off the table for now, city officials are scrambling to deploy emergency measures. They’re pumping brackish groundwater from new wells, treating and diverting it via local rivers, and proposing to pipe in water from neighboring areas. But critics worry these fixes may not be enough or may spark conflict with communities that depend on those same water sources. In the meantime, residents are adjusting to stricter watering rules, and in some cases paying for delivered reclaimed water to water lawns.

Some city leaders and community members see this unfolding crisis as a cautionary tale: a booming industrial economy must be matched by sustainable infrastructure planning, especially in water-scarce regions.

Transforming the Certification Process of 3D-Printed Critical Components

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:05:18 GMT

Transforming the Certification Process of 3D-Printed Critical Components

Currently, it takes about 18 months for a supercomputer to analyze a single 3D-printed part and predict its service life or failure date. DARPA’s Structures Uniquely Resolved to Guarantee Endurance (SURGE) program is challenging researchers to cut this evaluation time to just three days and make the process simple enough to run on a laptop.

Four Texas A&M University faculty members have taken on that challenge and secured $1.6 million in DARPA funding to develop a faster system for assessing the durability and quality of 3D-printed military components. This advancement would not only accelerate production and deployment of critical parts but also save the Department of Defense millions of dollars while expanding the use of additive manufacturing across military bases.

If successful, the team’s work could transform the entire additive manufacturing sector and establish Texas A&M as a leader in the field.

“This is a pivotal time for additive manufacturing,” said Dr. Mosen Taheri Andani, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and member of the grant team. “By combining in-situ data with the microstructural features formed during printing, we can link process monitoring, material characterization, and property evaluation—opening the door to faster and more reliable certification of 3D-printed parts.”

Andani will collaborate with colleagues Dr. Raymundo Arróyave (Chevron Professor II of materials science and engineering), Dr. Aala Elwany (industrial and systems engineering), and Dr. Ibrahim Karaman (Chevron Professor and department head of materials science and engineering).

Unlike conventional metal components, 3D-printed parts each carry a unique microstructural “fingerprint” with microscopic defects that differ in size and location, even when printed under identical conditions. These imperfections are key to understanding how and when a part might fail, making current certification both costly and time-intensive.

The Texas A&M project is part of a broader $10.3 million, four-year DARPA award shared with collaborators at the University of Michigan, Auburn University, UC San Diego, ASTM International, and industry partners Addiguru and AlphaStar.

The effort will emphasize both speed and accuracy. In the first two years, the Texas A&M team will partner with Addiguru to develop a sensor package that integrates into commercial 3D-printing platforms, gathering real-time data from multiple sensors. From there, they will create an AI-powered system capable of detecting and analyzing defects with high precision. Parallel efforts with Michigan, AlphaSTAR, and ASTM International will focus on accelerating predictions of microstructural behavior during printing.

“This DARPA initiative gives us a rare chance to solve one of the toughest challenges in additive manufacturing,” said Karaman. “We believe the results will reshape the industry and help scale this technology for widespread use.”

Funding for the project is managed by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the research arm of Texas A&M Engineering.

Written by: Denise Brehm

New data resource tracks global LNG liquefaction capacity additions as markets gear up for record wave of new projects

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:58:29 GMT

New data resource tracks global LNG liquefaction capacity additions as markets gear up for record wave of new projects

After a period of crisis, tight supply conditions and heightened price volatility, the global natural gas market is expected to transition to a period of abundant supply in the coming years – largely due to an increase in global capacity to produce and export liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Against this backdrop, the IEA is launching a new online resource that will make key LNG data publicly available, providing detailed information on a rapidly evolving market for the first time.

The IEA’s new Global LNG Capacity Tracker, out today, monitors final investment decisions for new LNG export projects and provides data on liquefaction capacity additions through 2030, based on projects that are currently under construction and the latest ramp-up schedules. It will be updated regularly.

The world currently has about 670 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of LNG liquefaction capacity. Capacity is set to rise strongly through the end of the decade, with significant implications for global gas markets. Between 2025 and 2030, a total of nearly 290 bcm per year of new LNG export capacity is expected to come online from projects that have already reached a final investment decision and are under construction, according to the Tracker.

The pace and scale of this expansion of supply capacity remains uncertain and may shift over time. Given this, the Tracker will aim to reflect the latest developments, providing timely insights for governments, industry and other stakeholders.

The IEA closely monitors developments in natural gas markets, which play a central role in global energy security today. This work includes the publication of the quarterly Gas Market Report as well as special reports, such as the India Gas Market Report published in February.

Building on its longstanding work on gas supply security, the IEA in 2024 established a permanent Working Party on Natural Gas and Sustainable Gases Security (GWP), which facilitates information exchange and promotes dialogue between producers and consumers. It also began a two-year work programme with Japan’s Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, focused on gas security.

Congress Passes One Big Beautiful Bill - Maintains 45V Credit through Jan 2028

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:48:59 GMT

Congress Passes One Big Beautiful Bill - Maintains 45V Credit through Jan 2028

This afternoon the House passed the amended reconciliation legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This text is the exact same version which passed the Senate on Tuesday. The OBBBA maintains the adjusted 45V commence construction date of January 1, 2028, a significant win for our sector. The bill now is heading to the President’s desk for signature which will be conducted at a signing ceremony set for tomorrow afternoon.

We again want to thank all of you for your collective efforts to emphasize the merits of this credit and the opportunities that a scaled up hydrogen sector will bring to the United States . This new 2028 date provides much needed certainty for our industry to initiate and execute on a new generation of hydrogen production facilities.

With this fix now a signature away from being enacted into law, it is critical to thank all of our Senate champions for getting this over the goal line. We ask that if you have not yet done so, please send a thank you message to our Senate 45V champions and their staff – Senators Capito, Cassidy, Justice, Kennedy, McCormick, Cornyn, Murkowski, and Sullivan. Please feel free to use the attached image provided by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) for any updates on social media as well!

In addition to the critical fix for the hydrogen PTC, the OBBBA also maintains the significant hydrogen storage tax credit (covering underground hydrogen storage facilities, hydrogen compression and liquefaction equipment, and limited hydrogen pipelines) within the Section 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The OBBBA also adds fuel cells as eligible for the Section 48E ITC , without greenhouse gas limit or labor requirements. This means that all fuel cells qualify regardless of technology or fuel type for the full 30% credit, another major win for our sector.

There are a wide range of other updates to the clean energy incentive package in the OBBBA. We have generated the attached primer to provide an overview of all of these changes across the energy landscape. Please feel free to use as a reference in any of your internal or external communications.

We want to thank you all again for your hard work. This was truly a united effort of our industry working together and demonstrates the value of speaking with one voice with policymakers and legislators. There is still much work still to do ahead on the policy front. If you or any of your colleagues are interested in learning more about the wide range of activities underway at FCHEA and opportunities ahead, please reach out at any time.

9 Key Takeaways from President Trump’s Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:49:17 GMT

9 Key Takeaways from President Trump’s Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy

On May 23, President Trump announced four executive orders aimed at reinvigorating America’s nuclear energy industry.

The orders lay out a plan to modernize nuclear regulation, streamline nuclear reactor testing, deploy nuclear reactors for national security, and reinvigorate the nuclear industrial base.

Together, they represent a bold new strategy for unleashing American energy and continuing our nation’s dominance as the world’s nuclear energy leader.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key changes outlined in the executive orders:

1. Speed up Nuclear Reactor Licensing

President Trump wants the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to play a large role in significantly reducing regulatory risks to accelerate nuclear reactor licensing.

The executive orders instruct the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to create an expedited pathway to approve reactors that have been safely tested by DOE or the Department of Defense (DoD). Also included is a comprehensive review of the NRC and the establishment of a deadline to evaluate and approve new construction and operation licenses within 18 months.

2. Add 300 Gigawatts of New U.S. Nuclear Capacity by 2050

The United States is the number one producer of nuclear energy in the world, but just three of the nation’s commercial nuclear reactors were completed in the 21st century. President Trump’s executive orders seek to accelerate deployment of new nuclear reactor technologies and expand American nuclear energy capacity from around 100 GW today to 400 GW by 2050.

That includes:

Working with industry to facilitate 5 gigawatts of power uprates
Leveraging the Department’s Loan Programs Office to support reactor restarts and finish partially completed construction projects
Improving supply chains
Having 10 new large reactors with complete designs under construction by 2030

3. Lay the Groundwork for Faster Reactor Testing

The executive order proposes that three pilot reactors could be built and tested outside of the national laboratories with the goal of achieving criticality by July 4, 2026, as part of an overarching plan to shorten the length of time it takes to test advanced reactors.

Going forward, DOE will revise its regulations and guidance for expedited review and approval of reactor projects under its supervision. The Department will also use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite its environmental reviews for authorizations, permits, approvals, leases, and any other activity requested by an applicant or potential applicant.

4. Deploy U.S. Reactors for AI and Military Bases

Advanced nuclear technology is cited in the executive orders as a pivotal element of President Trump’s national security strategy. He directed DOE to designate AI data centers as critical defense facilities and tasked the Secretary of Energy with utilizing all available legal authorities to site, approve, and authorize deployment of advanced reactors to power them. DOE will lay the groundwork for building and operating an advanced nuclear reactor supporting AI or other critical infrastructure no later than October 2027.

DoD was also directed to build a nuclear reactor at a domestic military installation to commence operations within the next three years, with DOE providing the technical advice needed for the design, construction, and operation of these military installation reactors. The two agencies were also instructed to coordinate on assessing the feasibility of restarting or repurposing closed nuclear power plants as energy hubs for military microgrid support.

5. Explore Fuel Recycling and Reprocessing

The United States hasn’t recycled or reprocessed commercial spent nuclear fuels since the 1970s, and the President’s executive orders seek to change that. To that end, DOE is instructed to find ways to efficiently transfer spent nuclear fuel from commercial light-water reactors to a government-owned, privately operated reprocessing and recycling facility. The Department will also evaluate reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel from DOE- and DoD-managed reactors and recommend improvements to those processes to make efficient use of the recovered materials. Additionally, the President ordered the creation of a program to dispose of surplus plutonium by processing and making it available for advanced reactor fuel fabrication and identify ways to permanently dispose of the waste products.

6. Amp up Domestic Nuclear Fuel Production

One of the big takeaways from the executive orders is that President Trump wants to maximize domestic production of nuclear fuel. Building out the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain will reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign sources of uranium and enable long-term expansion of American nuclear energy. That means a focus on increased mining, enrichment, conversion and deconversion capabilities — and even recycling and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel — with assistance from DOE-supported nuclear industry consortia. Of note: DOE will release at least 20 metric tons of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) into a fuel bank for private sector projects powering AI infrastructure at DOE sites.

7. Bolster the American Nuclear Workforce

According to the executive orders, 60 percent of the nuclear workforce is between the ages of 30 and 60. In order to generate a pipeline of workers to supply the demand for this crucial industry, new emphasis will be placed on increasing participation in nuclear-related apprenticeships and education programs. Nuclear engineering and nuclear energy-related careers will be considered priority areas for federal investment, and DOE is also directed to increase access to R&D infrastructure, workforce, and expertise at the national laboratories for college and university nuclear engineering students.

8. Assess Spent Nuclear Fuel Management

Spent nuclear fuel was another key issue highlighted. President Trump tasked the secretaries of energy, defense, and transportation, along with the director of the Office of Management and Budget, to recommend a national policy on spent nuclear fuel management and high-level waste that considers the development and deployment of advanced fuel cycle capabilities to establish a safe, secure, and sustainable long-term fuel cycle.

9. Expand U.S. Nuclear Energy Exports
The Trump Administration intends to fully leverage the resources of the federal government to enable the U.S. nuclear industry to compete for commercial civil nuclear projects worldwide. Within 90 days, the State Department and other agencies including DOE are instructed to produce strategies that will increase financing for U.S. nuclear projects and promote nuclear trade, and to make financial and technical support available for foreign adoption of nuclear energy. One key milestone: pursue at least 20 new international Agreements for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation by the close of the 120th Congress to enable the United States nuclear industry to access new markets in partner countries.

Graphite Production Gets a Makeover

Fri, 23 May 2025 17:05:34 GMT

Graphite Production Gets a Makeover.

Texas A&M University's Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) on a groundbreaking project to improve how petroleum coke is processed. This nearly $3 million initiative, spanning three years, aims to convert petroleum coke into graphite for use in energy storage systems.

The new approach relies on catalytic graphitization—a technique that produces graphite at lower temperatures and in less time than traditional methods. This innovation could significantly reduce emissions, costs, and processing time compared to current synthetic graphite production.

Led by Associate Department Head Dr. Micah Green and Associate Professor Dr. Faruque Hasan, alongside the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the team is part of ARPA-E’s VISION OPEN program. This program funds projects that seek transformative advances in various energy sectors, including nuclear fusion, energy grids, and chemical and fuel development.

Petroleum coke, a byproduct of refining crude oil, can be transformed into graphite using a lengthy and high-temperature process. The team’s new method replaces this with a more efficient, catalyst-driven process that could provide a domestic source of graphite—especially valuable for applications like lithium-ion batteries.

“We’re rethinking the process,” said Dr. Green. “By using catalysts, we aim to create high-quality synthetic graphite from petroleum coke, helping to reduce dependence on imported graphite.”

Dr. Hasan highlighted that the process not only creates value but also cuts emissions. Graphite’s key role in battery production makes this development particularly significant.

Traditionally, turning petroleum coke into graphite involves heating it to around 3000 °C over several days, mixing it with iron powder, and heat-treating it further. Dr. Green’s team is currently refining the synthesis process and exploring how to scale it up for industrial use. They’ve already demonstrated proof-of-concept at the lab level.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hasan’s group is evaluating the process through modeling and simulation, examining its cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to identify the best design and operating conditions for scaling the technology efficiently.

Once lab-scale success is validated, Oxbow Carbon, the project’s industry partner, will run pilot-scale operations to assess the feasibility of scaling up to commercial production.

The battery industry has entered a new phase

Fri, 02 May 2025 19:17:00 GMT

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Battery Use Soars While Costs Keep Falling

The global battery industry is expanding rapidly, driven by surging demand and falling prices. In 2024, electric vehicle (EV) sales jumped by 25%, reaching 17 million units, pushing annual battery demand past the 1 terawatt-hour (TWh) mark—an all-time high. At the same time, the cost of battery packs for EVs dropped below USD 100 per kilowatt-hour, a critical benchmark for cost competitiveness with traditional vehicles.

The steep decline in mineral prices, particularly lithium—down over 85% since its 2022 peak—has helped lower costs. But innovation and growing manufacturing capacity have played key roles as well. Global production capacity reached 3 TWh in 2024 and could triple in the next five years if all announced projects materialize.

These developments signal a shift in the industry, from regional and fragmented markets to a more standardized, global scale. To stay competitive, companies will need to leverage economies of scale, build strong supply chain partnerships, improve manufacturing efficiency, and speed up innovation. This may lead to more industry consolidation, amid growing government interest in diversifying battery supply chains geographically.

China Maintains Dominance, But the Market Is Changing

China currently accounts for over 75% of global battery production. In 2024, battery prices there fell nearly 30%—faster than in any other region—making EVs in China more affordable than conventional cars. On average, batteries in China are over 30% cheaper than those in Europe and over 20% cheaper than in North America.

This advantage stems from several factors:

China’s vast experience—over 70% of all EV batteries ever made originated there—has led to highly efficient manufacturing and strong innovation from companies like CATL and BYD.

Integrated supply chains, supported by domestic control over critical minerals and collaboration among firms, reduce costs and accelerate innovation.

A focus on lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is cheaper and now powers nearly half of all EVs globally after significant R&D advancements.

Intense domestic competition among nearly 100 producers, which has driven down prices as companies fight for market share.

Still, price cuts may slow as margins shrink and smaller producers exit the market. While China is expected to remain the dominant force, industry consolidation is likely.

Europe at a Critical Juncture

In Europe, China’s lead is posing significant challenges. High production costs—about 50% more than China’s—and a weaker industrial base are forcing some battery makers to scale back or abandon expansion plans. The collapse of Northvolt, once Europe’s largest battery hope, highlights these struggles.

Nonetheless, Europe can build a competitive industry by fostering strong local demand and supporting policies that reduce risk for investors. Efforts are underway to ramp up LFP battery production, and some Korean manufacturers are now investing in European facilities to remain competitive.

Chinese firms are also increasing their presence in Europe through joint ventures, like the Stellantis-CATL partnership, which could accelerate LFP battery adoption and improve Europe’s supply chain strength.

Global Race to Expand Battery Production

While China leads, other regions are expanding quickly:

South Korea and Japan are major global players, with large overseas manufacturing footprints and strong innovation in battery technologies, including solid-state batteries.

The U.S. has doubled its battery manufacturing capacity since 2022, supported by tax incentives. Over 200 GWh is now operational, with nearly 700 GWh more under construction. Domestic component production, however, still lags.

Southeast Asia and Morocco ar e emerging as future hubs. Indonesia began producing EV batteries and anode materials in 2024, leveraging its nickel reserves. Morocco, with the world’s largest phosphate reserves, has attracted over $15 billion in battery investment thanks to its car industry and trade deals with the EU and U.S.

Balancing Resilience and Competitiveness

Governments are increasingly focused on reducing supply chain risks, especially in light of China’s proposed export restrictions on battery technologies. But diversification takes time, investment, and sustained EV demand—the primary source of battery consumption.

Advanced manufacturing methods, automation, and digitalization will be critical for countries trying to reach competitive production levels. Collaborations—via joint ventures or licensing deals—can shorten timelines and reduce investment costs.

Global cooperation is also vital. Smaller markets may need to align with others or partner with resource-rich nations (e.g., in South America, Africa, Australia, Indonesia) to justify building up battery manufacturing capacity.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) will continue tracking these developments and plans to release a special report later this year analyzing battery supply chains in the car industry.

Source: IEA

AI is set to drive surging electricity demand from data centres while offering the potential to transform how the energy sector works

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:26:15 GMT

AI is set to drive surging electricity demand from data centres while offering the potential to transform how the energy sector works.

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) offers groundbreaking insight into the growing connection between AI and energy. Key findings include:

AI will be the main driver of rising electricity use in data centres, which are projected to more than double their global electricity consumption by 2030, reaching 945 TWh — about the same as Japan’s current use.

In the U.S. alone, AI-driven data centres are expected to account for nearly half of electricity demand growth by 2030, surpassing demand from industries like steel and cement.

Renewables and natural gas are expected to meet most of this demand, thanks to cost and availability advantages.

While emissions from data centre electricity use will rise, AI also brings major potential to reduce emissions through energy efficiency, innovation, and optimization.

Cybersecurity and critical mineral demand are emerging energy security concerns, even as AI is used to strengthen defenses and accelerate materials science.

The report urges rapid investment in grids, clean generation, and data centre efficiency — plus stronger collaboration between governments, tech, and energy industries.

The IEA is also launching an AI agent and global observatory to track AI’s energy demands and emerging uses in the energy sector.

Testing Starts on First Higher Enriched Fuel in U.S. Commercial Reactor

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:18:12 GMT

Testing Starts on First Higher Enriched Fuel in U.S. Commercial Reactor

Southern Nuclear recently loaded a new higher enriched nuclear fuel into a commercial reactor for irradiation testing.

This is the first time fuel enriched above 5 percent will be irradiated in a U.S. commercial reactor.

The higher enrichment levels allow the fuel to last longer and operate at increased power levels — potentially leading to additional reliable power production at nuclear power plants across the country.

The advanced fuel was developed through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Accident Tolerant Fuel Program to help improve fuel cycle safety and lower operational costs.

Preparing for Testing

Southern Nuclear recently loaded four lead test assemblies containing Westinghouse Electric Company's ADOPT® fuel pellets into the Vogtle Unit 2 reactor in Waynesboro, GA.

The new fuel is enriched up to 6 weight percent of uranium-235 – the main fissile isotope that produces energy during a chain reaction and could be a game-changer for the industry.

Commercial reactors currently operate on fuel that typically ranges between 3 and 5 percent enrichment.

The higher enriched fuel could help extend operation cycles from 18 to 24 months, allow for higher power output, and lead to less waste generated over the life of the reactor. The pellets, which also include additives expected to enhance safety performance, were derived from higher enriched uranium oxide powder that was first prepared by Idaho National Laboratory.

The powder was further processed into fuel pellets and fabricated into pins at before they were shipped to Vogtle Unit 2 for commercial testing.

“This achievement is a significant step forward for not only the resiliency of the entire U.S. operating fleet, but future nuclear technologies,” said Pete Sena, S outhern Nuclear Chairman, President and CEO. “Our goal is to operate our units for longer periods with higher output, and with higher enriched fuel, we’re even better positioned to meet the growing energy demands of the state of Georgia.”

What’s Next

The lead test assemblies will undergo testing for the next four and a half years at Plant Vogtle.

The fuel will be examined after each fuel cycle with a more extensive review after the fuel completes testing to support future commercialization and deployment in the United States.

ICYMI: What Energy Experts are Saying About President Trump Restoring LNG Exports

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:29:19 GMT

ICYMI: What Energy Experts are Saying About President Trump Restoring LNG Exports.

Following President Donald J. Trump’s day one order to “ unleash American Energy Dominance ,” the Department of Energy announced earlier this week it ended the Biden administration's pause on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export permits and was returning the department to regular order.

The announcement has been met with widespread praise from policymakers, industry leaders, and trade associations.

What They’re Saying:

"This policy has created great excitement, not only in the energy industry but in other industries as well. It will restore energy dominance and independence here in the United States, giving the President so many more options regarding foreign policy." – Former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette (R-LA)

"The one [Executive Order] that hit me—and will have the quickest effect on us—is getting rid of the LNG pause that Biden put into place overnight. The message there is clear—not only to U.S. producers and those operating export facilities along the Gulf Coast, but also to our allies: you can count on the United States again to deliver energy. For instance, the folks in Ukraine, the folks in Europe—all of those people who had to rely on Russian gas instead of U.S. gas can now depend on us ." – Former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry (R-TX)

“EQT has long been an advocate for the role that U.S. LNG plays in allowing the United States to promote its values abroad while addressing the world’s energy needs. We are appreciative of the Day One action from the President to lift the pause on LNG exports. This action signifies a strong understanding from the Administration of the need to allow market forces – not political forces – to drive the cheapest, most reliable energy to the market. This decision will only further our ability to create jobs, lower global emissions and ensure energy security for our allies.” – Toby Rice, CEO, EQT Corp., the largest gas producer in the United States

"Tourmaline, Canada’s largest natural gas producer, strongly supports growing LNG exports from across North America, providing an improved standard of living to the developing world with natural gas, reducing global emissions through coal displacement and creating sustained economic growth in both the United States and Canada." – Michael Rose, CEO, Tourmaline Oil, the largest gas producer in Canada

"Our country has been incredibly blessed with massive quantities of natural gas as well as our neighbors to the north in Canada and we should make that natural gas available to the world. It's awesome that President Trump has lifted the permit pause for LNG facilities." – Bill Armstrong, CEO, Armstrong Oil & Gas, Inc.

"There is the initial positive impact of putting people back to work not only with LNG transport, but with the existing ongoing LNG construction sites that are currently under contract but were paused by Biden, as well as several projects that had been permitted and will now be financed and the construction work allowed to begin. Additionally, all the pipeline and rig work out of the gas fields will increase as well - all pointing to more high-paying energy jobs as promised by President Trump. On the international stage, the wave of LNG exports will be significant in balancing the trade deficit that the Biden administration left us with and will help strengthen America's energy dominance." – James Flores, CEO, Sable Offshore Corp.

“Americans sent a clear message at the ballot box, and President Trump is answering the call on Day One. Lifting the LNG pause, streamlining permitting processes, and embracing U.S. oil and natural gas will drive a stronger, more prosperous energy future for all Americans. This is a new day for American energy, and we applaud President Trump for moving swiftly to chart a new path where U.S. oil and natural gas are embraced, not restricted.” – Mike Sommers, president and CEO, American Petroleum Institute (API)

“U.S. LNG exports are a vital geopolitical tool that help balance trade deficits, grow natural gas production at home, ensure energy security for our allies, and reduce global emissions. We are happy to see President Trump’s promise to end the pause has been kept. We will work with the Trump administration to counter the negative impacts of the pause and return to normal order.” – Charlie Riedl, executive director, Center for LNG

“Natural gas is a critical source of energy to power our country, support America’s industrial renaissance, reduce emissions, and ensure our allies’ energy security now and into the future. We are excited to see so much interest in our abundant supply of natural gas and regulatory certainty to get more supply to market. We look forward to working with the Trump administration to unlock the many benefits of U.S. natural gas. “ – Dena Wiggins, president and CEO, Natural Gas Supply Association

“Thank you, President Trump, for unlocking American potential by lifting the LNG export permit ban on Day One. Strong natural gas leads to energy security, which creates a strong United States of America. Texas is leading the way with natural gas exports and jobs.” – Todd Staples, president, Texas Oil & Gas Association

“The PBPA is very grateful that President Trump has lifted the ban on exporting LNG. This ill-conceived idea never should have taken root. America’s allies and consumers the world over will benefit from this newly available natural gas to warm their homes and run their economies.” – Ben Shepperd, president, Permian Basin Petroleum Association

“AXPC applauds President Trump’s decision to lift the prior administration’s ‘pause’ on LNG exports and setting a path for export authorizations, because American LNG exports strengthen our economy, shore up global security, and advance collective emissions reductions goals — all while U.S. natural gas prices remain affordable and stable here at home. This move is critical, because the U.S. economy and our allies around the world deserve a stable and predictable LNG export approval process to help meet the rising global demand for energy.” – Anne Bradbury, CEO, American Exploration & Production Council

“We applaud President Trump for making energy security and affordability one of his first priorities. With energy demand increasing at home and abroad, it is critical that we unleash American energy to benefit consumers and our allies. In particular, lifting the ban on LNG exports, expanding access to oil and gas production on federal lands and waters, providing reliable and affordable electricity, and reforming our broken permitting process are important steps that will help grow the economy. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration and Congress to build upon these actions and to secure our energy future.” – Marty Durbin, president, U.S. Chamber Global Energy Institute

“Biden’s LNG export freeze made America weaker, our enemies stronger, and the environment dirtier. President Trump’s decision to reverse this misguided policy on day one is a huge victory for our energy producers and our national security. I look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Wright to unleash American energy and make America affordable again. ” – U.S. Senator Mike Lee, chairman, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (R-Utah)

"President Trump’s executive order reversing the Biden-era ban on LNG exports is an important step to unleashing American energy and achieving energy dominance. Clean-burning natural gas has enabled the United States to lead global emissions reductions more than any other country in the world over the past 20 years, and will be critical to helping our allies finally get off of Russian gas. These are facts. I applaud President Trump for rescinding this counterproductive Biden policy and acting on behalf of our world-class energy workers, our global environment, and our allies around the world.” – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)

“American energy is part of America’s strength. By unleashing our energy resources, President Trump is strengthening our economy, our security, and our future.” – U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.)

“The war on American energy, American workers, our national security, and our allies is over! Louisiana is ready and equipped to lead the way in supplying the world with American natural gas.” – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

“President Trump has held office for less than 24 hours, but he has already done more to improve the everyday lives of Americans than Joe Biden did in four years. President Trump is using the power of the pen and the authority granted to him by Congress to secure our borders, restore American energy dominance, slash unnecessary government bureaucracy, cut regulations, and reverse the disaster wrought by the Biden Administration. This is just the beginning, and House Republicans will work closely with President Trump to continue delivering for the American people.” – Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)

“With President Trump back in the White House, and Republican majorities in the House and the Senate, we will lower costs for American families, shut down the Biden-Harris border crisis, unleash American energy, stand up to our adversaries, strengthen our economy, return to common sense, and restore our nation to greatness.” – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)

“On his first day in office, President Trump is already delivering on his promise to increase baseload power, lower costs, and deliver real results for the American people. Today’s executive orders will expand production of American energy sources by incentivizing new investments and unlocking the potential of our natural resources to drive innovation and lower consumer costs. This return to energy dominance is critical to safeguarding national security and creating a strong economy for the people we serve.” – U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), chairman, U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee

“President Trump is taking strong and desperately needed action to unleash American energy dominance. By ending the disastrous Green New Deal agenda, restarting the approval process for LNG projects, and unleashing American energy production, President Trump is putting America back on the path to energy dominance and global leadership. HEAT stands ready to work with President Trump and Congress to seize this historic opportunity.” – U.S. Representative Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), chairman, House Energy Action Team

"We need a return to U.S. energy dominance, and the executive orders signed by President Trump to unleash American energy are a great start. By expanding production of U.S. energy sources, we can lower costs for the American people and bolster our national security. As Chair of Energy and Commerce's Energy Subcommittee, I'm looking forward to working with President Trump to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy to secure North American energy independence and make the U.S. energy dominant once again." – U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio), chairman, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy

“President Trump’s decisive action on Day One to reverse the radical ban on LNG exports is a game-changer for the Gulf Coast, which bore the brunt of that disastrous policy. America is back in business, and we are ready to take charge of exporting American LNG, ensuring we remain the global leader in energy production and innovation.” – U.S. Representative Randy Weber (R-Texas), vice chairman, Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” Initiative

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:46:07 GMT

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” Initiative.

WASHINGTON – On February 4, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, to achieve the agency’s mission while energizing the greatness of the American economy. This plan outlines the agency’s priorities under the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin. The newly announced Powering the Great American Comeback initiative consists of five pillars that will guide the EPA’s work over the first 100 days and beyond:

Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American

“Every American should have access to clean air, land, and water. I will ensure the EPA is fulfilling its mission to protect human health and the environment. In his first term, President Trump advanced conservation, reduced toxic emissions in the air, and cleaned up hazardous sites, while fostering economic growth for families across the country. We remain committed to these priorities in this administration, as well as ensuring emergency response efforts are helping Americans get back on their feet in the quickest and safest way possible. We will do so while remaining good stewards of tax dollars and ensuring that every penny spent is going towards advancing this mission,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Pillar 2: Restore American Energy Dominance

“Pursuing energy independence and energy dominance will cut energy costs for everyday Americans who are simply trying to heat their homes and put gas in their cars. This will also allow our nation to stop relying on energy sources from adversaries, while lowering costs for hardworking middle-income families, farmers, and small business owners. I look forward to working with the greatest minds driving American innovation, to ensure we are producing and developing the cleanest energy on the planet,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership

“Any business that wants to invest in America should be able to do so without having to face years-long, uncertain, and costly permitting processes that deter them from doing business in our country in the first place. It will be important for the EPA to work with our partners at the state and federal levels to ensure projects are being approved and companies can invest billions of dollars into our nation. Streamlining these processes, while partnering with businesses to follow the necessary steps to safeguard our environment, will incentivize investment into our economy and create American jobs,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Pillar 4: Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World

“As we rapidly advance into this new age of AI, it is important that the United States lead the world in this field. Those looking to invest in and develop AI should be able to do so in the U.S., while we work to ensure data centers and related facilities can be powered and operated in a clean manner with American-made energy. Under President Trump’s leadership, I have no doubt that we will become the AI capital of the world,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Pillar 5: Protecting and Bringing Back American Auto Jobs

“Our American auto industry is hurting because of the burdensome policies of the past. Under President Trump, we will bring back American auto jobs and invest in domestic manufacturing to revitalize a quintessential American industry. We will partner with leaders to streamline and develop smart regulations that will allow for American workers to lead the great comeback of the auto industry,” said Administrator Zeldin.

US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency Announce $6M to Support Development of Advanced Biofuels

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:50:29 GMT

US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency Announce $6M to Support Development of Advanced Biofuels

WASHINGTON — Today, Jan. 8, the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $6 million in funding for three projects that will advance biofuel development and support U.S. leadership in energy and emissions innovation. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, the projects will support research to improve performance and reduce costs of high-impact biofuel production technologies, scale up production systems with industry, and support the U.S. bioeconomy.

Located in three states, the selected projects will support DOE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge goals by developing biofuel technologies that use sustainable biomass and waste feedstocks. This funding will address the development of advanced biofuels through pre-pilot scale up of integrated biorefinery technologies. The following projects were selected:

Air Company Holdings , Brooklyn, New York – Biogenic Carbon Dioxide to Drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Erg Bio Inc. , Dublin, California – Demonstration of the ASPIRE Feedstock Flexible Biomass Deconstruction and Conversion Technology at the Pre-pilot Scale
Terragia Biofuels , Hanover, New Hampshire – Continuous Conversion of Corn Stover to Ethanol Using Engineered Thermophilic Bacteria .

Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, including feedstocks such as plants and algae. When responsibly sourced, U.S. biofuel production can help strengthen the rural economy, move the U.S. toward greater energy independence, and support domestic production of cleaner fuels.

These projects will provide industry with new technologies to meet EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector, while reducing reliance on imported transportation fuel, heating oil, and jet fuel. Using agricultural residues and wet wastes, the projects also align with DOE’s 2023 Billion-Ton Report , an assessment of domestic renewable carbon resources that estimates that the U.S. can sustainably provide 134 million tons of agricultural residues and 32 million tons of wet waste in the near-term.

DOE Announces $1.66 Billion Loan Guarantee to Plug Power to Produce and Liquify Clean Hydrogen Fuel

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:52:24 GMT

DOE Announces $1.66 Billion Loan Guarantee to Plug Power to Produce and Liquify Clean Hydrogen Fuel.

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced the closing of a $1.66 billion loan guarantee ($1.55 billion in principal and $107 million in capitalized interest) to Plug Power Inc.’s (Plug) subsidiary, Plug Power Energy Loan Borrower, LLC, to help finance the construction of up to six facilities across several states that will produce clean hydrogen utilizing the company’s own electrolyzer technology. Advancing clean hydrogen is a key component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to building a robust clean energy economy that creates healthier communities, strengthens energy security, and delivers new economic opportunities across the nation. Today’s announcement will help unlock the full potential of this versatile fuel and support the growth of strong, American-led industry that ensures the United States remains at the forefront of the global economy for generations to come. Plug submitted its application to LPO in November 2020.

Together with the DOE Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, and ongoing research, development, and demonstration in the DOE Hydrogen Program, this project will help strengthen local economies, create and maintain high-quality jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sectors critical to meeting U.S. net-zero goals, and enhance America’s manufacturing and industrial competitiveness.

The Department is also releasing an update to the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Clean Hydrogen report. First released in March 2023, the report has been updated to reflect the significant progress made by the U.S. clean hydrogen industry since that time. Combined with the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub awards and additional hydrogen manufacturing projects, the updated Liftoff report and Plug Power loan guarantee underscore DOE's continued support for clean hydrogen.

Plug has a development pipeline that includes the build-out of clean hydrogen facilities in several potential locations across the United States to supply its national customer base with end-to-end clean hydrogen at scale. This project advances President Biden’s efforts to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains, which are essential to meeting the nation’s ambitious climate goals and enhancing our national and energy security. Once complete, the project will support an integrated and resilient commercial scale clean hydrogen fueling network across several regions of the United States.

The hydrogen fuel from the project is expected to power fuel cell-electric vehicles used in the material handling, transportation, and industrial sectors, resulting in an estimated 84% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional hydrogen production, which derives hydrogen from natural gas (CH4) and ultimately produces carbon dioxide (CO2). The benefits of harnessing hydrogen fuel cells in applications such as material handling equipment include enhanced operational efficiency, reduced environmental impact through zero-emission operations, and increased productivity due to faster refueling times compared to conventional batteries. Major corporations such as Amazon, Walmart and Home Depot use Plug’s hydrogen fuel cells across their warehouse and distribution centers.

The clean hydrogen facilities will utilize Plug’s electrolyzer stacks that are manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art gigafactory in Rochester, NY and will use modular designs to ensure a resilient hydrogen fuel delivery network. Plug is among the leading commercial-scale manufacturers of electrolyzers in the United States and currently operates the largest Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system in the United States at its Georgia hydrogen plant.

Electrolyzers use electricity to split water into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. Plug’s PEM technology allows it to operate efficiently even with variable electricity, enabling it to leverage electricity from intermittent renewables. Electrolyzers that use renewables to power their hydrogen production produce emissions-free clean hydrogen. The electrolyzer stacks can be easily configured to produce systems at 1 megawatt (MW), 5 MW, and 10 MW scales. (One MW powers the equivalent of 750 American homes based on their instantaneous demand.)

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to create good-paying, high-quality job opportunities for American workers, this loan guarantee will support an estimated 100-200 jobs during the construction period when at full capacity, and at least 50 new full-time jobs for each location.

LPO borrowers are required to develop and implement a strong Community Benefits Plan (CBP) for each project. Through their CBP, Plug has committed to working with local communities for project siting, including soliciting input from local economic development corporations. In particular, Plug will initiate a community outreach program dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding, and utilization of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, which aims to engage and empower communities by providing educational resources, interactive activities, and collaborative initiatives that highlight the benefits and potential applications of hydrogen technology. Plug employs local workforce development strategies and programs that leverage the comprehensive suite of services offered by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s network of One-Stop Career Centers, including the development of apprenticeship programs for operations jobs. This investment supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investment in climate, clean energy, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

The financing is offered through LPO’s Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, which includes financing opportunities for innovative energy and supply chain projects like Plug’s, certain state-supported projects, and projects that reinvest in existing energy infrastructure.

Across all LPO’s programs, DOE has attracted 182 applications for projects across the country totaling over $278.9 billion in requested loans and loan guarantees, as of December 2024.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

EPA Begins Five Chemical Risk Evaluations Under Toxic Substances Control Act, Starts Process for the Next Five Chemicals

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:32 GMT

EPA Begins Five Chemical Risk Evaluations Under Toxic Substances Control Act, Starts Process for the Next Five Chemicals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will formally designate five known or probable carcinogens as High-Priority Substances (HPS) that will undergo a risk evaluation under the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, 4,4’-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) and vinyl chloride. EPA also announced the beginning of the 9- to 12-month statutory process to prioritize the next five chemicals under TSCA to determine whether to initiate risk evaluations on them: benzene, ethylbenzene, naphthalene, styrene and 4-tert-octylphenol.

“Today we begin another five chemical risk evaluations under our nation’s strengthened chemical safety law and start the yearlong process to initiate five more,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff . “These risk evaluations will be used to determine how to protect people from harmful chemical exposures.”

EPA Begins Risk Evaluations for Five Chemicals

EPA began the prioritization process for acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, 4,4’-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) and vinyl chloride in the December 2023 announcement . Today’s final designation of each chemical for risk evaluation is the last step in the 9- to 12-monthlong statutory prioritization process.

Over the past year, EPA has continued to improve the prioritization process by investing in cutting-edge software to review more information earlier in prioritization. EPA has also implemented improvements to its systematic review approaches as recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) by incorporating additional data sources such as assessments published by other government agencies to identify potential hazards and exposures, clarifying terminology to increase transparency in the systematic review process, and presenting interactive literature inventory trees and evidence maps to better depict data sources containing potentially relevant information.

In a July 2024 announcement , EPA proposed to designate the five chemicals for risk evaluation. At that time, the agency made considerably more information about those chemicals publicly available a full year earlier in the process as compared to the first 30 chemicals to undergo risk evaluations under TSCA, giving the agency a head start on its work and giving the public earlier and better opportunities to provide input.

The agency will now begin risk evaluations for these chemical substances to determine whether they present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or other non-risk factors, under the conditions of use. If at the end of the risk evaluation process EPA determines that a chemical presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, the agency must immediately start the risk management process to address the unreasonable risk.

EPA will begin risk evaluations on:

Vinyl chloride , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic resins, and other chemicals. Many of these materials are used for pipes, insulating materials and consumer goods. This chemical was also involved in the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Exposure to vinyl chloride may result in a range of harmful health effects such as liver toxicity. Vinyl chloride is also a known human carcinogen . In the 1970s, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and EPA officials raised serious concerns about the health impacts of vinyl chloride. These concerns were the impetus for Congress to write the “original TSCA” law in 1976 to ensure chemicals were made and used safely.
Acetaldehyde , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of adhesives, petrochemicals and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for products like packaging and construction materials. Exposure to acetaldehyde may result in a range of harmful health effects such as irritation of the respiratory system. Acetaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen .
Acrylonitrile , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials, paints, petrochemicals and other chemicals. Exposure to acrylonitrile may result in a range of harmful health effects such as irritation of the respiratory system. Acrylonitrile is a probable human carcinogen .
Benzenamine , which is used in the manufacturing and processing of dyes and pigments, petrochemicals, plastics, resins and other chemicals. Exposure to benzenamine may result in a range of health effects such as adverse effects on the blood, fetal development and reproduction. Benzenamine is a probable human carcinogen .
MBOCA , which is used in the manufacturing and processing of rubbers, plastics, resins and other chemicals. MBOCA is a probable human carcinogen . There is also extensive data that demonstrate exposure to MBOCA may damage genetic material in cells, potentially leading to other adverse health effects, particularly when infants and children are exposed.

In the coming weeks, EPA will also release for public comment preliminary lists of manufacturers (including importers) subject to fees for the five chemicals designated as HPS under TSCA. The preliminary lists will soon be available in the docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0501 at the Regulations.gov page . Additionally, EPA will host a webinar on the list of fee payers, including steps to self-identify, how to certify as meeting an exemption and how to report production volume, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. EST. Register at the U.S. EPA: TSCA Fees webinar page .

Prioritization Process Initiated for the Next Five Chemicals

As EPA announced in December 2023 , the agency expects to initiate prioritization on five chemicals every year to create a sustainable and effective pace for risk evaluations. Today, EPA is initiating the prioritization process for five additional chemical substances:

Benzene , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of adhesives, cleaning chemicals, petrochemicals, as well as intermediates for petrochemicals, plastics, rubber products, resin, construction, transportation equipment and other chemicals. It is also used in the production of consumer products such as electrical and electronic products, fuel, paint and automotive care products. Exposure to benzene may result in a range of harmful health effects such as adverse impacts to the immune system (e.g., decreased immune lymphocyte count) and developmental abnormalities (i.e., fetal malformations). Benzene is a known human carcinogen that causes leukemia.
Ethylbenzene , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of petroleum, petrochemicals, paints and coatings, adhesives, plastic materials, products including transportation equipment, furniture, non-metallic minerals (e.g., clay), agricultural, construction, forestry, fishing and hunting products, electrical equipment, and appliances, as well as intermediate uses (e.g., plastics, resin, petroleum). It is also used in the production of consumer products such as adhesives and sealants, paints, plastic and rubber products, automotive care products, packaging and fuel. Exposure to ethylbenzene may result in a range of health effects such as adverse impacts to liver and kidney tissue, hearing loss, and developmental abnormalities (i.e., fetal malformations). Ethylbenzene is a probable human carcinogen , linked to lung and kidney tumors in animal studies.
Naphthalene , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of paints and coatings, oil and gas, fabricated metal products and transportation equipment. It is also used in consumer products like paints and coatings, fuels and related products. Exposure to naphthalene may result in a range of harmful health effects such as destruction of red blood cells resulting in lower blood oxygen levels, damage to eyesight, and damage to liver, lung and nasal tissue. Naphthalene is a probable human carcinogen , linked to lung and nasal tumors in animal studies.
Styrene , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of adhesives and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for printing and related activities. It is also widely used in consumer products including adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings, petrochemicals, fuels, plastic and rubber products, construction materials, packaging, toys, printing products, electrical and electronic products and mechanical appliances. Exposure to styrene may result in a range of harmful health effects such as hearing loss, memory loss, miscarriage and damage to the tissue in the lungs and nasal passages. Epidemiological data show that cancers of the lung, kidney, breast, blood and esophagus in humans may be linked to exposure to styrene and, based on evidence of lung tumors in animal studies, styrene is a probable human carcinogen .
4-tert-Octylphenol , which is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic and rubber products, and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for plastic material and resin. It is also used in consumer products like automotive parts. Exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol may result in a range of harmful human health effects such as kidney inflammation and lowered sperm count and motility that may result in impaired fertility.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA issues first ever underground injection permits for carbon sequestration in California

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:54:13 GMT

EPA issues first ever underground injection permits for carbon sequestration in California.

On December 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued four Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI well permits to Carbon TerraVault JV Storage Company Sub 1, LLC (CTV), a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation (CRC). Class VI UIC wells are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations for permanent underground storage. This technology, called carbon capture and underground storage or geologic sequestration, can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. The four Class VI UIC permits are for the first permitted Class VI injection wells in California and represent the first such permits issued by EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.

EPA has determined that the activities authorized under the Class VI UIC permits are protective of underground sources of drinking water and public health as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA completed a thorough technical review of all information submitted by CTV in its permit application, as well as the operational standards, the monitoring requirements, and the existing geologic setting. In order to ensure the surrounding community could provide input, EPA held public comment periods and reviewed thousands of public comments submitted on the draft permits. EPA also met with local officials in Kern County, emergency responders, community members, and property owners to explain the Class VI well program, listen to concerns, and answer questions.

"Although carbon sequestration does not address emissions of methane -- a climate super pollutant, responsible for approximately one-third of global warming -- from the oil and gas sector, it does capture carbon dioxide," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "This permit is authorized because the Safe Drinking Water Act allows for carbon injection projects that protect drinking water sources. EPA worked to ensure that the permit includes important features such as continuous monitoring for carbon dioxide leaks, with that monitoring data made available to the public, and a requirement that CTV plug all abandoned wells in the area of the project -- 200 -- before injection. I believe this permit is protective of the public and the environment."

The permits authorize CTV to construct four deep injection wells in the Elk Hills Oil Field, approximately 20 miles west of Bakersfield, California. The wells will be constructed to depths of more than a mile below surface level, into the Monterey Formation. CTV plans to inject about 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year for 26 years, totaling almost 38 million metric tons of carbon dioxide removed and stored. The permits identify CRC's pre-combustion gas treatment within the Elk Hills Oil Field as the initial carbon dioxide source and prescribe a process for CTV to add additional sources of carbon dioxide with EPA's approval.

EPA’s permits require extensive monitoring for well integrity, ground water quality and to track carbon dioxide movement. In addition, CTV must conduct surface-level air and leak detection monitoring to ensure that the injected carbon dioxide is staying underground. CTV will provide the surface air and leak detection monitoring data along with other monitoring data on a publicly accessible website. CTV is also required to plan for emergencies and maintain an Emergency and Remedial Response Plan, which includes an Emergency Communication Plan to inform the public of any unanticipated event that requires an emergency response.

Before EPA will authorize the start of carbon dioxide injection, CTV is required to properly plug 200 wells where carbon dioxide is expected to migrate during the project. EPA will review and approve the final plugging records to ensure that the wells do not allow carbon dioxide to migrate upward into underground sources of drinking water.

Based on EPA’s review of CTV’s application, including maps, well logs, cores, and the results of seismic surveys, EPA determined that the regional and local geologic features of the site will allow the Monterey Formation to safely receive and store the total volume of carbon dioxide authorized for injection. In addition, the confining zone -- the geologic formation that overlies the injection formation -- provides a suitable trap for the carbon dioxide to remain in place without migration. EPA also reviewed historic seismicity data in the area, including an assessment of faults and fractures, as well as the probability of induced seismicity due to injection activities. Based on this review, EPA determined that the injection operations are unlikely to cause seismic activity or containment issues.

EPA will also require CTV to maintain financial responsibility throughout the life of the project to plug the injection wells, perform all required post-injection site care, properly decommission the site at the end of project operations, and conduct any needed emergency and remedial response measures. CTV has secured approximately $30,000,000 for these activities. EPA has reviewed and approved this amount and will continue to review the cost of the activities and require CTV to update the amount on an annual basis if there are changes.

While the Class VI UIC permits issued by EPA authorize the injection of carbon dioxide pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the permits do not relieve CTV of complying with applicable federal, state or local laws or regulations.

The Class VI UIC permits are in effect during the operating life of the injection wells and the post-injection site care period until site closure is completed.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $6.9 Million in Projects to Support Effective Community Waste-to-Energy Strategies for Local Transportation Needs

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:07:34 GMT

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $6.9 Million in Projects to Support Effective Community Waste-to-Energy Strategies for Local Transportation Needs.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) announced $6.9 million in funding for nine projects to support local waste-to-energy management solutions for transportation energy needs. Located across six states, these selected projects will help sustainably manage and recover potential clean energy sources from local community waste streams using innovative and cost-effective technologies to produce low-carbon biofuels.

Organic waste streams from food waste, municipal wastewater sludge and solid waste, and manure are a key feedstock for producing biofuels and bioproducts. However, these waste streams represent one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to water, soil and air quality pollution. In addition, waste management costs for treatment, stabilization, hauling and disposal are considerable, and municipal landfills can contaminate soil and water. This funding will support local communities plan and identify waste-to-energy solutions for their waste streams, and also help reduce other impacts associated with waste collection and landfilling, including reducing heavy vehicle traffic, odors, and litter.

"Organic waste management presents economic, environmental and health burdens for communities across the United States," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "By advancing novel technologies to convert this waste into valuable energy resources, these collaborative investments will help solve local waste management challenges and support a more secure and resilient future."

Recognizing that local communities may be at different stages in their sustainable waste management planning efforts, the selected projects will address the above waste-to-energy needs through two topic areas:

Topic Area 1: Feasibility Study Development Analyses
Topic Area 2: Design Work and Experimental Validation

This funding will benefit communities and transit authorities with waste-to-energy solutions and support the Federal government's commitment to developing cutting-edge technologies that create jobs for our local communities and achieve a secure energy future.

Hydrogen Projects Included in $136 Million DOE Funding for Industrial Energy

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:14:23 GMT

Hydrogen Projects Included in $136 Million DOE Funding for Industrial Energy.

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) announced more than $136 million for 66 selected projects to support the research and development of transformational technologies essential for reducing energy demand and improving American productivity in key industrial subsectors. These investments will accelerate the development of innovative technologies to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of U.S. industrial supply chains in rapidly changing global markets.

Selected projects will advance technology solutions for core portions of our nation’s industrial base, including the manufacturing of chemicals and fuels, iron and steel, cement and concrete, forest and paper products, food and beverages, glass, and other industries. Together, these industries account for over 75% of the U.S. industrial energy demand, employ roughly 13 million Americans, and contribute roughly $27 trillion to U.S. GDP.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management joined IEDO to provide funding for projects under Topic 6: Industrial Pre-FEED Studies . Pre-FEED (preliminary front-end engineering design) refers to a stage of project development—after basic feasibility study and conceptual design—that develops the initial concept into a detailed design basis and scope of work to ensure a project is economically and technically feasible as well as accurately estimated. This topic seeks to reduce barriers for accelerated industrial adoption by de-risking innovative decarbonization technologies within operational environments.

HFTO has provided $4.3 million to fund the projects.

How Does Your State Stack Up in Energy Consumption?

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 22:33:22 GMT

How Does Your State Stack Up in Energy Consumption?

Energy consumption varies widely across the U.S., with some states powering massive industries while others prioritize efficiency and renewable solutions. Factors like population, climate, and industrial activity all play a role in shaping these trends.

As a sustainable engineering company, we understand the importance of analyzing energy use to create smarter, more efficient systems. Understanding your state’s energy trends can help drive better solutions for reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Want to see where your state stands?

Explore the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration here: EIA State Energy Overview

DOE Announces Intent to Fund Pilot-Scale Projects That Convert Carbon Emissions into Value-Added Products

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:49:38 GMT

DOE Announces Intent to Fund Pilot-Scale Projects That Convert Carbon Emissions into Value-Added Products

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today issued a notice of intent (NOI) to provide funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for large-scale conversion of carbon emissions into environmentally responsible and economically valuable products. Projects will develop the sustainable feedstocks and conversion technologies necessary to produce crucial fuels, building materials, and other carbon-based products that are better for the environment than current products. Carbon conversion plays a critical role in the transition to a net-zero economy by transforming carbon emissions captured from industrial operations and power plants, as well as from legacy emissions in the atmosphere.

If issued, this funding opportunity will support pilot-scale projects that advance carbon conversion technologies with a high technology readiness level that are capable of achieving significant carbon mitigation via biological, catalytic, or mineralization pathways. DOE also seeks to advance and support testing of product performance and characterization needed for market or consumer adoption. This may include lifecycle analysis development for novel carbon conversion technologies and lifecycle analysis development for pilot or demonstration facilities using those technologies.

The program will benefit manufacturers, technology providers, and the general public by advancing the commercial viability of and consumer access to less expensive and more environmentally friendly products and services. Further, in alignment with the President’s commitment that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law create broadly shared economic prosperity across the United States, funding applicants will be required to carefully consider impacts and benefits to workers and communities by emphasizing community and labor engagement, creating high-quality jobs, and providing economic and environmental benefits to affected communities.

Moving Toward an Electrified Solution to Generate Heat for Manufacturing Industries

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:02:51 GMT

Moving Toward an Electrified Solution to Generate Heat for Manufacturing Industries

Around 400,000 years ago, when early humans first harnessed fire for warmth, it marked a pivotal moment in human history. Today, heat remains vital, especially in manufacturing industries like refining, steel, cement, and pulp and paper. However, burning fossil fuels to generate this heat releases significant greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing heavily in alternative heat generation technologies.

As part of the Manufacturing USA initiative, the DOE has allocated $70 million to the Electrified Processes for Industry without Carbon (EPIXC) Institute, led by Arizona State University in partnership with Texas A&M University and others. This funding, managed by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, supports the advancement of electrified heating technologies.

“Currently, much of the heat in manufacturing is generated by burning fossil fuels,” said Dr. Mark Barteau, a professor at Texas A&M University. “With abundant carbon-free energy on the horizon, we have the opportunity to transform the industry by using electrical energy for heating, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

As a core partner in EPIXC, Texas A&M, through its Energy Institute, is playing a crucial role. Researchers will create a roadmap for decarbonizing manufacturing processes, beginning with a two-year project focused on developing electrified heating technologies for propane dehydrogenation. This process, which converts propane into propylene—a key component in plastics and chemicals—currently relies on fossil fuel-based heat. Dr. Barteau’s team aims to replace this with electrified chemical processes and establish workforce training programs.

The team, which includes Dr. Micah Green and Dr. Benjamin Willhite, is working on a reactor that uses radiofrequency (RF) heating for the propane dehydrogenation catalyst. RF heating allows uniform internal heating within the reactor, enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions. Scaling this technology for large-scale industrial use is a key challenge, as facilities producing 600,000 metric tons of propylene annually will require substantial amounts of clean electricity, either generated on-site or transmitted from elsewhere.

This project has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 0.3 metric tons per ton of propylene produced and increase propylene yields by up to 10%. Additionally, workforce development efforts led by Texas A&M Energy Institute experts Dr. Stratos Pistikopoulos and Dr. Konstantinos Pappas will ensure the industry is equipped to adopt these innovations.

As climate change intensifies, Texas A&M and its partners at EPIXC are dedicated to reducing fossil fuel dependence and decarbonizing industries through electrified heating technologies. These efforts could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions in manufacturing, paving the way for a more sustainable industrial future. This research is supported by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the research agency for Texas A&M Engineering.

Source: Texas A&M Engineering

ERCOT accelerates initiative to streamline energy procurement and dispatch

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:53:05 GMT

ERCOT accelerates initiative to streamline energy procurement and dispatch.

Efforts to improve energy procurement and dispatch efficiency in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market are now scheduled to launch by the end of 2025, about six months earlier than initially planned, according to grid officials.

“This is the most significant enhancement to the real-time nodal market design since 2010,” said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas. He emphasized that the Real-Time Co-optimization (RTC) project marks a milestone in ERCOT’s ability to plan and track progress toward a more dynamic and efficient wholesale power market. RTC will enable the simultaneous dispatch of energy and ancillary services in ERCOT’s real-time market. Currently, ancillary services are procured in the day-ahead market and are not typically adjusted in real-time.

ERCOT announced that it has analyzed the RTC and battery program schedule, setting a launch date of December 5, 2025. Initially targeted for mid-2026, the timeline was expedited to address reliability concerns tied to delays in securing “infeasible or insufficient” ancillary services. The project will also enhance ERCOT’s capacity to manage the evolving resource mix within the region.

Testing of RTC is set to begin in May 2025. Once operational, ERCOT Vice President of Commercial Operations Keith Collins noted the improvements are expected to provide over $1 billion in annual wholesale market savings, benefiting Texas electricity consumers.

The RTC initiative began in 2019 under the direction of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), with batteries incorporated later as more capacity became available. By fall 2024, ERCOT anticipated about 9.5 GW of batteries to be online, which have already proven crucial in stabilizing the grid during extreme heat. According to Aurora Energy Research, ERCOT could utilize approximately 20 GW of battery storage by 2035.

Additionally, Texas regulators are advancing an 80-MW distributed energy resource (DER) pilot, launched in 2022 to aggregate customer batteries into a dispatchable resource. However, the program has yet to meet its target, prompting PUCT Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty to recommend expanding the task force overseeing the project from 20 to 31 members.

Tesla Powerwall batteries were instrumental in launching the DER pilot, but participation is currently limited to Tesla’s retail provider. Glotfelty called for a policy change to allow consumers to choose their virtual power plant (VPP) provider, regardless of equipment. He urged the task force to outline a roadmap for reaching the 80-MW target and ensure aggregated resources become a permanent part of ERCOT’s system as its Energy Management System is upgraded.

Source: Utility Dive

Natural gas demand growth picks up in 2024 amid uncertainties over supply

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:58:24 GMT

Natural gas demand growth picks up in 2024 amid uncertainties over supply.

Global natural gas demand is rising more sharply in 2024 compared to the past two years, which were significantly impacted by the global energy crisis. However, new gas supplies remain constrained due to slow LNG production growth, while ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to drive price fluctuations, according to a recent IEA review on global gas markets and security.

The IEA forecasts a global gas demand increase of over 2.5% in 2024, with similar growth expected in 2025. Much of this rise is driven by rapidly growing markets in Asia, alongside a recovery in Europe’s industrial gas demand, although it remains well below pre-crisis levels. The review also includes the IEA’s latest quarterly Gas Market Report.

IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security, Keisuke Sadamori, noted, “The global gas demand growth we’re seeing this year and next is part of the recovery from the energy crisis, but the demand-supply balance is fragile, and volatility risks remain. Producers and consumers need to collaborate closely during these uncertain times, while also advancing clean energy transitions for a secure and sustainable future.”

The report highlights the sensitivity of markets to unforeseen supply and demand changes. LNG has become increasingly important in global gas trade since the energy crisis began and will continue to play a key role in maintaining supply-demand balance. Shipping challenges through the Panama Canal and the Red Sea have not yet impacted LNG supply, but they underscore potential vulnerabilities in the global LNG market. LNG supply is expected to grow nearly 6% in 2025 as major projects come online, especially in the second half of the year, with North America being the largest contributor to new capacity.

A major uncertainty for the 2024-25 winter is the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, as existing contracts end in 2024. If this results in a halt to piped gas deliveries to Europe, it would increase Europe’s reliance on LNG imports in 2025, tightening the global gas market. The IEA suggests improving flexibility mechanisms in gas and LNG value chains, enhancing global LNG market liquidity, integrating Ukraine’s gas storage into the global market, and considering voluntary gas reserve frameworks to address these challenges.

This year’s review also includes an analysis of integrating low-emission gases into the transport sector, part of the IEA’s Low-Emissions Gases Work Programme.

In addition to its market analysis, the IEA collaborates with governments worldwide to support supply security. Since its formation in October 2022, the IEA’s Task Force on Gas and Clean Fuels Market Monitoring has provided vital market updates and served as a platform for data and information exchange. The Task Force worked with Japan ahead of the 13th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference, co-organized by the IEA and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $430 Million to Accelerate Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing in Former Coal Communities

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:35:54 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $430 Million to Accelerate Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing in Former Coal Communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $428 million for 14 projects to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities across the United States. The projects, led by small-and medium-businesses in communities with de-commissioned coal facilities, were selected by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to address critical energy supply chain vulnerabilities. Five of the projects will be in, or adjacent to, disadvantaged communities, and every project will include a community benefits plan developed to maximize economic, health, and environmental benefits in the coal communities that power our nation for generations. Each project further positions the United States to win the competition for the 21 ^st century and strengthen our national security by building supply chains for existing and emerging technologies in America, built by American workers with American materials. The projects will leverage over $500 million in private sector investment into small- and medium-manufacturers and create over 1,900 good-paying, high quality jobs.

“The transition to America’s clean energy future is being shaped by communities filled with the valuable talent and experience that comes from powering our country for decades,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm . “By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are strengthening our national security while helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalize communities across the nation.”

“Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are leading an unprecedented expansion of American energy production, a manufacturing renaissance, and the essential work of rebuilding our middle class. This is especially true in former coal communities, which are mounting a clean energy comeback by harnessing the urgent climate challenge in front of us and the clean energy solutions we invented here in America,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi . “These investments from the Biden-Harris Administration – catalyzing even more in private sector investment – will lift up these energy communities by creating good-paying union jobs, enhancing our supply chains, and ensuring that the next generation of clean energy technologies are made here in America.”

The global market for clean energy and carbon reduction technologies is anticipated to reach a minimum of $23 trillion by 2030. Investing directly in the domestic manufacturing sector’s small and medium businesses, which contribute to $1 trillion in gross revenue to the U.S. economy and provide more than five million jobs, rapidly builds capacity for clean energy production and maximizes the benefit to communities across the U.S. Swiftly increasing U.S. manufacturing output and deployment of clean energy technology is critical to meet our climate, jobs, and industrial competitiveness goals. By manufacturing clean energy technology domestically, the U.S. will strengthen national security and energy independence, revitalize industrial and energy communities, and mitigate the climate crisis.

As demand grows for clean energy technology, the projects will help prepare the manufacturing industry for what lies ahead. The fourteen projects selected for negotiation of award focus on manufacturing products and materials that address multiple needs in the domestic clean energy supply chain. The selections will address five key supply chains – grid components, batteries, low-carbon materials, clean power generation, and energy efficiency products. The lead organizations are listed below along with their proposed project locations:

Anthro Energy- Louisville, KY
$24.9 million selection to retrofit a facility to enable the domestic production of advanced electrolyte for use in Lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells in electric vehicles (EV), defense applications, and consumer electronics. The project will create an estimated 115 permanent high-quality jobs.
CleanFiber-Chehalis, WA and Ennis, TX
CleanFiber’s locations in Washington and Texas are selected to receive $10 million each to establish two separate 60,000 square-foot production facilities produce an advanced form of cellulose insulation from recycled cardboard. The facilities, once operational, will produce enough advanced insulation to weatherize more than 20,000 homes a year and support 80 full time employees.
TS Conductor- Erie, MI
$28.2 million selection to establish U.S.-based manufacturing of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) conductors and other advanced conductors that enable a secure and resilient clean grid. The new factory will create 425 construction jobs and 162 operating jobs with wages above the local prevailing rate.
Furno Materials Inc- Chicago, IL
$20 million selection to construct a new circular, low carbon cement production facility. The facility will use recycled industrial waste materials as feedstock to make low-carbon Ordinary Portland Cement, reducing carbon intensity by 47%, and creating 80 total jobs with above average wages and benefits.
Hempitecture Inc- Rogersville, TN
$8.42 million selection to create an industrial fiber hemp processing and manufacturing facility produce high performing products, with a 60-80% reduced carbon intensity, for the building materials, packaging, and automotive industry. When completed, the facility will create 25 full time jobs 15% above prevailing hourly rate.
Infinitum-Rockdale, TX
$34 million selection to establish a manufacturing facility to produce heavy copper, high-powered printed circuit board (HP-PCB) stators, the key component of Infinitum’s high-efficiency axil-flux motors. This facility will be located in Rockdale, Texas and is expected to create 170 operating jobs and 125 construction jobs.
MetOx International- Southeast, U.S.
$80 million selection to establish Project Arch, an advanced superconductor manufacturing facility, critical to expanding grid capacity to enable accelerated deployment of renewable energy, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hyperscale AI data centers, and large manufacturing loads. Project Arch will create 230 jobs, supporting economic revitalization in a coal community.
Moment Energy Inc- Taylor, TX
$20.3 million selection to establish the first UL1974 Certified manufacturing facility in the United States to repurpose EV batteries to produce safe, reliable, and affordable battery energy storage systems. The project will create 50 construction jobs and a total of 200 new jobs within their facility, which will produce an annual output of 1 GWh once fully operational.
Mainspring Energy Inc- Coraopolis, PA
$87 million selection to establish a state- of-the-art manufacturing facility near Pittsburgh to produce 1,000 linear generators that can run on any gaseous fuel, and change fuels without any hardware changes. The project will create 291 construction-related jobs, at least 80% of which will seek to be unionized. The facility will create 600 operations positions, offering above-average pay, benefits, and growth opportunities.
RG Resource Technologies Inc- Lansing, MI
$5 million selection to retrofit a manufacturing facility in Lansing to produce 120,000 units/yr production of their solar photovoltaic + thermal capture (PVT) system. Through this project, RG Resource Technologies plans to hire 160 workers in new full-time positions, with a goal that 64 of those positions will be filled from workers living in disadvantaged communities.
Sparkz Inc.- Bridgeport, WV
$9.8 million selection to create a first-of-its-kind battery-grade iron phosphate (FePO4) plant in the United States. As part of this project, Sparkz will be creating and retaining 75 high quality jobs, and has signed a neutrality agreement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Labor Union and will work with UMWA on providing training to coal workers.
Terra CO2 Holdings- Magna, UT
$52.6 million selection to establish a new manufacturing facility to produce an innovative high-performing Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM), a 70% lower emission and cost-effective replacement for traditional Ordinary Portland Cement. This project will create 61 new jobs with wages and benefits above the 75th percentile compared to national wages, and will train and upskill up to 144 people from underrepresented populations.
Urban Mining Industries- Indiantown, FL and Baltimore, MD
$37 million selection to develop manufacturing plants that will convert recycled glass, most of which would have otherwise gone to landfill, into a ground glass pozzolan, which is used to replace up to 50% of carbon-intensive cement in concrete mixes, which can drastically reduce embodied emissions while increasing resistance to road salts and increasing reflective properties. The project will create 20 new skilled jobs with high paying hourly wages at each site.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $430 Million to Upgrade America’s Hydropower Infrastructure

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:55:13 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $430 Million to Upgrade America’s Hydropower Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C.— As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 293 hydroelectric improvement projects across 33 states that will receive up to $430 million in incentive payments to upgrade hydropower facilities – in operation for an average of 79 years. Administered by the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives program will enhance dam safety, improve grid resilience at 215 facilities, and protect 6,000 existing jobs at hydropower facilities as well as contractors and vendors.

“As our earliest form of renewable energy generation, hydropower has reliably kept America running for almost 150 years—and the Biden-Harris Administration is ensuring these long-standing facilities can continue the steady flow of clean power,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today’s funding will expand and modernize our hydropower fleet, while protecting thousands of American jobs.”

Hydropower currently accounts for nearly 27% of renewable electricity generation in the United States, as well as 93% of all utility-scale energy storage. However, the fleet is aging, with many facilities in need of repair and upgrades.

DOE’s commitment to hydroelectric facilities across the United States

The Investing in America agenda supports capital improvements directly related to three main areas of hydropower: improving grid resilience, improving dam safety, and enabling environmental and recreational improvements to hydropower facilities. Within DOE’s portfolio and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives are complemented by two additional hydroelectric incentives: the Hydroelectric Production Incentives, providing incentive payments to qualified hydroelectric facilities for electricity generated and sold and the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives, providing payments to increase power generation from the nation’s existing hydropower fleet.

The 293 projects announced today will:

Strengthen grid resilience at hydropower dams by:

Replacing or upgrading turbines and generators
Upgrading control systems
Upgrading cables and transformers
Upgrading penstocks, which transport water to the turbines
Improve dam safety by upgrading aging dam infrastructure and strengthening existing infrastructure against extreme weather events. The average number of years selected facilities have been in operation is 79 years.

Specific examples of projects include:

Upgrades to emergency spillways, which channel extra water during heavy rains
Concrete replacement to prevent water seepage through the dam
Water conveyance repairs to improve how the dam controls water movement
Upgrades to gates
Upgrades to prevent overtopping of dam walls
Erosion repair on the dam and surrounding areas

Facilitate environmental and recreational improvements to hydropower infrastructure that will improve water conditions and expand surrounding habitat and passage for fish and other species, and upgrade recreational facilities near dams. For example:

Fish passage projects will install fish ladders or other equipment to enable fish and other aquatic species to pass through the dam and/or the turbine. Some projects will also improve or expand the wildlife habitat surrounding the dam.
Water quality projects will deploy special turbines that reduce the loss of oxygen in water as it runs through the turbine to generate electricity. Water quality projects might also improve aquatic habitats downstream of the dam, as well as benefit species of conservation concern or cultural significance to Indian Tribes.
Recreation projects will establish or maintain recreational facilities and opportunities near the dam, which might include expanding water access for boating; improving access for other recreational activities, such as kayaking and white-water rafting; and enhancing walking trails.
These investments also advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

DOE Announces $33 Million to Deploy Solar Technologies to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:09:35 GMT

DOE Announces $33 Million to Deploy Solar Technologies to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $33 million for nine projects across seven states to advance concentrating solar-thermal (CST) systems technologies for solar fuel production and long-duration energy storage. CST technologies use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, helping to produce carbon-free clean fuels, heat, and storage for a wide variety of application. Advancing clean energy technologies like CST is a key component of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to cutting harmful carbon emissions and essential to achieving the nation’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DOE continues to invest in the next-generation solar technologies we need to tackle the climate crisis and ensure American scientific innovation remains the envy of the world,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With today’s announcement, DOE is supporting projects that will harness the sun’s energy to power NASA space missions, beer and wine production, and everything in between.”

DOE’s Solar Futures Study shows that vast amounts of energy storage, with significant growth of long-duration storage in the coming decades, are required to achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals. To accelerate the development of these technologies, DOE launched the Long Duration Storage Shot™ to significantly slash costs within the decade. Additionally, the industrial sectors, which account for 33% of the nation’s primary energy use and 30% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, will increasingly require clean sources of heat and fuel. Development of breakthroughs in this area are supported by DOE’s Industrial Heat Shot,™ Hydrogen Shot,™ and the Clean Fuels & Products Shot.™

The availability of solar fuels and clean hydrogen will help reduce dependency on fossil-fuel based resources such as feedstocks for fuels, chemicals, and other materials made from petroleum. The projects announced today will also support DOE’s efforts to kickstart a strong, domestic clean hydrogen industry by advancing lower cost methods of producing hydrogen.

Three selected projects will leverage cheap heat from solar energy to make renewable fuels in a more cost-effective way than by using electricity and without the emissions from burning natural gas. Projects selected for award negotiation include:

Exergy Labs (Dover, DE): This project will develop a modular dish reactor for the generation of clean hydrogen with lower cost carbon intensity, and land-use than other modes of hydrogen production and test prototype dish reactors on-site in North Carolina and Arizona. (Award Amount: $3 million)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, CO): This project will develop a novel CST-compatible reactor that uses carbon monoxide and water vapor to produce high-value products such as jet fuel. The team will design a 1-megawatt pilot plant to support and evaluate commercial viability of the solution. (Award Amount: $3 million)
West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): Researchers, in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, aim to demonstrate the advantages of direct solar-thermal integration with hydrogen production via a high-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer, with the goal of transferring the technology to a wide variety of applications, including creating hydrogen and oxygen in space. (Award Amount: $5 million)

Six additional projects will advance thermal energy storage technologies that can provide heat continuously or on demand. These technologies can be paired with a turbine to produce electricity or serve industrial processes that require heat. Low-temperature concentrating solar-thermal heat can decarbonize the food and beverage industry, for instance by supporting the brewing process, while high temperature heat is useful in chemical production. Each system can be charged with renewable energy from CST. The six projects selected for award negotiation include:

Brayton Energy (Hampton, NH): This project aims to de-risk a novel high-temperature particle-based thermal energy storage concept that integrates storage, media transport, and heat exchange into a single vessel. (Award Amount: $5 million)
Durion (White River Junction, VT): This project will advance a patented thermal energy storage system, developed recently through previous DOE funding, which stores energy in the form of pressurized hot water. The technology aims to provide a low-cost solution to provide 1 megawatt of thermal heat for up to 12 hours for commercial and industrial uses. (Award Amount: $1.6 million)
Firestone Walker Incorporated (Paso Robles, CA): This project will use thermal solar energy to generate steam for Firestone Walker Brewery, eliminating 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from their brewing each year. (Award Amount: $7.3 million)
Premier Resource Management (Bakersfield, CA): In partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, this project will develop a 100-kilowatt electric demonstration power plant with more than 12 hours of storage, which stores thermal heat underground at depleted oil reservoirs in California. (Award Amount: $6 million)
Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, TX): This project will demonstrate the impact of low-cost concentrated solar thermal in utility power applications by testing an advanced dual media energy storage system that uses liquid molten salt and solid storage to provide 1 megawatt of thermal heat for 10 hours. (Award Amount: $1.2 million)
University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN): Researchers will partner with Sandia National Laboratories to develop a high-performance cascaded heat exchanger concept for low-cost power generation and the production of high-temperature industrial process heat. (Award Amount: $850,000)

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the selectees will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $2.2 Billion in the Nation's Grid to Protect Against Extreme Weather, Lower Costs, and Prepare For Growing Demand

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:59:15 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $2.2 Billion in the Nation's Grid to Protect Against Extreme Weather, Lower Costs, and Prepare For Growing Demand

RALEIGH, N.C. —In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s grid for eight projects across 18 states to protect against growing threats of extreme weather events, lower costs for communities, and catalyze additional grid capacity to meet load growth stemming from an increase in manufacturing and data centers. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, the projects selected today will catalyze nearly $10 billion in total public and private investment to bring reliable, affordable, clean energy to Americans. This deployment of new, innovative transmission infrastructure and technology upgrades to the existing grid will add nearly 13 gigawatts (GW) of grid capacity—including 4,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind—allowing more clean power to reach customers across the country. These projects will create at least 5,000 good-paying jobs and upgrade more than 1,000 miles of transmission in total.

“The first half of 2024 has already broken records for the hottest days in Earth’s history, and as extreme weather continues to hit every part of the country, we must act with urgency to strengthen our aging grid to protect American communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the most crucial component of the nation’s infrastructure, expanding and hardening the grid to allow more resilient, clean power to reach more household, and support the ongoing manufacturing boom—all while creating thousands of local jobs.”

“In order to reach President Biden and Vice President Harris’ climate and clean energy goals, we need a bigger, smarter, more resilient grid,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. “Today’s awards are bringing us closer to our clean energy future by building out transmission and upgrading grid infrastructure from North Carolina to California.”

“Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, the United States is leading an unprecedented expansion in the capacity of the existing U.S. transmission network, which will further catalyze our work to deliver reliable, affordable power across the country," said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “As we build out the nation’s power grid to keep pace with historic manufacturing and clean energy growth, we are doing so by harnessing innovative technologies to lower energy costs, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, and take on the climate crisis. The investments we are making today will enhance the strength and resilience of our grid, especially in the face of more climate-fueled extreme weather events like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.”

Across the 8 projects, over $300 million will be invested in community workforce development, scholarships and apprentice programs, as well as grants to community organizations. GRIP projects also include strategies to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement and quality. Six of eight GRIP projects will utilize local partnerships with labor unions, at least five of which will partner with local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Selected projects will leverage:

Innovative transmission infrastructure to improve grid resilience and reliability and integrate more clean energy to the grid.
Two projects will deploy large new transmission lines: Clean Path New York (New York Power Authority) and North Plains Connector (Montana Department of Commerce). The two lines, totaling about 625 miles, will increase grid capacity by about 4,300 MW by deploying high voltage, direct current (HVDC) technology, among other things.
Clean Path New York will deploy HVDC cables underground and underwater to minimize right-of-way impacts that can be associated with large-scale transmission projects.
The North Plains Connector project, headed by the Montana Department of Commerce in partnership with the North Dakota Transmission Authority will increase interregional transfer capacity and provide instantaneous change of direction in electricity flows to support the eastern or western grid when required, improving resilience and reliability. The project will also enable the development of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s wind resources.

Advanced technology upgrades to deploy innovative grid technologies including advanced conductors, dynamic line ratings, microgrids, and advanced distribution management systems to increase grid capacity using existing rights of way.
Six projects will implement innovative technologies on the existing electric grid, increasing grid capacity and transforming grid operations.
Three projects will deploy advanced conductors at scale to upgrade about 400 miles of existing transmission lines.
Three projects will deploy dynamic line rating, a grid-enhancing technology that can increase system utilization by enabling transmission lines to increase power flow while still operating safely.
The Biden-Harris Administration is catalyzing national collaboration on deploying these modern grid technologies, including through a Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative.

Federal, interstate, and private sector collaboration to demonstrate innovative collaborations and partnerships, particularly across states and with the private sector.
The RELIEF project–headed by the Utah Office of Energy Development in collaboration with the states of Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming, as well as the California Independent System Operator—will address system contingency issues and prevent over 5,500 hours of potential outages for 700,000 utility customers in five states.
The Power Up New England project headed by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is a collaboration with the states of Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The project will reduce wholesale energy supply costs for New England customers by about $1.55 billion and create new offshore wind interconnections in Massachusetts and in Connecticut, which—in addition to enabling 4,800 MW of offshore wind.

The Investing in America agenda is providing the largest electric grid infrastructure investment in history to strengthen America’s power grid while lowering energy costs and creating good-paying jobs. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership, the U.S. is projected to build more new electric generation capacity this year than in two decades while also mobilizing to upgrade thousands of miles of existing transmission lines. This includes catalyzing nationwide collaboration on modern grid technologies and funding their deployment, accelerating transmission permitting, and increasing grid capacity to support electricity demand to support increased electrification, data centers, and manufacturing.

In addition to the Grid Innovation Program, the GRIP Program includes two additional funding mechanisms: Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants that provide funding to the private sector to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other disruptive events that are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, with a focus on grid hardening efforts; and Smart Grid Grants fund technology investments that will increase how much power the grid can handle; prevent faults that may lead to wildfires or other system disturbances, integrate more renewable energy; and facilitate the integration of electrified vehicles, buildings, and other devices. The second round of selections for GRIP’s the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants and the Smart Grid Grants will be announced later this year.

US solar panel manufacturing jumps 4-fold after Inflation Reduction Act

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:57:51 GMT

US solar panel manufacturing jumps 4-fold after Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has significantly boosted the clean energy sector by providing tax incentives for companies to fund projects, leading to numerous solar panel manufacturing initiatives nationwide.

According to data from the environmental advocacy group E2, ten new domestic solar projects were announced in Q2. Among them, NorSun, a Norway-based company, invested $620 million in its first U.S. solar facility, partnering with Silfab Solar for a manufacturing plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Similarly, Vietnam-based Boviet Solar is investing over $294 million in its first North American solar panel manufacturing site in Greenville, North Carolina, expected to open in Q1 2025.

However, the future growth of solar capacity could face challenges, including interconnection delays, electrical equipment shortages, and labor constraints. Michelle Davis, head of global solar at Wood Mackenzie, noted that the industry also faces uncertainties related to new tariffs and the upcoming presidential election.

One key issue is the Biden administration’s decision to raise tariffs on solar manufacturing equipment, including a 50% tariff on photovoltaic cells, which was finalized last week. The number of allowed exclusions for solar equipment has been reduced from 19 to 14.

The solar association is monitoring the effects of these tariffs, which were first introduced in April. They expect minimal impact on utility-scale projects as suppliers have already adjusted their supply chains. Additionally, there is ample module inventory, including crystalline silicon and thin film, available for current projects.

The report does caution that the distributed solar market could see short-term impacts from the tariffs, as a large percentage of residential, commercial, and community solar projects rely on imported modules. For 2025, it forecasts a 4% decrease in residential installations, a 5% drop in commercial installations, and a 4% reduction in community solar installations.

While final tariff determinations are expected this fall, the report anticipates that the overall impact on solar deployment will be moderate.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $10 Million to Develop New and Alternative Supplies of Critical Minerals and Materials

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:28:21 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $10 Million to Develop New and Alternative Supplies of Critical Minerals and Materials.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In support of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $10.2 million for four projects that will advance cost effective and environmentally responsible processes to produce and refine critical minerals and materials here in the United States. The funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help meet the growing demand for critical minerals and materials by developing new and alternative supplies through a broad range of domestic resources, thereby reducing our dependence on offshore supplies. Critical minerals and materials are key to manufacturing clean energy technologies—such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells—that will help America reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate goals. This funding opportunity will create good-paying jobs and support communities across the country that have historically depended on mining and energy production.

“America’s clean energy and manufacturing boom will require large quantities of critical minerals and materials, which is why developing sustainable domestic resources for meeting this demand has become a Biden-Harris Administration priority,” said U.S Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “We are investing in innovative technologies and techniques to protect scarce mineral resources all while enhancing our energy security.”

According to the U.S. Geological Survey , more than 95% of the U.S. demand for rare earth elements comes from foreign sources, more than 50% of most critical minerals come from foreign sources, and at least 12 critical minerals come exclusively from foreign sources.

Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives

The “Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives” funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will provide up to $150 million over several rounds of project selections to help to build a secure, sustainable domestic supply of critical minerals from sources across the United States, including recycled materials, mine waste, industrial waste, and ore deposits. Specifically, the FOA will support bench- and pilot-scale research, development, and demonstration projects to increase the robustness of domestic supply chains and reduce our reliance on foreign supply chains. The first four projects selected for negotiation fall under the “Alternative Materials” area of interest, and are focused on developing critical mineral and material alternatives and substitutes:

Idaho National Laboratory, Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Idaho Falls, Idaho) plans to develop a novel and fully domestic decarbonized pathway to manufacture high-purity synthetic graphite, along with other durable carbon-based materials, from carbon dioxide-based feedstocks.
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Ames, Iowa) plans to integrate the conversion of copper waste generated through the recycling of permanent magnets with highly energy-efficient chemical processes for producing hydrogen.
The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, Pennsylvania) plans to research the materials science and engineering of boron nitride and its potential application in the manufacture of semiconductor devices as an alternative to gallium, almost none of which is produced in the United States.
Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (Northborough, Massachusetts) plans to scale up their lithium iron phosphate-based battery technology from bench‐scale to pilot‐scale for use in electric vehicles—as an alternative to lithium‐ion batteries that require key critical materials, such as nickel and cobalt, that are largely sourced from outside the United States.

A detailed list of the selected projects and funding amounts can be found  here . DOE plans to make additional selections under the FOA’s remaining areas of interest at a later date.

The selected project teams were required, as part of their applications, to submit  Community Benefits Plans  to demonstrate meaningful engagement with and tangible benefits to the communities in which these projects will be located. These plans provide details on their commitments to quality job creation; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and benefits to disadvantaged communities as part of the Justice40 Initiative. The President’s Justice40 Initiative sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

How Much Money Can I Save With Solar Energy?

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:56:02 GMT

How Much Money Can I Save With Solar Energy?

Lowering electricity bills is one of the main reasons why consumers may decide to install rooftop solar panels. Every household is different—from the size of the home, to the number of people living in it, to the electricity needs of those people, to where the buy their electricity—so calculating an average amount of savings from going solar is nearly impossible. This U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) blog post will walk you through calculating the solar payback period, or how long it takes for a rooftop solar system to pay for itself. When calculating the amount of potential savings, there are several factors to consider.

The Amount of Electricity You Produce

First, assess your home’s solar rooftop potential. If there are trees near your home that create excessive shade on your roof, rooftop panels may not be an option. The size, shape, and slope of your roof are also important factors to consider. Typically, solar panels perform best on south-facing roofs (anything between southeast and southwest) with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees, though other roofs may be suitable, too.

The Amount of Electricity You Consume

Check your utility bill to find out how much electricity you consume on average every month. The Utility Rate Database maintained by the DOE Energy Information Administration shows current electricity rates in your area. Your solar savings will also depend on how much the utility will compensate you for the excess solar energy you send back to the grid. This is different for every utility.

How You Finance Your System

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Tracking the Sun report contains residential solar installation costs around the country, which can help you expect how much to pay. There are several options for how to finance your system.

If you pay cash for your solar system, the payback period refers to the length of time required before the system has paid for itself and all future power produced is free. You can get a personal loan with fixed interest rates and monthly payments. Another option is to use a power purchase agreement, or PPA, which means you do not own the solar panels on your roof but still benefit from the clean power it produces. In both of those cases, you may have immediate savings on what you pay for electricity.

Incentives

If you buy or take out a loan for a solar system, you may be eligible for the federal residential solar energy credit, which is a tax credit that can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. If you financed your system through a power purchase agreement, the owners of the system would be eligible for tax credits, which they could pass along to you in the form of a cheaper bill. In some instances, these third-party system owners can receive additional credits not available to homeowners, which can lower your bill even further.

Many states also have incentives for rooftop solar customers. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, known as DSIRE, is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy in the United States. By entering your zip code, DSIRE provides you with a comprehensive list of financial incentives and regulatory policies that apply to your home. The database is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University and was funded by DOE.

The U.S. Department of Energy provides more information on the amount you could save HERE .

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Global electricity demand set to rise strongly this year and next, reflecting its expanding role in energy systems around the world

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:06:43 GMT

Global electricity demand set to rise strongly this year and next, reflecting its expanding role in energy systems around the world.

The latest report from the IEA predicts that the growth in global electricity demand for 2024 and 2025 will be among the highest in the past 20 years, with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems expected to account for about half of this increase. The rise in electricity demand is attributed to strong economic growth, extreme heatwaves, and the growing use of electric technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps. At the same time, renewable energy sources are expected to continue their rapid growth, with solar PV anticipated to set new records.

The IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update forecasts a global electricity demand increase of around 4% in 2024, up from 2.5% in 2023. This would be the highest annual growth rate since 2007, excluding the exceptional rebounds seen after the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. The report also predicts that this strong growth will continue into 2025, with another 4% increase expected.

Renewable energy sources are projected to expand quickly in the coming years, with their share of global electricity supply expected to rise from 30% in 2023 to 35% by 2025. For the first time, the amount of electricity generated by renewables is expected to surpass that produced by coal in 2025. Solar PV alone is expected to cover about half of the increase in global electricity demand over 2024 and 2025, while solar and wind together are expected to meet up to three-quarters of this growth.

Despite the rapid expansion of renewables, coal power generation is unlikely to decrease this year due to high demand, particularly in China and India. Consequently, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the global power sector are expected to stabilize, with a slight rise in 2024 followed by a decrease in 2025. However, uncertainties remain, such as the potential for increased Chinese hydropower production to reduce coal-fired power and emissions.

Several major economies are experiencing significant rises in electricity demand. India’s demand is anticipated to increase by 8% this year due to strong economic growth and intense heatwaves. China is expected to see a rise of more than 6% in demand due to robust activity in services and industrial sectors, including the clean energy technology industry.

In the United States, after a decline in 2023 due to mild weather, electricity demand is projected to grow by 3% this year driven by steady economic growth, rising cooling needs, and a growing data center sector. In contrast, the European Union will experience a more modest 1.7% growth following two years of contraction due to the energy crisis.

The report notes that increased use of air conditioning is a significant factor driving electricity demand, especially during heatwaves.

Keisuke Sadamori, IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security, remarked that the anticipated growth in global electricity demand over the next two years is set to be among the fastest in the past two decades, reflecting the increasing role of electricity in economies and the impact of severe heatwaves. He emphasized the need for a faster increase in clean energy's share of the electricity mix and the importance of strengthening grids and implementing higher energy efficiency standards.

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), there is growing concern about the electricity demand of data centers, highlighting the need for improved data collection and analysis. The IEA has launched a new initiative, "Energy for AI & AI for Energy," to address these challenges, including a Global Conference on Energy and AI scheduled for December 5, 2024, in Paris.

Source: IEA

Getting to the Root of a Plant’s Success

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:47:44 GMT

Getting to the Root of a Plant’s Success

Plants are powerful factories – they can turn basic ingredients like carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into oxygen, sugars, and plant mass. But plants don’t do all of this work on their own. Below the soil’s surface, plant roots work with tiny microbes to gain access to the nutrients they need to survive. This microbial ecosystem, known as the plant microbiome , has the power to make or break a plant’s success aboveground.

A team of researchers led by the University of Texas at Austin, using resources from the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility, investigated how the genetics of a plant can affect its relationship with microbial communities in the soil. Until recently, scientists had a limited understanding of how a plant’s genetic information might influence which microbes get involved belowground. But through this work, they learned how certain genes in a particular plant, switchgrass, play a role in how the plant recruits its microbiome.

Switchgrass is a hardy, tall grass that is extremely drought tolerant. It is able to produce an impressive amount of biomass, which we may be able to convert into sustainable biofuels in the future. Because of this potential, DOE researchers have been studying this plant for nearly two decades. By mapping connections between switchgrass genes and helpful microbes, the researchers aimed to identify which plant-associated microbiota can help the plant grow faster and produce more biomass.

Researchers investigated switchgrass plants grown in field sites in Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. This collaborative group also included scientists from the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the University of Missouri, and Michigan State University. Through genome sequencing efforts at the JGI , the team identified which microbes were present in each of the soil samples. The researchers also pinpointed sections of the plant host genome that are associated with varying amounts of microbes.

This work revealed that the plant genes involved in immunity, development, and signaling were the most influential on the root microbiome makeup. These results provide a better understanding of how plants recruit vital microbes. This information may help researchers as they set out to engineer or breed plant varieties that perform even better in difficult growing conditions.

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $2.2 Billion in the Nation's Grid to Protect Against Extreme Weather, Lower Costs, and Prepare For Growing Demand

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:59:27 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $2.2 Billion in the Nation's Grid to Protect Against Extreme Weather, Lower Costs, and Prepare For Growing Demand.

RALEIGH, N.C. —In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a $2.2 billion investment in the nation’s grid for eight projects across 18 states to protect against growing threats of extreme weather events, lower costs for communities, and catalyze additional grid capacity to meet load growth stemming from an increase in manufacturing and data centers. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program , the projects selected today will catalyze nearly $10 billion in total public and private investment to bring reliable, affordable, clean energy to Americans. This deployment of new, innovative transmission infrastructure and technology upgrades to the existing grid will add nearly 13 gigawatts (GW) of grid capacity—including 4,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind—allowing more clean power to reach customers across the country. These projects will create at least 5,000 good-paying jobs and upgrade more than 1,000 miles of transmission in total.

Part of DOE’s Building a Better Grid Initiative and authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the GRIP Program funding represents the federal government’s single largest direct investment into critical grid infrastructure – part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic actions to get grid updates funded, permitting, and deployed across the country. Today’s selections are made through Grid Innovation Program grants , one of three GRIP funding mechanisms, that seek to deploy projects that use innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to enhance grid resilience and reliability.

Across the 8 projects, over $300 million will be invested in community workforce development, scholarships and apprentice programs, as well as grants to community organizations. GRIP projects also include strategies to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement and quality. Six of eight GRIP projects will utilize local partnerships with labor unions, at least five of which will partner with local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Selected projects will leverage:

Innovative transmission infrastructure to improve grid resilience and reliability and integrate more clean energy to the grid.
Two projects will deploy large new transmission lines: Clean Path New York (New York Power Authority) and North Plains Connector (Montana Department of Commerce). The two lines, totaling about 625 miles, will increase grid capacity by about 4,300 MW by deploying high voltage, direct current (HVDC) technology, among other things.
Clean Path New York will deploy HVDC cables underground and underwater to minimize right-of-way impacts that can be associated with large-scale transmission projects.
The North Plains Connector project, headed by the Montana Department of Commerce in partnership with the North Dakota Transmission Authority will increase interregional transfer capacity and provide instantaneous change of direction in electricity flows to support the eastern or western grid when required, improving resilience and reliability. The project will also enable the development of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s wind resources.
Advanced technology upgrades to deploy innovative grid technologies including advanced conductors, dynamic line ratings, microgrids, and advanced distribution management systems to increase grid capacity using existing rights of way.
Six projects will implement innovative technologies on the existing electric grid, increasing grid capacity and transforming grid operations.
Three projects will deploy advanced conductors at scale to upgrade about 400 miles of existing transmission lines.
Three projects will deploy dynamic line rating, a grid-enhancing technology that can increase system utilization by enabling transmission lines to increase power flow while still operating safely.
The Biden-Harris Administration is catalyzing national collaboration on deploying these modern grid technologies, including through a Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative.
Federal, interstate, and private sector collaboration to demonstrate innovative collaborations and partnerships, particularly across states and with the private sector.
The RELIEF project–headed by the Utah Office of Energy Development in collaboration with the states of Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming, as well as the California Independent System Operator—will address system contingency issues and prevent over 5,500 hours of potential outages for 700,000 utility customers in five states.
The Power Up New England project headed by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is a collaboration with the states of Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The project will reduce wholesale energy supply costs for New England customers by about $1.55 billion and create new offshore wind interconnections in Massachusetts and in Connecticut, which—in addition to enabling 4,800 MW of offshore wind.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

New IEA online tool compares lifecycle emissions from traditional and electric cars

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 20:53:46 GMT

New IEA online tool compares lifecycle emissions from traditional and electric cars

The IEA has introduced a new interactive tool that enables users to examine the greenhouse gas emissions of passenger cars across different powertrains, including battery electric, conventional, and plug-in hybrid. This calculator considers the full lifecycle of vehicles—from raw material extraction and manufacturing to usage—offering an accurate estimate of both direct and indirect emissions for various car types.

According to IEA's analysis, with current policies alone, nearly one in six cars on the road will be electric by 2030, leading to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The adoption rate of electric vehicles would be even higher if countries fully implement their energy and climate commitments.

The online calculator allows users to choose variables such as car size, powertrain type, fuel economy, and lifespan for various regions and countries. It also considers driving patterns, such as those of city commuters or occasional drivers, to assess how these factors influence a vehicle's lifetime emissions. This tool highlights the many factors that shape the emissions profiles of different vehicle types, offering valuable insights for policymakers and consumers.

Users can also adjust assumptions about energy supply, including the emissions intensity of electricity production and the level of biofuel blending in conventional and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This feature helps visualize the potential impact of decarbonizing energy sectors on a car’s future emissions under different scenarios, including one based on current policies and another aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Lifecycle assessment offers a comprehensive view of a product’s emissions across its entire lifecycle. For electric vehicles, this includes emissions from the mining of critical minerals for batteries and the electricity generation mix used to power them.

Developed under the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Global Programme to support the transition to electric mobility, the EV Life Cycle Assessment Calculator complements the IEA’s Total Costs of Ownership tool, the Global EV Outlook 2024, as well as the Global EV Data Explorer and Global EV Policy Explorer.

EV Life Cycle Assessment Calculator

Countries around the world have a major opportunity to set stronger plans for achieving the global goal of tripling renewable power by 2030

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:47:09 GMT

Countries around the world have a major opportunity to set stronger plans for achieving the global goal of tripling renewable power by 2030

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that while countries have made progress, their current renewable energy ambitions are not yet aligned with the COP28 goal of tripling global capacity by 2030. However, governments can still take significant steps in the coming months through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) process.

The report reveals that current NDC commitments amount to just 12% of the required 11,000 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity. However, if countries include all their existing policies and plans in their upcoming NDCs, they could achieve 70% of this target by 2030. The IEA emphasizes the need for countries to accelerate their efforts and align their NDCs with more ambitious domestic plans.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol notes that while the tripling goal is ambitious, it is achievable if governments quickly turn their promises into action. The report also acknowledges the challenges, such as long project permit wait times and high financing costs, especially in developing economies. The IEA remains committed to supporting global efforts to meet the COP28 goals and drive forward the next phase of the Paris Agreement's implementation.

Source: IEA

DOE and EPA Announce $850 Million to Reduce Methane Pollution from the Oil and Gas Sector

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:10:08 GMT

DOE and EPA Announce $850 Million to Reduce Methane Pollution from the Oil and Gas Sector

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that applications are open for $850 million in federal funding for projects that will help monitor, measure, quantify, and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda . Oil and natural gas facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. Today’s announcement builds on unprecedented action across the Biden Administration to dramatically cut methane pollution, with agencies taking nearly 100 actions in 2023 alone, including the finalization of an EPA rule that will yield an 80% reduction in methane emissions from covered oil and gas facilities.

This funding from the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in history—will help mitigate legacy air pollution, create good jobs in the energy sector and disadvantaged communities, reduce waste and inefficiencies in U.S. oil and gas operations, and realize near-term emissions reductions, helping the United States reach President Biden’s ambitious climate and clean air goals. The funding will specifically help small oil and natural gas operators reduce methane emissions and transition to available and innovative methane emissions reduction technologies, while also supporting partnerships that improve emissions measurement and provide accurate, transparent data to impacted communities. Today’s announcement constitutes a key part of broader technical and financial assistance to be provided by the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

“As we continue to accelerate the nation’s clean energy transition, we are taking steps now to drastically reduce harmful emissions from America’s largest source of industrial methane – the oil and gas sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “I am proud to partner with EPA to help revitalize energy communities and deliver long-lasting health and environmental benefits across the country.”

“Today, we’re building on strong standards and historic progress to cut methane pollution and protect communities across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will drive the deployment of available and advanced technologies to better understand where methane emissions are coming from. That will help us more effectively reduce harmful pollution, tackle the climate crisis, and create good-paying jobs.”

“President Biden’s historic investment agenda has enabled the U.S. to aggressively and ambitiously take the actions we need to decarbonize every sector of the economy. We are making significant progress in our efforts to cut pollution – including super-pollutants like methane – while creating thousands of quality jobs and lowering energy costs for Americans,” said Assistant to President Biden and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “From implementing the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan that lays out a detailed roadmap for the federal government, to launching a Methane Task Force that brings all relevant agencies together around robust implementation, to hosting the first-ever White House methane summit that has catalyzed cross-sector partnerships, President Biden’s leadership on tackling methane is part of a comprehensive and historic climate effort that is spurring technological innovation, creating good-paying jobs and economic opportunity, cutting pollution in every sector, and holding polluters accountable. Today’s investments further those aims by providing the resources needed to monitor methane emissions and rapidly identify potential leaks to help protect our communities and planet.”

The primary objectives of this funding opportunity announcement are to:

Help small operators significantly reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations, using commercially available technology solutions for methane emissions monitoring, measurement, quantification, and mitigation.
Accelerate the repair of methane leaks from low-producing wells and the deployment of early-commercial technology solutions to reduce methane emissions from new and existing equipment such as natural gas compressors, gas-fueled engines, associated gas flares, liquids unloading operations, handling of produced water, and other equipment leakage.
Improve communities’ access to empirical data and participation in monitoring through multiple installations of monitoring and measurement technologies while establishing collaborative relationships between equipment providers and communities.
Enhance the detection and measurement of methane emissions from oil and gas operations at regional scale, while ensuring nationwide data consistency, through the creation of collaborative partnerships. These partnerships will span the country’s oil and gas-producing regions and draw in oil and natural gas owners and operators, universities, environmental justice organizations, community leaders, unions, technology developers, Tribes, state regulatory agencies, non-governmental research organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and DOE’s National Laboratories.

A competitive solicitation for this funding will enable a broad range of eligible U.S. entities to apply, including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, Tribes, and state and local governments. This funding opportunity is expected to achieve measurable outcomes for skilled workforce training, community involvement, and environmental justice. Funding applicants are required to submit Community Benefits Plans to demonstrate meaningful engagement with and tangible benefits to the communities in which the proposed projects will be located. These plans must provide details on the applicant’s commitments to community and labor engagement, quality job creation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and benefits to disadvantaged communities as part of the Justice40 Initiative. Established in Executive Order 14008, the Justice40 Initiative set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

About the Methane Emissions Reduction Program

The Inflation Reduction Act, through the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, directed EPA to take action to tackle wasteful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Utilizing resources provided by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is partnering with DOE to provide $1.36 billion in financial and technical assistance to improve methane monitoring and reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. These investments are also expected to result in co-benefits of reducing non-greenhouse gas emissions such as volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.

Today’s announcement builds on the $350 million in formula grant funding EPA and DOE announced in December 2023 to states to support industry efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions at low-producing wells, monitor emissions, and conduct environmental restoration at well pads.

Delivering on the U.S. Methane Action Plan

The funding opportunity announced today is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to reduce harmful methane emissions across economic sectors, as outlined in the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan . Below is a summary of recent and ongoing initiatives.

In December, EPA announced final standards that will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, including from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide, promote the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits.
In May, EPA issued a final rule to strengthen, expand, and update methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program , as required by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The final revisions will ensure greater transparency and accountability for methane pollution from oil and natural gas facilities by improving the accuracy of annual emissions reporting from these operations.
EPA is working to finalize a Waste Emissions Charge rule , which will provide an incentive for companies to adopt best practices to reduce wasteful emissions and help capture near-term opportunities for methane reductions while EPA and states work toward full implementation of the final oil and gas rule.
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed a new rule to significantly improve the detection and repair of leaks from more than 2.7 million miles of natural gas pipelines. The proposed rule would deploy pipeline workers across the country to keep more product in the pipe and prevent dangerous accidents, creating up to $2.3 billion annually in estimated benefits.
The Department of the Interior is deploying nearly $5 billion funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for workers to plug tens of thousands of orphaned oil and gas wells throughout the United States, including $64 million in 2023 for hundreds of improperly abandoned wells on federal lands, up to $660 million for states to plug thousands of high-priority orphaned wells on state and private lands, and an initial investment of nearly $40 million for Tribal Nations to address orphaned wells on their lands.
The Department of Agriculture, EPA, and Food and Drug Administration recently launched a new Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics to accelerate the prevention of food loss and waste—a major source of methane emissions.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law appropriated more than $11 billion over 15 years to eligible states and Tribes to reclaim abandoned coal mines, which will address dangerous safety and environmental conditions, including the elimination of major sources of water and methane pollution.
The Administration recently released the first ever National Strategy to Advance an Integrated U.S. Greenhouse Gas Measurement, Monitoring, and Information System to enhance coordination and integration of greenhouse gas—including methane—measurement, monitoring, and information efforts. Such efforts include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s collection of high-resolution methane leak data via the EMIT Mission on the International Space Station, aircraft flights coordinated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute for Standards and Technology to connect satellite data to specific emissions sources on the ground, and the work of DOE and the State Department to coordinate international methane data collection and measurement efforts via a new Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Working Group and the UN Methane Alert and Response System.

Together, these efforts across the Biden-Harris Administration are accelerating reductions in methane emissions, cutting costs, supporting clean air and public health in disadvantaged communities, creating good jobs, and advancing President Biden’s ambitious climate goals.

5 Facts About Nuclear Energy

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 21:14:29 GMT

5 Facts About Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy has been quietly powering America with clean, carbon-free electricity for the last 60 years.

It may not be the first thing you think of when you heat or cool your home, but maybe that’s the point.

It’s been so reliable that we sometimes take it for granted.

Did you know nearly a fifth of the country’s electricity comes from nuclear power each year?

If not, then it’s about time you get to know nuclear.

Here are five fast facts to get you up to speed:

1. Nuclear power plants produced 775 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2023

U.S. nuclear power plants generated 775 billion kilowatthours of electricity in 2023. That's enough to power more than 72 million homes! U.S. reactors have supplied around 20% of the nation's power since the 1990s and are also the largest producer of nuclear energy in world.

2. Nuclear power provides nearly half of America's clean energy

Nuclear energy provided 48% of America’s carbon-free electricity in 2023, making it the largest domestic source of clean energy.

Nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases while generating electricity.

They produce power by boiling water to create steam that spins a turbine. The water is heated by a process called fission , which makes heat by splitting apart uranium atoms inside a nuclear reactor core.

3. Nuclear energy is one of the most reliable energy sources in America

Nuclear power plants operated at full capacity more than 93% of the time in 2023—making it one of the most reliable energy sources in America due to its high availability.

Nuclear power plants are designed to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and require less maintenance to operate for longer stretches before refueling (typically every 1.5 or 2 years).

4. Nuclear helps power 28 U.S. states

There are currently 94 commercial reactors helping to power homes and businesses in 28 U.S. states. Illinois has 11 reactors—the most of any state—and joins South Carolina and New Hampshire in receiving more than 50% of its power from nuclear.

Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Waynesboro, GA became the nation’s newest reactors when they entered into commercial service in 2023 and 2024. The four-unit plant is nation's largest generator of clean power.

5. Nuclear fuel is extremely dense

Because of this, the amount of used nuclear fuel is not as big as you think.

All of the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry over the last 60 years could fit on a football field at a depth of less than 10 yards.

DOE issues $2.7B RFP for low-enriched uranium in bid to grow domestic nuclear supply chain

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:37:18 GMT

DOE issues $2.7B RFP for low-enriched uranium in bid to grow domestic nuclear supply chain

Strengthening the nuclear sector, with a particular emphasis on the domestic supply chain, is essential for decarbonizing the U.S. energy sector, according to DOE officials last week.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) issued Thursday aims to boost safe and responsible uranium enrichment capacity in the U.S., diversify the market, and ensure a reliable supply of commercial nuclear fuel to support American energy security and resilience, independent of Russian influence, the DOE stated.

By developing domestic low-enriched uranium (LEU) capacity, the U.S. will secure sufficient fuel for its current nuclear fleet and the deployment of advanced reactors, the agency noted. The RFP seeks LEU from new domestic enrichment sources or expansions from existing producers, which the DOE will then sell to utilities operating reactors.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stated that the Biden administration is kickstarting uranium enrichment capacity in the U.S., which is vital for national security and the growth of the domestic nuclear industry. The RFP announcement emphasizes America's dedication to maintaining its global leadership in nuclear energy for future generations.

The RFP is financed by the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, which allocated funds for conventional and advanced U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities. These funds were made available through legislation banning Russian uranium imports, signed by Biden in May.

Additional efforts to expand the domestic nuclear sector are in progress.

In June, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to streamline the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s oversight of the existing U.S. nuclear reactor fleet, potentially accelerating the permitting and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act directs the NRC to update its mission statement to ensure that licensing and regulation of the civilian use of radioactive materials and nuclear energy are efficient and do not unnecessarily limit their use or societal benefits.

Advanced reactor licensing guidance issued by the NRC in March provides a pathway for new reactor technologies, experts say.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $18 Million to Support Clean Energy Projects in 24 States and Local Governments

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:21:23 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $18 Million to Support Clean Energy Projects in 24 States and Local Governments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $18.5 million to four states and 20 local governments for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program . These projects, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help advance state and local governments efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce climate pollution, and lower overall energy use.

“No one knows communities' energy improvement needs better than the state and local governments, and the Biden-Harris Administration is helping support these ongoing efforts for a clean energy future for all,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These investments from the EECBG Program put state and local governments in the driver’s seat to reduce emissions, increase climate resiliency, and strengthen communities for generations to come.”

This is the seventh tranche of formula awards granted to EECBG Program eligible entities. Since the first awards were announced in October 2023, the program has awarded nearly $150 million to 175 communities. Overall, the program provides more than $430 million in formula grant funding to 2,708 states, territories, local governments, and Tribes. Entities have the option to choose activities from 14 eligible categories of clean energy projects and programs that fulfill their clean energy objectives. This program also advances the President’s Justice40 Initiative that sets a goal to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Governments receiving awards this month will use program funds to conduct energy assessments and efficiency upgrades at community centers and schools, install solar panels on municipal facilities, develop climate and energy plans, advance local recycling initiatives, launch building electrification campaigns for individual households, and more.

California will advance statewide public and private building decarbonization through the new Local Government Building Decarbonization Challenge (LGBDC). Buildings represent a quarter of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. Local action in this sector is essential to meeting the state’s goal to reduce emissions 85% by 2045 from 1990 levels. Through LGBDC, local governments can pursue diverse projects, such as building decarbonization planning, developing stronger building energy codes, and creating energy efficiency and electrification workforce development programs. Communities can also form a consortium to tackle regional decarbonization goals. The state will prioritize funding for projects that provide tangible benefits to households that are overburdened by climate pollution. (Award amount: $4,522,300)

Cobb County, GA will purchase equipment to support the construction of a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) facility. This recycling drop-off facility aims to improve environmental health by diverting waste and other hard-to-recycle items from landfills and water systems. The county will also develop a Sustainability Action Plan to identify opportunities and risks related to decarbonization and other sustainability concepts. Remaining funds will be used to replace 11 outdated public electric vehicle chargers with more efficient models and purchase an additional seven solar-powered off-grid charging stations to support the county’s fleet electrification efforts. These latter two activities will follow EECBG Program Blueprints 4A: Electric Vehicles and Fleet Electrification and 4B. EV Charging Infrastructure for the Community . (Award amount: $557,290)

Dane County, WI will launch a building electrification campaign to help disadvantaged communities access incentives for energy efficiency upgrades and home electrification. First, the county will fund and train staff members at three community-based organizations to act as navigators for state and federal incentives for home electrification. The organizations will then leverage their networks to engage approximately 300 disadvantaged households and facilitate participation in energy efficiency and electrification programs. Weaving together key activities from EECBG Program Blueprint 2C: Building Electrification Campaign and Blueprint 6: Workforce Development, this campaign aims to reduce energy burdens for households that need it most while simultaneously boosting clean energy industry knowledge within the local workforce. (Award amount: $266,890)

New Hampshire will create the Municipal Solar Grant Program for small and disadvantaged local governments to purchase and install solar photovoltaic panels for municipal facilities. The program will offer competitive grants to small towns and counties for solar projects that do not exceed 60 kW and follow EECBG Program Blueprint 3A: Solar and Storage . The program will prioritize disadvantaged municipalities through a two-tiered grant system. In tier 1, over $1 million will be available for disadvantaged communities to directly purchase solar systems. Tier 2 will be open to all other municipalities. By encouraging direct ownership, the state aims to help local governments maximize energy savings, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower operating costs, and pass on the benefits of affordable solar energy to municipal taxpayers. (Award amount: $1,641,260)

Pennsylvania will establish the Municipal Opportunities for Retrofits and Energy Efficiency (MORE) Program, which will help local governments access capital for impactful, long-term clean energy and energy efficiency projects via direct grants and loans. With MORE Grants, disadvantaged and financially distressed local governments can pursue energy assessments and project design to develop their MORE Loan application. Municipalities can then stretch EECBG Program dollars further and access MORE Loans for capital-intensive retrofits and renewable energy projects. Local governments can also use their MORE Grant to buy-down the interest rate when borrowing a MORE Loan, further promoting equitable access to financing. The program will advance Pennsylvania’s goal to reduce emissions 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels. MORE Loans will be augmented with funds Pennsylvania received from the DOE Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program . (Award amount: $3,021,720)

Philadelphia, PA will conduct four activities to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. First, the city will design a Cool Roofs Program to help protect residents from extreme heat and reduce energy costs. The city will build out the program by testing a pilot in one heat-island affected community and by conducting research and stakeholder interviews with other cities with similar initiatives. Second, Philadelphia will develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the city’s building decarbonization workforce. Third, the city will partner with trusted grassroots organizations to promote public education on energy efficiency and clean energy technologies in energy-burdened communities. This initiative will certify “Energy Ambassadors” to engage youth and utilize a Mobile Energy Center to reach vulnerable residents. Fourth, the city will enhance building energy management in over 200 School District of Philadelphia buildings. Energy management enhancements will support utility management, renewable electricity sourcing, and improved data management to identify potential projects and track savings. (Award amount: $1,316,810)

Prince George’s County, MD will advance its Climate Action Plan through two activities. First, the county will develop a residential rooftop solar incentive program that provides rebates ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to 30 households. To ensure these funds reach residents that have historically lacked access to solar energy systems, the county will create a targeted outreach and marketing campaign. Second, the county will benchmark 40 county buildings and complete investment grade energy assessments on priority facilities using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager online tool. This project will follow key activities from EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Energy Audits and Building Upgrades. (Award amount: $681,220)

San Antonio, TX will launch three initiatives for improving the energy efficiency of transportation across the city. First, the city will provide $1,000 point-of-sale rebates to 170 low-income residents to purchase e-bikes at local bike stores. Second, they will also develop an Energy Master Plan for the San Antonio International Airport. Finally, San Antonio’s housing authority will install EV chargers at six multifamily buildings in disadvantaged communities, increasing equitable access to electric vehicles. The EV charging program will follow EECBG Program Blueprint 4B: EV Charging Infrastructure for the Community . (Award amount: $1,220,460)

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

DOE Releases First-Ever Roadmap to Accelerate Connecting More Clean Energy Projects to the Nation's Electric Grid

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 13:59:04 GMT

DOE Releases First-Ever Roadmap to Accelerate Connecting More Clean Energy Projects to the Nation's Electric Grid

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a new roadmap outlining solutions to speed up the interconnection of clean energy onto the nation’s transmission grid and clear the existing backlog of solar, wind, and battery projects seeking to be built. The Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, developed by DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X), serves as a guide for transmission providers, interconnection customers, state agencies, federal regulators, transmission owners, load serving entities (LSEs), equipment manufacturers, consumer advocates, equity and energy justice communities, advocacy groups, consultants, and the research community, which includes DOE. The roadmap sets aggressive success targets for interconnection improvement by 2030 and outlines tools that will improve the process for connecting more clean energy projects to a reliable grid, while helping achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.

“Clearing the backlog of nearly 12,000 solar, wind, and storage projects waiting to connect to the grid is essential to deploying clean electricity to more Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Through the i2X program, the Biden-Harris Administration is accelerating the interconnection process by ensuring all stakeholders have better access to data and improved standards and procedures as we seek to develop and maintain a more efficient, reliable and clean grid.”

According to a report recently released by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , nearly 2,600 gigawatts of generation and storage capacity are actively seeking grid interconnection, which represents an eight-fold increase since 2014. The high volume of projects and inadequate existing procedures for interconnection has led to uncertainties, delays, inequities, and added costs for developers, consumers, utilities, and their regulators.

The i2X roadmap provides a broad range of stakeholders such as transmission providers, state agencies, federal regulators, equipment manufacturers, and other actors with a set of 35 solutions organized around increasing data access, transparency, and security for interconnection; improving interconnection process and timeline; promoting economic efficiency in interconnection; and maintaining a reliable, resilient, and secure grid. The roadmap includes four target metrics for interconnection reform including shorter interconnection times, lower interconnection cost variance, increased completion rates, and zero disturbance events attributed to modeling.

Over the past two years of developing the roadmap, DOE collected ideas and potential solutions through a series of stakeholder workshops and virtual meetings, along with a request for information published in October 2023 to solicit public feedback and comments on a draft version of the document.

The solutions in the final roadmap include:

Improving the scope, accessibility, quality, and standardization of data on projects already in interconnection queues
Creating new and better use of existing fast-track options for interconnection, such as surplus interconnection service, generation replacement service, and energy-only interconnection service
Adopting and implementing a harmonized and comprehensive set of generation interconnection requirements or standards
Exploring and evaluating potential options for delinking the interconnection process and network upgrade investments to increase up-front interconnection cost certainty.

DOE Support to Implement Solutions

DOE has multiple roles in implementing the solutions identified in the roadmap, such as facilitating solution adoption, providing funding and technical assistance, and supporting the research community. DOE’s Grid Deployment Office invests in accelerating interconnection of clean energy generation through the $5 billion Grid Innovation Program , which supports deployment of projects that use innovative approaches to enhance grid resilience and reliability. DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office and Wind Energy Technologies Office recently released a $10 million funding opportunity for analytical tools and approaches to accelerate interconnection and will be leading a series of forthcoming public forums aimed at implementation of interconnection standards to maintain a reliable, resilient, and safe grid.

Through the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program , the Loan Programs Office seeks to finance energy infrastructure projects, including transmission infrastructure investments to support transmission interconnection, reconductoring transmission lines, and upgrading voltage. DOE also supports electric vehicle charging deployment through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office). The Joint Office is convening stakeholders to identify gaps that currently exist between transmission and transportation planning to accelerate the development of transmission within transportation rights-of-way.

DOE launched i2X in June 2022 with funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to enable simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources while enhancing the reliability, resilience, and security of the electric grid. Since the launch, DOE has convened hundreds of stakeholders including utilities, grid operators, state and local governments, energy justice groups, non-profits, industry, and others for meetings that covered key issues, including queue management, grid engineering practices, data transparency, equity and energy justice, workforce, cost allocation, and electric vehicle charging.

DOE expects to release a draft companion roadmap that focuses on the distribution grid in the coming months. DOE and the Joint Office recently announced their intention to fund a $6.5 million program for distribution utilities to pilot innovative solutions for managing renewable energy interconnection and electric vehicle charging equipment service load request and energization queue.

Life Cycle Review Shows Shrinking Environmental Footprint of Plastics Production

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:35:09 GMT

Life Cycle Review Shows Shrinking Environmental Footprint of Plastics Production

WASHINGTON, DC (December 7, 2023) – A recent report analyzing data from 2005 to 2017 highlights a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and energy consumption in the production of plastic resins. Despite the growing demand for plastics in automobiles, construction, packaging, and various consumer goods, the plastics manufacturing sector has achieved a notable decrease in its global warming potential. The report, titled “A Decreasing Footprint: A Review of Resin Life Cycle Assessments,” is the second in a series of three assessments and focuses on three thermoplastics (HIPS, GPPS, and ABS) commonly used in automotive, construction, protective packaging, and household products.

Key findings from the report over the past decade include:

A reduction in the environmental footprint of three common thermoplastics, evidenced by decreased GHGs, energy usage, and global warming potential (GWP). Specifically, GHG emissions dropped by 13% per kilogram of resin produced, equivalent to removing 440,000 cars from the road for one year, which is comparable to all car owners in Delaware not driving for a year.
Continued decreases in GHGs are anticipated as production increasingly utilizes lower carbon fuel sources, including renewable energy.
Ongoing reductions in energy use are expected due to improvements in the efficiency of resin production and its precursors. The first report in the series, which examined LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, and PP, revealed even more promising results, with production increases for these plastics accompanied by significant GHG reductions, comparable to taking 1 million cars off the road for a year.

Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers®, commented, “Plastics provide a dual benefit as we move toward a lower carbon future. They often have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to many common alternatives."

DC Circuit rejects stay request, paving way for EPA to implement power plant carbon rule

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:25:14 GMT

DC Circuit rejects stay request, paving way for EPA to implement power plant carbon rule

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), representing consumer-owned electric companies serving approximately 40 million customers, has taken legal action against a newly finalized power plant regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On Monday, the NRECA filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking an immediate stay on the rule, citing concerns over potential "immense, immediate, and irreparable harms" to both customers and the nation's electric grid.

Joining the NRECA, a coalition of states also filed a motion on Monday to stay the rule. The contested regulation, finalized by the EPA in April, mandates that starting in 2032, baseload coal and gas power plants must limit their emissions to levels achievable through carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies operating at 90% efficiency.

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson criticized the rule, arguing that it imposes unrealistic and financially burdensome requirements on power plants. "No power plant has ever achieved a 90% reduction in carbon emissions due to carbon capture sequestration," Matheson stated on Tuesday. He emphasized that the technology required to meet these standards has not yet been proven effective on a commercial scale.

Compliance with the EPA’s rule would necessitate significant financial investments from the affected facilities. The NRECA contends that the costs involved in upgrading plants to meet the 90% CCS efficiency target could run into billions of dollars, posing a substantial economic strain on the electric cooperatives and their customers.

The NRECA’s legal challenge underscores the broader debate over the feasibility and economic impact of stringent environmental regulations. As the case progresses, it will likely serve as a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding the balance between environmental protection and economic sustainability in the energy sector.

Source: Utility Dive

DOE awards $1.7B conditional loan guarantee to Plug Power to build 6 clean hydrogen factories

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:39:13 GMT

DOE awards $1.7B conditional loan guarantee to Plug Power to build 6 clean hydrogen factories

According to Wolak, clean hydrogen might be on the verge of becoming widely accepted. Tuesday's announcement was followed by his statement. The recent $1.66 billion grant to Plug Power, while the largest, is just one among several awards from the DOE for hydrogen production, as Wolak pointed out. Monolith, another hydrogen manufacturer, secured a $1.04 billion commitment from the DOE for constructing a facility that will use renewable energy to extract hydrogen and carbon from natural gas for various uses. Additionally, the DOE granted a $504.4 million loan guarantee for the Aces Delta project, which aims to produce hydrogen using renewable energy for the Intermountain Power Agency’s hydrogen-capable combined cycle natural gas power plant.

Wolak emphasized that these commitments demonstrate significant investment potential in the U.S. and the Loan Programs Office's interest in supporting the U.S. hydrogen industry, aligning with the Biden Administration's goals for clean hydrogen advancement.

Plug Power intends to primarily sell hydrogen from its six-plant expansion to its own clients in material handling, transportation, and industrial sectors. These include companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot, which utilize hydrogen-fueled vehicles in their operations.

Although the term sheet with the DOE doesn't specify the projects to be financed, Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh indicated that the focus is on financing "Project Limestone," a liquid hydrogen generation plant in Graham, Texas.

Plug Power already operates a significant hydrogen production facility in Woodbine, Georgia, considered the largest proton exchange membrane electrolyzer system in the U.S. The company manufactures its electrolyzers in Rochester, New York, and has its hydrogen liquefaction and storage systems in Houston.

The DOE estimates that each of the six new hydrogen plants could generate 50 full-time jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 84% compared to conventional hydrogen production methods.

Source: Utility Dive

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $6 Billion to Transform America's Industrial Sector, Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing, and Slash Planet-Warming Emissions

Fri, 31 May 2024 16:38:59 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $6 Billion to Transform America's Industrial Sector, Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing, and Slash Planet-Warming Emissions

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $6 billion for 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, support good-paying union jobs, revitalize industrial communities, and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness. Funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the projects will create and maintain tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and help accelerate the commercial-scale demonstration of emerging industrial decarbonization technologies crucial to meeting the Biden-Harris administration's climate and domestic manufacturing goals.

The projects will focus on the highest emitting industries where decarbonization technologies will have the greatest impact, including aluminum and other metals, cement and concrete, chemicals and refining, iron and steel, and more. Together, the projects are expected to reduce the equivalent of more than 14 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year—an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 3 million gasoline-powered cars. Many of the projects will deploy first-in-the-nation emissions-reducing technologies that have the potential for sector-wide adoption and transformation, multiplying the magnitude of the emissions cuts and supporting the future of U.S. manufacturing. Today’s announcement is the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in American history, helping to position American manufacturers and workers to lead the global clean energy economy.

“Spurring on the next generation of decarbonization technologies in key industries like steel, paper, concrete, and glass will keep America the most competitive nation on Earth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s industrial strategy, DOE is making the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in the history of the United States. These investments will slash emissions from these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and ensure American businesses and American workers remain at the forefront of the global economy.”

This transformative federal investment will help strengthen local economies and create and maintain tens of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs—particularly those that support worker organizing and collective bargaining. As part of President Biden’s efforts to build an equitable and inclusive clean energy future, each project is also expected to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan that ensures meaningful community and labor engagement. Nearly 80% of the projects are located in a disadvantaged community, as defined by President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative , offering a significant opportunity to invest in good jobs and clean air in communities that have experienced years of divestment.

The industrial sector contributes nearly one-third of the nation’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. This transformative federal investment is matched by the selected projects to leverage more than $20 billion in total to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonization solutions needed to move the industrial sector toward net-zero emissions. Funded projects will cut carbon emissions by an average of 77%. The industrial sector’s unique and complex decarbonization challenges require equally unique and innovative decarbonization solutions that leverage multiple pathways including energy efficiency, electrification, and alternative fuels and feedstocks such as clean hydrogen. The projects announced today are part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program , managed by DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), and will help strengthen America’s manufacturing and industrial competitiveness. Funding for these projects includes $489 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $5.47 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Decarbonizing Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries

The 33 projects selected for award negotiations represent difficult-to-decarbonize industries, including seven chemicals and refining projects, six cement and concrete projects, six iron and steel projects, five aluminum and metals projects, three food and beverage projects, three glass projects, two process heat-focused projects, and one pulp and paper project.

An overview of selected projects broken down by industry include:

Chemicals and Refining : The seven selected chemicals and refining projects demonstrate how one of the world’s largest industries can turn its carbon intensity from a liability into an advantage, increase circularity, and onshore critical supply chains for clean fuels and key electric vehicle components. These projects plan to demonstrate opportunities to upcycle captured carbon to value-added products, create high-quality fuels and materials from recycled products, and replace fossil-fired, high-heat processes with decarbonized fuels. Together, the seven projects would create products like clean fuels for the marine sector, electrolytes for electric vehicle batteries, and high-quality plastics.
Cement and Concrete : The six selected cement and concrete projects plan to demonstrate a comprehensive set of technologies capable of eliminating all CO2 emissions from today’s plants while setting the stage for a future where cement—one of the single largest sources of CO2 emissions globally—can be net-negative. These game-changing projects will revolutionize a sector that has relied on emissions-intensive processes for millennia. From capturing and sequestering the emissions from one of the largest cement plants in the U.S. to pioneering chemistry changes to mitigate emissions at their source, DOE’s investments can fundamentally transform cement—the world’s most abundant man-made material and a building block of our world’s infrastructure. Together, the projects will develop new pathways for making traditional Portland cement with lower or zero emissions and to pioneer new materials and new mixtures that can drive the sector to zero emissions.
Iron and Steel : The six selected iron and steel projects plan to demonstrate emerging technologies, including some of the world’s first clean hydrogen-fueled direct reduced ironmaking facilities, which can eliminate the vast majority of steelmaking emissions. The projects will help decarbonize iron and steelmaking and enable the industry to phase out more traditional carbon-intensive production methods that rely on coal. This investment is expected to help create products like high grades of steel for the automotive industry, while solidifying the nation’s position as the global leader in low-carbon iron and steel products.
Aluminum and Metals : The five selected aluminum and metals projects include a major capital injection to decarbonize and revitalize the U.S. primary aluminum industry along with world-leading recycling approaches for both aluminum and copper. After decades of decline, these investments lay the groundwork for a potential rebound of this critical sector. These investments aim to improve U.S. industry’s competitiveness and efficiency while simultaneously decarbonizing and onshoring supply chains for materials critical for defense and energy sectors. In addition to the high-purity aluminum needed for the defense and energy sectors, the selections include projects that would create recycled aluminum for the food and beverage industry and copper for semiconductors and electric vehicles.
Food and Beverage : The three selected food and beverage projects will demonstrate highly replicable energy efficiency and electrification solutions for low- to medium-temperature process heat across 16 locations. These projects can increase consumer awareness around embodied emissions by decarbonizing products that Americans consume every day like ice cream, ketchup, and BBQ sauce.
Glass : The three selected glass projects plan to validate electric/fuel hybrid furnaces producing low-emission glass bottles, tableware, and food packaging. This suite of projects will help decarbonize high-temperature heat and set a roadmap for other heat-intensive industrial processes.
Process Heat : These two projects plan to validate the use of electric boilers and electric steam production to reduce emissions associated with process heating across a wide range of industries. By demonstrating applicability across sectors, these projects will chart a path for addressing one of the biggest challenges in the industrial sector—heat-related emissions.
Pulp and Paper : The one selected pulp and paper project aims to improve energy efficiency by using a novel membrane for an important separations process instead of heat. This technology is highly replicable for many applications, including chemicals and critical materials.

Laying the Foundation of an Inclusive Clean Energy Future

The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to working in partnership with communities and industries to build an equitable clean energy economy that benefits every American. As part of the Administration’s commitments to invest in America’s workforce, support high-quality American jobs, advance environmental and energy justice, and strengthen tribal energy sovereignty, each project was required to develop and ultimately implement a comprehensive community benefits plan —which will be informed by early and meaningful community and labor engagements in each region. Applicants were required to describe how their proposals would provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people in a facility’s location, recognizing the opportunity this funding provides to address pollution for those disproportionately affected by industrial sector emissions and begin remediating existing social, economic, and health burdens.

To kickstart ongoing engagement around these projects, OCED will hold a series of national and regional virtual briefings to provide information on the selected projects, introduce OCED’s approach to clean energy demonstrations, and provide opportunities for industry and communities to engage further on specific projects of interest.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the selected applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. Lead applicants also may change during the award negotiations process. If awarded, OCED will evaluate these projects through a phased approach to project management that includes “go/no-go” decision points between each project phase where DOE reviews and evaluates implementation progress, including community benefits.

Rules for the 45V Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

Fri, 10 May 2024 20:22:33 GMT

Rules for the 45V Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

The Biden Administration is determined to usher in a future powered by clean energy, and enhancing domestic hydrogen production is crucial for achieving this goal. However, despite bipartisan backing for increased investment in hydrogen, proposed guidelines unveiled by the U.S. Treasury Department in December have jeopardized the emerging green hydrogen industry.

These draft regulations for the 45V clean hydrogen tax credit are poised to impede progress rather than facilitate it, contradicting the intent of the Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to promote domestic hydrogen production.

Instead of removing obstacles to production, the current draft of 45V would impose limitations on the types, locations, and timing of clean energy usage through concepts like temporal matching, additionality, and deliverability.

Temporal matching, for instance, mandates that electricity used for hydrogen production must be generated at the same time, potentially inflating hydrogen production costs by up to 175%. Additionality requires clean hydrogen production to exclusively rely on new renewable power sources, even if surplus sources are available, further raising costs and delaying projects.

Industry response to these draft regulations has been swift and overwhelmingly negative, with concerns that they will stifle growth rather than foster it.

The ambitious goal of increasing hydrogen production in the U.S. has garnered support from various federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, which aims to significantly reduce clean hydrogen production costs and create thousands of new jobs by 2030.

Despite calls for rules that are practical for the hydrogen industry and bipartisan support for getting hydrogen production right, the proposed guidelines could hinder hydrogen initiatives by increasing production costs and delaying projects.

The current draft guidelines threaten to disrupt potential clean energy job opportunities and benefits for frontline communities, jeopardizing bipartisan Administration-backed programs such as the designated regional clean hydrogen production hubs.

However, there is still hope, as concerns regarding the eligibility requirements for the 45V tax credit will be addressed at a public hearing in Washington D.C.

Fortescue remains optimistic about the potential market for green hydrogen in the U.S., evidenced by their commitment to projects in Arizona and the establishment of offices in Colorado and soon Michigan. However, the current guidelines for the 45V tax credit could significantly impede their efforts and those of other green hydrogen producers before they even commence operations.

Source: Utility Dive by Andy Vesey

DOE estimates US can nearly double energy derived from waste in new report

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:02:00 GMT

DOE estimates US can nearly double energy derived from waste in new report

A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy analyzing U.S. renewable carbon resources found that the country could use about half of the total waste produced annually for bioenergy in a medium-term market development scenario. The report estimates that in such a scenario, about 217 million dry tons more per year could be used to create bioenergy out of a total 450 million dry tons of waste produced annually. Currently about 37 million dry tons are used to create bioenergy annually.

The report notes that portions of the waste sector have already become commoditized, as with paper, paperboard and plastics, and thus have a more readily understandable value in the context of the broader biomass market. Waste products are also concentrated in population centers, making their transport to facilities that can process biomass more straightforward.

But the report notes that commiditizing other wastes, like yard waste, could introduce a complicated pricing dynamic where demand for the material shifts it from something viewed as a liability by companies today into an asset to sell, thus increasing the price.

Source: Utility Dive

Simulating the Fourth State of Matter to Harness Fusion

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:11:18 GMT

Simulating the Fourth State of Matter to Harness Fusion

As you gaze into the night sky, stars look like tiny, glowing pinpricks shining through the dark. But inside those stars, reactions occur that produce staggering amounts of energy. All stars – including our sun – produce energy through a powerful reaction called fusion. Here on Earth, scientists supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) are working to harness this reaction for energy production. If we could produce energy from fusion, it would provide a reliable source of power that neither creates greenhouse gases nor long-lived radioactive waste.

Fusion occurs when two nuclei combine to create a new nucleus. The new nucleus is heavier than either of the original nuclei, but lighter than their mass combined. That difference in mass becomes energy – a lot of energy.

To produce fusion reactions on Earth, we need to create and maintain a plasma hot enough for this reaction to occur. Called the “fourth state of matter,” plasma forms when a gas gets so hot that the electrons separate from the nuclei of an atom. Plasma is made of these super-heated ions and electrons. In fusion devices, it exists in an ultra-hot blob-like form.

Using existing technology, we can start a fusion reaction. However, we can’t maintain the reaction long enough to produce and harness energy from it. In the future, scientists want to improve their control over the process well enough so the reaction can be self-sustaining.

One of the most promising technologies is a device called a tokamak. Tokamaks use magnetic fields to contain and control donut-shaped plasmas. The edge of the plasma is particularly important for maintaining its heat. Unfortunately, the plasma’s swirling turbulence on that edge causes a loss of particles and energy. That loss of energy lowers the plasma’s temperature and makes it impossible to maintain the fusion reaction.

But there is a potential mode that the tokamak can run in to avoid some of this problem. It’s called high-confinement mode, or H-mode for short. In H-mode, the edge of the plasma forms a narrow area where the turbulence is much lower. Because the plasma is less turbulent, it creates a big difference in temperature and density between the plasma’s edge and core. The core’s temperature and density go up, which could enable a self-sustaining fusion reaction.

To design devices to consistently reach this mode, scientists need a strong understanding of the physics at the plasma’s edge. In particular, they want to know how both the ions and the electrons move in that section. While the movement of the ions greatly affects the plasma flow in the core of the plasma, it’s different on the edge. There, the amount of energy the electrons move can be the same as or bigger than the amount the ions transport. If scientists can understand the movement of both, they have a chance of creating the relevant conditions inside fusion devices.

Until recently, it was impossible to simulate the movement of both the ions and electrons on a computer. The hydrogen ions move more slowly and over larger areas than the electrons. The electrons are 1,800 times lighter than the hydrogen ions. Combining the two into one simulation was just too complicated. As a result, previous simulations only focused on how the ions moved.

Thankfully, improvements in computer technology and investments from DOE in high-performance computing allowed scientists to expand their understanding. Researchers at General Atomics and the University of California San Diego used a supercomputer at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (a DOE Office of Science user facility) to create a new simulation. This simulation showed the movement and interactions of both the ions and electrons on multiple scales. They used real-life conditions and data from the DIII-D fusion device (also a DOE Office of Science user facility) to develop and test the simulation. It was so complicated that it took more than 50 hours to run on one of the most powerful computers in the world!

Using this simulation, the scientists showed how important tracking the interactions of both the ions and electrons together was. They found that the turbulence over multiple scales – the larger scale of the ions and the smaller one of the electrons – results in most of the loss of heat at the edge. In fact, in some places inside the edge, the turbulence caused by the movement of electrons can be the main driver of heat loss.

This knowledge will help scientists develop better fusion devices in the future. Each piece of knowledge we gain can improve the performance of next-generation reactors and build the scientific foundation for a clean energy future that includes fusion.

Wriiten by: Shannon Brescher Shea

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

After slight rise in 2023, methane emissions from fossil fuels are set to go into decline soon

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:32:54 GMT

After slight rise in 2023, methane emissions from fossil fuels are set to go into decline soon.

Fresh analysis from the IEA indicates that if current methane reduction commitments are fully enacted, the majority of necessary emissions cuts by the end of the decade to meet the 1.5°C target could be achieved, though not all. Despite methane emissions from the energy sector remaining high, recent policy announcements and pledges following COP28 offer hope for a decline.

The latest Global Methane Tracker update highlights that fossil fuel activities generated approximately 120 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2023, with another 10 million tonnes from bioenergy. The top 10 emitting countries contributed significantly, with the US, Russia, and China leading in various sectors. Satellite data reveal a notable increase in fossil fuel leaks, emphasizing the urgency to address methane emissions to meet climate goals. To limit warming, a 75% reduction in fossil fuel methane emissions by 2030 is essential, with recent momentum indicating potential progress.

However, while pledges from countries and companies could cut emissions by 50% by 2030, implementation plans are lacking. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, underscores the importance of reducing emissions for climate mitigation and air quality improvement. Efforts are cost-effective, with substantial avoided emissions possible at minimal net cost. Advanced satellite technologies enhance detection capabilities, addressing data gaps. Discrepancies in reported emissions highlight the need for improved monitoring and transparency.

DOE Releases Report Outlining How America Can Sustainably Produce More Than One Billion Tons of Biomass Per Year

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:12:01 GMT

DOE Releases Report Outlining How America Can Sustainably Produce More Than One Billion Tons of Biomass Per Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released the 2023 Billion-Ton Report (BT23), which shows that the U.S. could sustainably triple its production of biomass to more than 1 billion tons per year. The report—the fourth in a series of assessments of potential biomass resources in the United States since 2005—finds that 1 billion tons of biomass could satisfy over 100% of the projected demand for airplane fuel in the country, allowing the U.S. to fully decarbonize the aviation industry with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Advancing clean energy solutions like biomass is critical to reaching long-term national decarbonization objectives and a key component of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to deliver new economic opportunities across the nation while tackling the climate crisis.

“President Biden is dedicated to building a thriving bioeconomy that benefits all Americans and ensures everyone from farmers and scientists to healthcare professionals and engineers can play a leading role in our clean energy future,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Billion-Ton Report shows that America is poised to lead the world in the emerging renewable biomass industry—unlocking exciting economic opportunities for agricultural and rural communities and helping advance the sustainable fuels we need to cut harmful emissions and deliver healthier communities across the nation.”

The decarbonization of America’s transportation and industrial sectors depends on a significant increase in the production of renewable biomass for use in liquid fuel, bio-based chemicals, and other products. Highlights from the report include:

The U.S. currently uses about 342 million tons of biomass, including corn grain for ethanol and wood/wood waste for heat and power, to meet roughly 5% of America’s annual energy demand
The U.S. can triple the production of biomass, producing an estimated 60 billion gallons of low greenhouse gas liquid fuels, while still meeting the projected demand for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products, and exports
Currently available but unused biomass resources can add around 350 million tons of additional biomass per year above current uses and double the U.S. bioeconomy
Biomass resources, like energy crops, in a future mature market can provide more than 400 million tons of biomass per year above current uses
Further technological innovations could lead to evolving and emerging resources that represent additional biomass potential
The analysis ensures sustainable outcomes by accounting for potential risks to soil, air and water quality, water availability, and the imperative to protect America’s forests and biodiversity

The BT23 report analyzes the biomass production capacity of approximately sixty resources, several of which have never before been the subject of a DOE Billion-Ton assessment. These include winter oilseed crops, trees and brush harvested from forests to prevent wildfires, macroalgae such as seaweed cultivated in ocean farms, and carbon dioxide from industrial plants. The report finds that the wide dispersion and variety of these resources will ensure that the benefits of expanded biomass production extend to both rural and urban areas.

Expanding the domestic production of sustainable biomass supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and strengthening U.S. international leadership in clean energy. It also supports the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, which aims to reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from SAF by 50% compared to conventional fuel, and the Clean Fuels & Products Energy Earthshot™, which aims to decarbonize the fuel and chemical industry through alternative sources of carbon.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $72 Million in Largest Single Investment to Support America’s Hydropower Facilities

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:17:48 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $72 Million in Largest Single Investment to Support America’s Hydropower Facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  In support of the President Biden’s Investing in America agenda , the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 46 hydroelectric projects across 19 states to receive up to $71.5 million in incentive payments to increase the generation efficiency of the Nation’s existing hydropower fleet. Administered by the Grid Deployment Office and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentive payments represent DOE’s largest investment in hydroelectric facilities to date.

“Hydropower is the nation’s prototype of renewable power playing an important role in deploying affordable and reliable electricity across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to the President’s Investing in America agenda we are maintaining and expanding our hydropower fleets, helping reduce costs of operation and ensuring American workers continue to drive the nation’s clean energy transition.”

Hydropower is an essential component in helping achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious clean energy goals. Today’s incentive program received robust industry interest, with applications requesting a total of $192 million in federal support. Using all available funding directed to the incentive, the selected improvements are anticipated to generate $468 million in combined federal and private investment. With an average selectee facility age of 75 years, these upgrades will contribute to the continued operation and longevity of hydroelectric assets.

Hydropower currently accounts for 27% of renewable electricity generation in the United States, as well as 93% of all utility-scale energy storage capacity. In addition to renewable electric generation, the U.S. hydroelectric fleet and their associated reservoirs play an important role with respect to water supply, flood control, and recreation. More efficient use of water for electric generation can only enhance the fleets’ ability to more effectively manage the nation’s waters.

Investments under the Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives will support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system. The owners or operators of hydroelectric facilities, including pumped storage hydropower, receiving the efficiency incentives announced today will make capital improvements that improve their facility’s efficiency by an average of 14% with a statutory minimum of 3% improvement per facility. Investments include upgrades to facility turbines and generators, as well as improvements to water conveyance structures, to increase efficiency.

The Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives are one of three incentive offerings funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to maintain and enhance existing hydroelectric facilities and ensure generators continue to provide clean, renewable electricity, while improving dam safety and reducing environmental impacts. Other program offerings include Hydroelectric Production Incentives provided to qualified hydroelectric facilities for electricity generated and sold and Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives provided to existing hydroelectric facilities for capital improvements directly related to grid resiliency, dam safety, and environmental improvements.

RFS Set Rule Implementation Webinar

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 19:46:54 GMT

RFS Set Rule Implementation Webinar

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a public webinar to address the Biogas Regulatory Reform Rule (BRRR) within the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Scheduled for April 4, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the webinar aims to discuss the BRRR provisions outlined in the Renewable Fuel Standard final rule for 2023–2025, known as the "Set Rule." These provisions cover aspects such as registration, reporting, and updated regulations concerning the production, distribution, and utilization of biogas as a renewable fuel.

During the webinar, the EPA plans to cover several key points related to the BRRR program, including:

The timeline for implementing BRRR.
An overview of the BRRR program's implementation.
Registration on the EPA Central Data Exchange for biogas producers, renewable natural gas producers, RNG RIN separators, and necessary associations.
Alternative measurement protocols

This is a great information webinar that we will be attending!

RFS Set Rule Implementation Webinar

Unpacking the misconceptions surrounding the DOE's LNG update

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 14:44:43 GMT

Unpacking the misconceptions surrounding the DOE's LNG update

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for assessing if domestic natural gas can be authorized for export as liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries.

To make that determination, the DOE evaluates and analyzes a range of factors related to economics, national security, market and environmental data to determine whether that LNG export request is in the “public interest.”

Recently, the DOE announced it would be pausing review of pending export applications while it updated its economic and environmental analysis that underpin this review. The last time these were formally updated were in 2018 and 2019, respectively. At that time, U.S. LNG export capacity was less than 4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Today, that capacity has more than tripled, and the U.S. is the world’s largest LNG exporter with capacity set to nearly double by 2030 because of additional projects currently under construction. Cumulative approved exports are at 48 Bcf/d, over three times our current export capacity.

A lot has changed since 2018. Americans should have the latest understanding of what higher exports mean for our economy, our security, and our health before U.S. energy leaves our shores.

Since the announcement, there has been a lot of noise about what this decision means. To correct the record, DOE is shedding light on the facts and dispelling common misconceptions.

Myth: The Biden Administration is banning LNG exports in its war against fossil fuels

Reality: The temporary pause in reviewing new non-FTA export applications. It will not affect operating LNG facilities or additional already authorized LNG exports. It will not disrupt projects under construction.

Before issuing any new LNG export decisions, DOE is embarking on a transparent process to ensure we are using the most up-to-date economic and environmental analyses to determine whether additional approvals of LNG exports to non-FTA countries are in the “public interest.”

The Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly stated that the future is in clean energy and our transition to clean energy will be a managed transition, one that will help ensure American families and businesses can reliably and affordably keep the lights on, but no reason to do business as usual. We’re updating our analysis to adapt to market dynamics. Supply and demand are shifting rapidly at home and around the world. The U.S. should know how its resources are and will be utilized, and what the need will be as countries around the world commit to reducing emissions and their use of fossil fuels.

Myth: These actions empower our enemies and harm our allies.

Reality : This action will not affect already authorized or operating export capacity, which currently totals 48Bcf/d, nearly half our total domestic natural gas production. It will also not impact our ability to supply our allies in Europe, Asia or other recipients of already authorized U.S. exports.

In 2022, when Russia waged its war of choice against Ukraine and used energy as a weapon to undermine European security, the U.S. and the European Commission formed a Joint Taskforce to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels organize its efforts around two primary goals: (1) Diversifying LNG supplies in alignment with climate objectives; (2) Reducing demand for natural gas.

In 2022 and 2023, over 60% of U.S. LNG exports went to Europe in 2022 and 2023 and the U.S. has worked with the E.U. to successfully economize consumption and manage its storage to ensure that unprovoked acts of aggression cannot threaten its supply.

The Department is committed to ensuring our partners’ energy security needs are met, and if needed, it can determine if exceptions should be made for immediate national security needs.

Myth : This action is only in response to climate activists

Reality: DOE last updated its economic and environmental assessments of U.S. LNG exports in 2018 and 2019. A lot has changed since then. U.S. LNG exports have more than tripled, making the United States the largest exporter of LNG. Further, we have authorized additional volumes representing well over three times today’s currently operating export capacity — in projects that are under construction or awaiting a final investment decision.

It is imperative to know what these greatly expanded exports mean for affordable and stable prices for American consumers and industries. But also what the CO2 and methane emissions related to the projects mean for the communities they operate in, where it’s produced and inevitably used.

Because LNG export facilities are huge infrastructure projects that will have impacts for decades, we must understand and evaluate the long-term effects on local communities and our global climate at-large.

We need to know what these expanded exports mean for available domestic consumption, for American industries, and household energy prices. By updating the analyses now, we’ll be better positioned to avoid export authorizations that diminish energy availability here at home, undermine our economy, and worsen the consequences of climate change.

Myth: This action will harm American jobs

Reality: The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to restoring and growing American jobs. This action will not disrupt projects under construction or those that may be planning construction in the coming years. To keep it simple, there will be no domestic jobs displaced as DOE takes the necessary steps to update its analysis with the best data to make public interest determinations.

Myth: This pause is going to increase prices at home for American consumers.

Reality: This action is actually meant to best inform how we can avoid a situation that leads to higher prices at home. There are no anticipated effects to domestic consumers as we update our analyses before making decision on additional U.S. LNG export requests. A lot has changed since DOE did a complete analysis of the economic impacts of U.S. LNG exports in 2018 as our export capacity has more than tripled and is set to nearly double again by the end of this decade.

To best inform our public interest determinations, our updated economic analysis aims to ensure that we are accurately capturing the full economic impacts of LNG exports to all American households and businesses. For example, the Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s 2023 long-term outlook found that as the U.S. exports more LNG, global and domestic prices converge and that “higher LNG exports create a tighter domestic natural gas market (all else held equal), increasing domestic natural gas prices.” Updating our analysis using the latest data will help mitigate risks of future decisions that could cause domestic consumers and manufacturers to face higher energy prices.

Myth: This decision is bad for the climate

Reality: Across the globe there is an unprecedented build-out of clean energy and increased climate commitments by our allies. In addition, the most recent International Energy Agency (IEA) reference scenario shows global demand for natural gas peaking this decade. Given this increased deployment of clean energy that is in turn driving updated estimates of fossil fuel demand and usage over time, it is imperative that our analysis for public interest determinations accurately reflects the latest economic, demand and security landscape.

Ultimately, this action is a recognition that LNG exports result in greenhouse gas emissions – CO2 and methane – and we must have the best information to fully understand and evaluate its effects on communities at home and examine the role of natural gas and LNG in a net zero economy.

U.S. Department of Energy Establishing National Center of Excellence to Accelerate Domestic Offshore Wind Industry

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:24:21 GMT

U.S. Department of Energy Establishing National Center of Excellence to Accelerate Domestic Offshore Wind Industry

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it is investing $4.75 million to establish a new national center of excellence to accelerate reliable and equitable offshore wind energy deployment across the nation. The Academic Center for Reliability and Resilience of Offshore Wind (ARROW), led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst with approximately 40 partners, will focus on workforce development, targeted research, and partnerships and strategies to embed equity in offshore wind development. This academic and training hub, which includes partners across the United States, will help drive progress toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, 100% clean electricity grid by 2035, and net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.

“Offshore wind can play a major role in decarbonizing the U.S. electric grid, and meeting its potential will require skilled workers to propel us forward,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “This consortium will provide timely and relevant training and education to help foster the domestic offshore wind workforce of tomorrow and secure a clean energy future for all Americans.”

As offshore wind energy development grows there will be an increasing demand for workers across a broad range of disciplines. The selected ARROW consortium, funded by DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office , will provide inter-disciplinary educational opportunities to help advance the next generation of offshore wind workers.

Media Inquiries:

ARROW comprises of eight universities, three national laboratories, two state-level energy offices, and many industry and stakeholder groups. It is designed to foster and support a diverse, enduring offshore workforce that is domestically educated while ensuring reliable, resilient, equitable, low-cost, and rapid deployment of offshore wind energy.

To accomplish these goals, ARROW will support three programs.

ARROW-Empower will focus on an enduring and comprehensive educational scale-up for offshore wind, advancing the education of 1,000 students over the initial 5-year life of the center.
ARROW-Innovate will conduct research on infrastructure, atmospheric and ocean conditions, and marine and human ecology to advance the resiliency of offshore wind.
Arrow-Engage will connect with communities across the country and help ensure benefits from offshore wind are spread equitably, while also helping to grow a diverse domestic workforce.

This consortium includes Clemson University, Morgan State University, Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Argonne National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and the Maryland Energy Administration. Over 20 other organizations, including developers, conservation organizations, offshore wind manufacturers, a grid operator, community representatives, trade associations, standards organizations, and others, are also anticipated to serve as partners.

Plastics Industry Highlights Opportunities to Remake Durable Goods at End-of-Life

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:41:12 GMT

Plastic Industry Highlights Opportunities to Remake Durable Goods at End-of-Life

Nearly 60% of the plastic produced in North America stays within the region for use in durable goods. However, to move towards a circular economy where plastics are reused rather than discarded, it's crucial to find effective end-of-life solutions for these materials.

The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Plastics Division has released a roadmap aimed at guiding policymakers, business leaders, and the public on adopting more sustainable practices for handling durable goods at the end of their life cycle. This roadmap focuses on five key sectors: automotive, building and construction, electronics, infrastructure, and medical.

Input from over 100 participants from various sectors helped shape the recommendations outlined in the roadmap. According to Gina Oliver, senior director at ACC, there's a growing demand for circular and sustainable business practices. The roadmap provides guidance for creating conditions conducive to adopting more sustainable approaches, which not only benefits businesses by reducing costs but also helps in conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.

Key themes highlighted in the roadmap include the necessity of designing products and their components for easy disassembly, separation, repair, and recycling. Additionally, advanced recycling methods are emphasized, as they can handle a broader range of plastics compared to traditional mechanical recycling.

Standards, methods, and certification programs are deemed essential to facilitate the transition towards a more circular economy for plastics, ensuring that durable products are designed with recycling in mind. Moreover, the roadmap underscores the importance of initiating pilot programs to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of separating, sorting, and recycling durable plastics at the end of their life cycle, similar to the partnership between ACC and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Source: American Chemistry

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $3.5 Billion to Strengthen Domestic Battery Manufacturing

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 21:14:35 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $3.5 Billion to Strengthen Domestic Battery Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, two years after President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3.5 billion from the Infrastructure Law to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials nationwide. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the funding will create new, retrofitted, and expanded domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery precursor materials, battery components, and cell and pack manufacturing, all of which are critical to supporting clean energy industries of the future, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles. This investment, which includes a focus on retaining and creating good-paying union jobs in the manufacturing workforce, is administered by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). It supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to reach a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, for electric vehicles to make up half of all new light-duty vehicle sales by 2030, and to build a domestic supply chain.

“Positioning the United States front and center to meet the growing demand for advanced batteries is how we boost our global competitiveness, maintain and create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our clean energy economy” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s historic investments are giving the boost needed to build a robust domestic battery supply chain that is Made-in-America.”

Batteries are a critical part of the transition to a clean energy economy. This transition is lowering energy costs to American families and businesses and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Batteries are also critical to national competitiveness–for grid storage, for the resilience of homes and businesses, and for electrification of the transportation sector. With the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary storage alone projected to increase the size of the lithium battery market by five- to ten-fold by the end of the decade, it is essential that the United States invests in the capacity to accelerate the development of a resilient supply chain for high-capacity batteries, including non-lithium batteries.

This funding opportunity is the second phase of $6 billion in total provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the first phase, DOE awarded fifteen projects that are catalyzing over $5.8 billion in public/private investment. This second phase will boost domestic battery manufacturing and supply chains to effectively support the clean energy transition including by:

Ensuring that the United States has a competitive battery materials processing industry to supply the North American battery supply chain.
Expanding the capabilities of the United States in advanced battery manufacturing.
Enhancing national security by reducing the reliance of the United States on critical minerals, battery materials, components, and technologies from foreign entities of concern.
Advancing the domestic processing capacity of minerals necessary for battery materials and advanced batteries.
Support the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to underserved and overburdened communities (in accordance with the Justice40 Initiative).
Provide workforce opportunities to low- and moderate-income communities.

This second phase prioritizes delivering strong benefits for American workers. The funding opportunity will promote collective bargaining agreements and/or projects that create a high-quality, high-wage hourly production workforce through the community benefits plans.

In this funding opportunity, DOE is prioritizing next-generation technologies and battery chemistries, in addition to lithium-based technologies. Other new focus areas include precursor production and manufacturing for specialized, non-light duty markets. DOE is also calling for projects that will increase separation of battery-grade critical materials, expand production facilities for cathode and anode materials production, and expand battery component manufacturing facilities (i.e., projects that will attract further investment into topic areas solicited in the program’s first phase).

The topic areas of focus for future iterations of this program will be updated approximately every six months to account for market and technology evolution, and investment selections will be made in consecutive rounds.

Researchers Investigate Advanced Energy Storage Solutions

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:32:10 GMT

Researchers Investigate Advanced Energy Storage Solutions

Polymer-air batteries encounter challenges related to stability, kinetics, and conductivity. Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus has devised a method to utilize a polymer as the anode in these batteries. In a recent Joule article, she, along with Dr. Abdoulaye Djire, elucidated how these polymers store and exchange charge with the electrolyte.

The cathode reacts with oxygen to complete the circuit, and a conjugated polymer with a rigid backbone structure is specifically chosen for the anode. This design renders the polymer both conductive and stable, facilitating reversible reactions essential for repeated charging and discharging.

Despite the advantages of aqueous polymer-air batteries, such as enhanced safety, cost reduction, higher ionic conductivity, and sustainability, their electrochemical performance is limited. To address this, researchers have explored alternative polymer anodes with benefits like low cost, easy functionalization, and high stability.

The battery's rigid ladder structure, fast kinetics, and high electrical conductivity enable it to undergo 500 cycles with minimal performance loss. The article also reveals a real-time charge transfer mechanism, demonstrating a rapid hydronium ion charge compensation process.

Metal-air batteries boast higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries due to the oxygen cathode. However, using metal anodes in air batteries presents challenges like stability, cost, and environmental impact. Issues such as dendrites, passivation, and corrosion on the metal anode lead to low utilization and inferior cycling stability.

Dr. Lutkenhaus emphasizes that polymer-air batteries offer an alternative for energy storage, providing high capacity and a long cycle life. The extended cycle life implies that batteries can be used for a more extended period before requiring recharge or replacement. Air-based batteries are promising for high-energy applications due to their lower mass, but the generation of carbonate deposits in long-term operation can be mitigated by using a polymer as an electrode and altering the electrolyte.

By Raven Wuebker

U.S. Department of Energy Top Clean Energy Accomplishments in 2023

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:51:34 GMT

U.S. Department of Energy Top Clean Energy Accomplishments in 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) made monumental strides in advancing the clean energy goals of the Biden-Harris Administration. Through hundreds of funding announcements to make clean energy more accessible in every state, investments in scientific research, historic groundbreakings, and celebratory ribbon cuttings, DOE has been hard at work to combat the climate crisis, lower costs for American families, and pave a path for our clean energy future.

Here are a few of our top accomplishments of 2023:

Launching America’s First Clean Hydrogen Hubs: In October, DOE announced $7 billion in investments to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation and accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen—a valuable energy product that can be produced with zero or near-zero carbon emissions and is crucial to meeting the President’s climate and energy security goals. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the seven H2Hubs will kickstart a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure while supporting the production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean hydrogen. This transformative Federal investment will be matched by recipients to leverage a total of nearly $50 billion to strengthen local economies, create and maintain high-quality jobs—especially those that support worker organizing and collective bargaining—and slash harmful emissions that jeopardize public health and pollute local ecosystems. The states selected are West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, and Montana.

Making Historic Investments in the Grid: This year, DOE made the largest federal investment in the grid in history. Through more than $8 billion in grid investments including $3.5 billion to modernize and strengthen the grid through the Grid Resilience Innovation Partnership (GRIP) Program, $1.3 billion in transmission investments through the Transmission Facilitation Program that aims to add 3.5 GW of additional grid capacity and create more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs, over $750 million in formula grants to states, tribes, and territories to boost grid resilience, and $37 million in hydropower incentives. These investments will help to ensure that the families can keep their lights on during and after extreme weather, wildfire, and natural disasters.

Strengthening Commitment to Puerto Rico: From January through November, Secretary Granholm set out on a Community Engagement Tour, a series of town-hall style events coordinated with Hispanic Federation where residents and community members voiced the unique needs and priorities of their communities. During the Tour, Secretary Granholm visited nearly 20 communities in Puerto Rico, speaking to homeowners and community leaders about their clean energy needs. In July 2023, DOE announced the first funding opportunity under the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund for $450 million to support the installation of up to 40,000 residential solar and battery storage systems across Puerto Rico, with a focus on the most vulnerable households and communities.

Building a Convenient and Reliable National EV Charging Network: In December, Ohio and New York marked the first states in the nation to open electric vehicle (EV) charging stations funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. These new charging stations will fill gaps in charging, add capacity, and boost the reliability of our nation’s fast charging network. Other new charging station launches will follow in 2024, with stations already under construction in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. In May, DOE, through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, launched the National Charging Experience Consortium, a new effort led by DOE’s national laboratories works to rapidly develop solutions that ensure a reliable and frictionless charging experience for all Americans. The development and maintenance of a robust charging network will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in local communities, while public and private investments in EV charging infrastructure will catalyze technological innovation across multiple economic sectors.

Lowering Costs for Americans: The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG)—designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency—made substantial progress through EECBG’s formula grant program, making $550 million available to more than 2,700 eligible states, local governments, territories, and Tribes. In addition, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Retrofit and Readiness team had a busy year in 2023, reviewing and approving over 160 State Plans and deploying $3.17 billion in WAP funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In October 2023, DOE announced the launch of the Affordable Home Energy Shot™, a new initiative focused on the research, development, and demonstration of clean energy solutions to decarbonize and deliver energy and cost savings for affordable homes. The Shot will reduce the cost of energy-efficient retrofits in affordable homes by 50% and decrease residents’ energy costs by at least 20% within a decade.

Prioritizing Environmental Justice: In October, DOE reached a significant milestone in its journey toward achieving a just and equitable energy economy—changing the name of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity to the Office of Energy Justice and Equity to better reflect DOE’s commitment to energy justice and tackling the climate crisis through equity-centered solutions. This year, DOE, along with the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, launched the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, which received more than 46,000 applications in its first month. This program, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, addresses the need to expand access to cost-saving clean energy projects in underserved communities through a groundbreaking tax incentive for solar and wind projects across the country. DOE also invested over $75 million in Tribal communities across the nation, including Tribal Colleges and Universities, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities, to expand their access to clean energy technologies, reduce and stabilize energy costs, and improve Tribal energy sovereignty.

Training the Next Generation of the Clean Energy Workforce: In June, DOE announced a $13.5 million investment, primarily funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in 12 training partnerships to expand the solar energy workforce in underserved and underrepresented communities, as well as create career pathways with thousands of good-paying jobs. DOE also released $220 million for grants to support the training of a qualified and diverse clean energy workforce through programs including $150 million from the State- Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training formula program prepares local and regional clean energy workforce professionals to decarbonize residential buildings through energy efficiency solutions and $40 million from the Energy Auditor Training Program which trains individuals to conduct energy audits of commercial and residential buildings to save customers money on their energy bills, and reduce pollution from building energy use. In conjunction with National Apprenticeship week, DOE also announced over $40 million for Industrial Assessment Centers and Building Training and Assessment Centers to expand training opportunities for in-demand, high-quality jobs while identifying opportunities for organizations to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste.

Accelerating Domestic Manufacturing and Boosting Our Supply Chain: As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE has been committed to supercharging domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electrical grid and for materials and components currently imported from other countries. This year DOE made countless investments in our domestic supply chain including $5.5 billion to boost domestic production of advanced batteries, battery materials, and electrified vehicles; over $13 billion in Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program conditional commitments to support the advanced technology vehicles supply chain; $169 million to accelerate electric heat pump manufacturing at 15 sites across the country; and over $390 million to expand solar, wind, and vehicle technology domestic manufacturing.

Leading in Scientific Advancements: As the world enters a new era of technology, DOE emerged as a key government player by launching a new departmental element, the Office of Critical and Emerging Technology (CET), to ensure U.S. investments in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, quantum computing, and semiconductors leverage the Department’s wide range of assets and expertise to accelerate progress in these critical sectors. DOE also enabled an AI non-production workspace known as the Discovery Zone. The Generative AI Discovery Zone is a sandbox environment to provide DOE AI researchers and developers a platform to experiment with Google’s Generative AI tools using public data. In November, DOE’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) team, led by researchers and computational scientists across eight DOE national laboratories, broke new barriers with The Simple Cloud-Resolving E3SM Atmosphere Model Running on the Frontier Exascale System (SCREAM) which performed an unprecedented global climate model simulation on the world’s first exascale supercomputer, Frontier. This year the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Lab not only replicated but exceeded its groundbreaking fusion ignition of December 2022, when it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.

Keeping DOE-Owned Lands Clean: In July, DOE announced the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, an innovative effort to repurpose parts of DOE-owned lands—portions of which were previously used in the nation’s nuclear weapons program—into the sites of clean-energy generation. Cleanup to Clean Energy will help achieve President Biden’s ambitious climate goals and the directive in Executive Order 14057 for agencies to use their properties for the development of new clean electricity generation.

Polyurethane Products: Helping Enable a Sustainable, Energy Efficient, and Climate-Neutral Future

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:46:30 GMT

Polyurethane Products: Helping Enable a Sustainable, Energy Efficient, and Climate-Neutral Future

Polyurethane chemistry has a unique set of qualities that allow these materials to be used by formulators in a variety of applications to improve our everyday lives. These applications include energy, infrastructure, and developing sustainable cities. For example, buildings equipped with spray polyurethane foam (SPF) and vehicles made lighter with polyurethane foam and adhesives utilize less energy and thus reduce carbon emissions, helping create a less carbon-dependent society and supporting the fight against climate change and ozone depletion. With its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, insulation and air sealing properties, durability, and versatility, polyurethanes help conserve natural resources and preserve the environment by reducing energy usage.

Through these benefits, polyurethanes can help with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 7 of “Affordable and Clean Energy,” SDG 9 of “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” and SDG 11 of “Sustainable Cities and Communities.”

Polyurethanes Help Increase Access to Clean Energy and Reduce GHG Emissions

Sustainable Development Goal 7 aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” Polyurethanes can help decrease energy costs by tightening up the building envelope and have been designed to work with cleaner energy alternatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One example is how polyurethanes are used in building and construction applications. Building and construction accounted for nearly 44% of polyurethane consumption in the United States in 2021, making it the largest end-use market for polyurethanes materials. Gaps, holes, cracks, and air leaks in buildings can make energy bills unnecessarily high and let valuable resources go to waste. As much as 40% of a building’s energy is lost due to air infiltration. SPF offers a solution: it performs as both insulation and an air sealant, or air barrier, closing those nooks and crannies that let air escape and add extra cost to monthly energy bills. SPF also provides a moisture barrier without the need for any additional products.

Sealing buildings with SPF can reduce energy bills by up to 30%. Insulating and air sealing with spray foam reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a home, thus reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and driving down utility bills. Analysis shows that spray foam products outperform other insulation and air sealing products for up to 67 years, continuing to save energy and reduce GHG emissions year over year.

Another example in renewable energy production is how polyurethane resins are used in wind turbine blade production. Their superior mechanical properties, fatigue resistance, workability, and compatibility with fiberglass, make them a solid choice for lighter and longer blade designs. Their low viscosity can enable a faster infusion than other thermoset resins during wind blade production. In addition, polyurethanes systems have been evaluated as low-cost, encapsulant material for solar panels due to their highly effective oxygen and moisture barrier properties as well as their excellent adhesion at the interface with the photovoltaic cells.

Polyurethanes Help Increase Racking Strength of Infrastructure

Sustainable Development Goal 9’s focus is to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.” Polyurethane foam can help increase racking strength – the ability to resist heavy winds and storms – of buildings, creating stronger homes with a longer, more sustainable lifespan.

SPF is the only building product that can insulate, seal, and provide a moisture barrier without the need for any other products. The foaming effect helps “seal” the building not only to keep conditioned air inside the building, but also to prevent corroding elements, such as snow, water, and dirt from impacting and deteriorating the structure. Sealing attics with SPF can help prevent embers from entering the attic during wildfire events, preventing further loss of property.

For example, a SPF roofing system can have a lifespan that can exceed 30 years. Applying closed-cell spray foam in the cavities of the walls increases durability of the wall system because of the foam’s ability to conform and adhere to the surface upon which it is sprayed. A wall with spray foam insulation has a higher racking strength, or ability to maintain its shape under duress, compared to a wall assembly without spray foam.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, energy-efficient buildings allow residents to shelter in place longer and reduce annual energy spending and overall net emissions. Energy-efficient buildings can help vulnerable populations avoid dangerous and occasionally life-threatening situations in which weather and economics could present a dual threat.

Polyurethanes Help Increase Energy Efficiency and Resiliency

Sustainable Development Goal 11 strives to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Polyurethane foam can help increase energy efficiency in buildings and transportation, contributing to more sustainable communities.

Rigid polyurethane and polyiso foams are made with a remarkably strong, yet lightweight, low-density structure that is both dimensionally stable and moisture-resistant with low vapor transmission. The qualities of rigid polyurethane and polyiso foam reduce energy transfer, resist moisture, maintain dimensional stability and seal against air drafts. The environmental benefits of rigid polyurethane foam include increased energy efficiency, fewer construction materials and reduced project weight.

Polyiso laminate boardstock, for example, is one of the most popular insulations used in conventional roofs. It is used primarily in roofing and wall insulation and accounts for the majority of total rigid polyurethane foam in construction applications.

Polyurethanes have been a material of choice when it comes to comfort, durability and lightweighting of vehicles and play a key role in making our transportation vehicles more sustainable. A smooth ride, void of excessive noise and vibration has been made possible through the use of polyurethanes materials in applications such as chassis, seatings, headliners and trunk floors. In addition to comfort, the lightweighting properties of these parts enable higher fuel efficiency for vehicles contributing to a lower carbon footprint during their lifecycle. Polyurethane materials are also expected to help enable the transition from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle (EV).

One of the main areas of concern for electric vehicles is how far you can travel before you have to recharge – and at the heart of the EV revolution is the battery system. By replacing common materials such as steel with aluminum or polyurethane, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can reduce the weight of electric cars, allowing them to travel longer distances per charge. In addition, EV batteries are more resilient and able to last longer by isolating shock and vibration with polyurethane-based foam.

Polyurethanes’ qualities help make it an important component in energy efficiency, resilient infrastructure, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Access to clean energy, robust infrastructure, and innovation all contribute to developing sustainable cities and communities.

Written by Ian Choiniere

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Strengthen Clean Energy Supply Chains and Accelerate Manufacturing in Energy and Industrial Communities

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 20:55:50 GMT

Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda will Boost U.S. Manufacturing, Strengthen Domestic Clean Energy Supply Chains, and Revitalize Energy Communities, Creating Nearly 1,500 High-Quality Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $275 million for seven projects to strengthen clean energy supply chains and accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in seven states across the nation. Each project positions the U.S. to enhance its global competitiveness and national security by building domestic supply chains for existing and emerging technologies, built with American labor and materials. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these projects will leverage over $600 million in private sector investments into small- and medium-sized manufacturers and create nearly 1,500 high-quality, good-paying jobs in cutting edge technologies. The portfolio of projects will address critical clean energy supply chain vulnerabilities by supporting key materials and components for energy storage for grid and transportation uses, wind energy, and energy efficient solutions for buildings. In addition to co-location with energy communities, the majority of selected projects will be in or adjacent to disadvantaged communities, supporting the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ensure every community is included in our clean energy future.

The global market for clean energy and carbon reduction technologies is anticipated to reach a minimum of $23 trillion by 2030, and the President’s Investing in America agenda is helping ensure the nation’s energy communities take part in this massive economic opportunity. The U.S. economy grew at the fastest pace in nearly 40 years in recent years, and manufacturing as a share of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) returned to pre-pandemic levels. The project selections announced today will strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains by making them more resilient, robust, and cost-competitive.

The selected projects with small and medium-sized manufactures will build up the production of technologies, such as insulated windows essential in large building retrofits, wind turbines, materials for grid components and critical battery materials, to reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen national defense and energy independence, and mitigate the climate crisis. The seven projects selected for negotiation of award focus on manufacturing products and materials that address multiple needs in the domestic clean energy supply chain.

The lead organizations are listed below along with their proposed project locations.

Alpen High-Performance Products, Inc., will retrofit existing facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, for production of ultra-thin, triple and quad-pane insulated glass units (IGUS) for windows. These retrofitted facilities will the first of their kind in the U.S.
Boston Metal will build a new facility in Weirton, West Virginia, to manufacture ultrapure chromium metal and high temperature alloys that are critical materials needed for clean power, fuel cells and green steel supply chains.
Carter Wind Turbines, LLC, a family-owned company will build a new facility in Vernon, Texas, to scale production of mid-sized turbines and improve wind energy access for remote, rural locations, and rugged terrains.
CorePower Magnetics, Inc., will retrofit an existing facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for melting and casting of advanced magnetic amorphous alloys for grid components.
FastCAP Systems d/b/a Nanoramic Laboratories, will build a new facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery electrodes for grid storage.
LuxWall Inc will build a new facility in Detroit, Michigan, to manufacture vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window units, one of the highest energy efficient return-on-investment (ROI) options used to retrofit buildings.
MP Assets Corporation will build a project in Virginia, to manufacture lithium-ion battery separators important for electric vehicle supply chains.

MESC leads several of DOE’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, including the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Program. Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. DOE anticipates moving quickly on another investment round in the U.S. advanced energy manufacturing sector to continue accelerating domestic clean energy manufacturing.

Texas voters approve $10B energy fund, with most going to build gas-fired power plants

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 14:43:50 GMT

Texas voters approve $10B energy fund, with most going to build gas-fired power plants

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The fund will be administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, with $7.2 billion allocated for new construction or upgrades of dispatchable power generation.

Dive Breif:

By about a two-thirds margin , voters in the Lone Star State on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a new $10 billion Texas Energy Fund to provide low-interest loans to build gas-fired power plants, develop microgrids and modernize portions of the state’s electric grid.
Supporters of the fund say new power generation is needed to maintain electric reliability and support the state’s expanding economy. There are about 1,000 people a day moving into the state and “ growing infrastructure is essential ,” the Texas Oil & Gas Association, or TXOGA, said in a statement following the vote.
Opponents of Proposition 7 say it amounts to a giveaway to fossil fuel power plant developers at a time when Texas should be investing more in energy efficiency. There are also concerns the measure leaves the Public Utility Commission of Texas to make difficult judgments about the viability of l oans.

Dive Insight:

The Texas Senate in April approved a $10 billion “energy insurance program” that aimed to improve grid reliability through development of 10,000 MW of new gas-fired generation. That measure did not find support in the House, however, leading to the proposal voters approved yesterday.

The Texas Energy Fund will be administered by the PUCT, with a total pot of $7.2 billion available to support any new construction or upgrade that results in at least 100 MW of dispatchable generation coming online and interconnecting to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid before June 1, 2029.

Another $1.8 billion will support the development of microgrids and backup power for critical facilities across the state, and $1 billion will go to grid modernization, weatherization and other efforts in the non-ERCOT portions of Texas.

Texans approved 13 of 14 constitutional amendments on Tuesday, including billions in funding for broadband and water infrastructure. The Texas Energy Fund will “strengthen the reliability of our electric grid by ensuring it performs no matter the weather as well as increase the supply of electricity by encouraging additional generation,” TXOGA said.

Texas Sen. Charles Schwertner, R, who proposed the constitutional amendment, said the fund “will strengthen electric generation facilities by modernizing and enhancing their resilience to continue operations, even in the face of extreme weather conditions.”

PUCT staff has been working since the summer to prepare for implementation of the energy fund, according to commission Executive Director Thomas Gleeson.

“With voter approval of the fund, we will push forward developing the program and design transparent processes to ensure the administration of the [Texas Energy Fund] is timely, fiscally responsible, and effective,” he said. The fund “is another vital tool to ensure the reliability and resiliency of the Texas electric grid.”

Texas has been working to bolster its electric grid since Winter Storm Uri in 2021 resulted in widespread blackouts and led to the death of almost 250 people in the state. Regulators spent much of 2022 considering market enhancements and incentives for power generation facilities.

The Texas Energy Fund is a “very significant step” in developing new power plants, according to Vinson & Elkins counsel Winston Skinner.

The PUCT “will have significant discretion in prioritizing projects and setting performance standards developers must meet to receive money for these new facilities,” Skinner said.

But not everyone has confidence in the state’s regulators to oversee the fund.

Stoic Energy President Doug Lewin, who writes the closely-watched “Texas Energy and Power Newsletter,” said he had planned on voting against creation of the energy fund “mostly because I don’t think the Public Utility Commission of Texas can become a bank the way Prop. 7 envisions. The PUC has no expertise gauging default risk.”

Source: Utility Dive

Urgent action to cut methane emissions from fossil fuel operations essential to achieve global climate targets

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:56:00 GMT

Urgent action to cut methane emissions from fossil fuel operations essential to achieve global climate targets

Decisive, far-reaching efforts to cut methane emissions from fossil fuel production and use must go hand-in-hand with decarbonization of energy systems to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

The Imperative of Cutting Methane from Fossil Fuels, released today, builds on findings from the IEA’s recently updated net zero pathway to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. It shows that while a drop in fossil fuel demand would cut methane emissions, these reductions by themselves would not occur fast enough to meet the world’s climate goals. Additional targeted actions to tackle methane emissions from fossil fuel production and use – such as by eliminating routine venting and flaring and repairing leaks – are essential to limit warming to 1.5 °C and reduce the risk of crossing irreversible climate tipping points.

The new report finds that rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels could avoid up to 0.1 °C in global temperature rise by mid-century – greater than the emissions impact of immediately taking all cars and trucks in the world off the road.

As methane emissions lead to ground-level ozone pollution, immediate action would also deliver public health, food security and economic benefits. Based on modelling of the UNEP/CCAC Global Methane Assessment published in 2021 – which, for the first time, assessed and integrated the climate and air pollution costs and benefits from methane mitigation – methane action would prevent nearly 1 million premature deaths due to ozone exposure, 90 million tonnes of crop losses due to ozone and climate changes, and about 85 billion hours of lost labour due to extreme heat by 2050. This would generate roughly USD 260 billion in direct economic benefits through 2050. The Global Methane Assessment formed the scientific underpinning of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) by illustrating that there are readily available measures to achieve its goals.

The report was launched at MENA Climate Week 2023, a forum for leaders to discuss climate and energy issues in the Middle East and North Africa during the Global Stocktake process. This process will culminate at the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution; it is the second largest contributor to global warming after CO2. More than half of global emissions stem from human activities in three sectors: agriculture, waste and fossil fuels.

Under current trajectories, total methane emissions from human activities could rise by up to 13% between 2020 and 2030. In a scenario that limits warming to 1.5 °C, they need to fall by 30% to 60% over this timeframe. Cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuel operations will likely need to provide around half of this reduction.

More than three-quarters of methane emissions from oil and gas operations and half of emissions from coal can be abated with existing technology, often at low cost.

Tackling methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Around USD 75 billion in spending is required to 2030 to deploy all methane abatement measures in the oil and gas sector in the IEA’s net zero scenario, the report finds. This is equivalent to less than 2% of the income generated by the oil and gas industry in 2022.

Researchers develop new metal-free, recyclable polypeptide battery that degrades on demand

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:33:39 GMT

Researchers develop new metal-free, recyclable polypeptide battery that degrades on demand

The advent of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has sparked a technological revolution with significant advancements in consumer products across various industries. Battery-powered devices have proliferated worldwide, but this widespread technology availability has given rise to critical ethical and environmental concerns associated with Li-ion battery usage.

Presently, Li-ion batteries rely heavily on cobalt, a resource frequently extracted through exploitative child labor practices and in hazardous work environments, as documented in numerous international cases. Furthermore, the recycling rate for Li-ion batteries is extremely low, further exacerbating the demand for cobalt and other crucial elements.

A collaborative team of researchers from Texas A&M University has achieved a significant breakthrough that could potentially reduce the dependence on cobalt in battery production. This innovative battery technology platform employs a construction based on polypeptide organic radicals.

The all-polypeptide organic radical battery, made up of redox-active amino-acid macromolecules, not only mitigates the cobalt issue but also addresses the challenge of recyclability. The components of this novel battery platform can be intentionally broken down in acidic conditions to yield amino acids, other fundamental building blocks, and degradation byproducts, marking a major advancement in this research.

President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Drives $50 Billion in Public-Private Sector Investment to Jumpstart America’s Clean Hydrogen Economy

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:10:37 GMT

President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Drives $50 Billion in Public-Private Sector Investment to Jumpstart America’s Clean Hydrogen Economy; Seven Clean Hydrogen Hubs Will Create Tens of Thousands of High-Quality Jobs, Strengthen the Nation’s Energy Security, and Combat the Climate Crisis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $7 billion to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation and accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen—a valuable energy product that can be produced with zero or near-zero carbon emissions and is crucial to meeting the President’s climate and energy security goals. This historic milestone is part of the third installment of the Investing in America tour, during which President Biden and Secretary Granholm will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to announce this unprecedented investment in American manufacturing and jobs.

Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the seven H2Hubs will kickstart a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure while supporting the production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean hydrogen. The H2Hubs are expected to collectively produce three million metric tons of hydrogen annually, reaching nearly a third of the 2030 U.S. production target and lowering emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industrial sectors that represent 30 percent of total U.S. carbon emissions. Together, they will also reduce 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from end-uses each year—an amount roughly equivalent to combined annual emissions of 5.5 million gasoline-powered cars—and create and retain tens of thousands of good-paying jobs across the country while supporting healthier communities.

Today’s announcement is one of the largest investments in clean manufacturing and jobs in history. This transformative Federal investment will be matched by recipients to leverage a total of nearly $50 billion to strengthen local economies, create and maintain high-quality jobs—especially those that support worker organizing and collective bargaining—and slash harmful emissions that jeopardize public health and pollute local ecosystems. In addition to positioning America to be a global leader in emerging clean energy industries, the H2Hubs will implement comprehensive local benefits and workforce proposals to support the President’s vision of an equitable and inclusive clean energy future.

“Unlocking the full potential of hydrogen—a versatile fuel that can be made from almost any energy resource in virtually every part of the country—is crucial to achieving President Biden’s goal of American industry powered by American clean energy, ensuring less volatility and more affordable energy options for American families and businesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With this historic investment, the Biden-Harris Administration is laying the foundation for a new, American-led industry that will propel the global clean energy transition while creating high quality jobs and delivering healthier communities in every pocket of the nation.”

Clean hydrogen is a flexible energy carrier that can be produced from a diverse mix of domestic clean energy resources, including renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with safe and responsible carbon capture. Its unique characteristics will allow the H2Hubs to substantially reduce harmful emissions from some of the most energy-intensive sectors of the economy, such as chemical and industrial processes and heavy-duty transportation, while creating new economic opportunities across the country. It could also be used as a form of long-duration energy storage to support the expansion of renewable power. By enabling the development of diverse, domestic clean energy pathways across multiple sectors of the economy, clean hydrogen will strengthen American energy independence and accelerate the American manufacturing boom that has already created more than 815,000 jobs since President Biden took office.

Selected projects for negotiation include:

Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2); West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania) — The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub will leverage the region’s ample access to low-cost natural gas to produce low-cost clean hydrogen and permanently store the associated carbon emissions. The strategic location of this H2Hub and the development of hydrogen pipelines, multiple hydrogen fueling stations, and permanent CO2 storage also have the potential to drive down the cost of hydrogen distribution and storage. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub is anticipated to bring quality job opportunities to workers in coal communities and create more than 21,000 direct jobs—including more than 18,000 in construction and more than 3,000 permanent jobs, helping ensure the Appalachian community benefits from the development and operation of the Hub. (Amount: up to $925 million)
California Hydrogen Hub (Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES); California) — The California Hydrogen Hub will leverage the Golden State’s leadership in clean energy technology to produce hydrogen exclusively from renewable energy and biomass. It will provide a blueprint for decarbonizing public transportation, heavy duty trucking, and port operations—key emissions drivers in the state and sources of air pollution that are among the hardest to decarbonize. This H2Hub has committed to requiring Project Labor Agreements for all projects connected to the hub, which will expand opportunities for disadvantaged communities and create an expected 220,000 direct jobs—130,000 in construction jobs and 90,000 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1.2 billion)
Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (HyVelocity H2Hub; Texas) — The Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub will be centered in the Houston region, the traditional energy capital of the United States. It will help kickstart the clean hydrogen economy with its plans for large-scale hydrogen production using both natural gas with carbon capture and renewables-powered electrolysis, leveraging the Gulf Coast region’s abundant renewable energy and natural gas supply to drive down the cost of hydrogen—a crucial step to achieving market liftoff. This H2Hub is expected to create approximately 45,000 direct jobs—35,000 in construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1.2 billion)
Heartland Hydrogen Hub (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota) — The Heartland Hydrogen Hub will leverage the region’s abundant energy resources to help decarbonize the agricultural sector’s production of fertilizer, decrease the regional cost of clean hydrogen, and advance the use of clean hydrogen in electric generation and for cold climate space heating. It also plans to offer unique opportunities of equity ownership to tribal communities through an equity partnership and to local farmers and farmer co-ops through a private sector partnership that will allow local farmers to receive more competitive pricing for clean fertilizer. The Heartland Hydrogen Hub anticipates creating upwards of 3,880 direct jobs–3,067 in construction jobs and 703 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $925 million)
Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub (Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2); Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey) — The Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub will help unlock hydrogen-driven decarbonization in the Mid-Atlantic while repurposing historic oil infrastructure and using existing rights-of-way. It plans to develop renewable hydrogen production facilities from renewable and nuclear electricity using both established and innovative electrolyzer technologies, where it can help reduce costs and drive further technology adoption. As part of its labor and workforce commitments to the community, the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub plans to negotiate Project Labor Agreements for all projects and provide close to $14 million for regional Workforce Development Boards that will serve as partners for community college training and pre-apprenticeships. This H2Hub anticipates creating 20,800 direct jobs—14,400 in construction jobs and 6,400 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $750 million)
Midwest Hydrogen Hub (Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2); Illinois, Indiana, Michigan) — Located in a key U.S. industrial and transportation corridor, the Midwest Hydrogen Hub will enable decarbonization through strategic hydrogen uses including steel and glass production, power generation, refining, heavy-duty transportation, and sustainable aviation fuel. This H2Hub plans to produce hydrogen by leveraging diverse and abundant energy sources, including renewable energy, natural gas, and low-cost nuclear energy. The Midwest Hydrogen Hub anticipates creating 13,600 direct jobs—12,100 in construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1 billion)
Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNW H2; Washington, Oregon, Montana) — The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub plans to leverage the region’s abundant renewable resources to produce clean hydrogen exclusively via electrolysis. Its anticipated widescale use of electrolyzers will play a key role in driving down electrolyzer costs, making the technology more accessible to other producers, and reducing the cost of hydrogen production. The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub has committed to negotiating Project Labor Agreements for all projects over $1 million and investing in joint labor-management/state-registered apprenticeship programs. This H2Hub is expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs—8,050 in construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1 billion)

ASU engineering team works to advance solid-state battery technology

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:04:59 GMT

ASU engineering team works to advance solid-state battery technology

Candace Chan, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., is working on two projects to help alleviate problems in applications that use lithium-ion batteries, such as electric vehicles. In these projects, she is investigating how to make solid-state batteries a viable solution for consumer applications.

Solid-state batteries differ from traditional battery chemistry due to the electrolytes used. An electrolyte is the material in a battery that transports ions between the cathode and anode sides, which are also known as electrodes.

The cathode stores lithium ions when charged, which then travel through the electrolyte into the anode, generating electricity in the process. The electricity is then sent to the device the battery powers.

A standard lithium-ion battery design uses a liquid electrolyte, while solid-state batteries use an electrolyte made from solid material. Chan’s group focuses on solid electrolytes made from ceramic materials.

“These solid electrolytes should ideally have the same properties as the liquid electrolyte to allow lithium-ion transport, but much better safety properties due to their increased thermal stability,” says Chan.

This increased stability in the electrolyte’s chemical structure also paves the way for the potential use of lithium metal in the anode section of a battery. This would increase the battery’s charging capacity, extending the driving range of electric vehicles.

“Currently, lithium metal anodes cannot be used in lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes,” she says. “This is because of the tendency of lithium metal filaments known as dendrites to grow inside the batteries, through the liquid electrolyte, and cause internal short circuits. The hope is that solid-state electrolytes can prevent dendrite formation and allow for the realization of these higher-energy-density batteries.”

The first project for Chan’s group aims to develop a solid-state lithium-sulfur battery, which has the potential for low-cost, safe, and high-capacity energy storage. The second project focuses on finding commercially viable manufacturing methods for solid-state batteries, aiming to create thinner and more durable materials in a faster and more cost-effective way.

Current manufacturing methods for solid-state batteries’ electrolytes use furnaces that take 12 hours to create brittle material the size of pennies. The material’s fragility results in a need for solid-state batteries’ electrolyte layers to be thick to bind the electrolyte material together. This slow process is not cost effective for commercial applications and hinders the uptake of solid-state batteries for consumer use.

The researchers are investigating a plasma treatment process typically used in solar panel manufacturing that takes less than 12 minutes, creates thinner, more durable material and doesn’t require a sealed chamber. This faster process replaces a furnace with an open-air plasma device that uses high amounts of energy to convert and treat materials.

If it works, it could create batteries that have a useful life of 10 years — three times that of current lithium-ion designs. The technology is still in its early stages and will take time to perfect.

Source: ASM International

Fusion power breakthrough successfully repeated

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 22:58:32 GMT

Fusion power breakthrough successfully repeated

For the second time, U.S. researchers have achieved net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction. The amazing feat, which uses lasers to fuse two atoms, brings investigators one step closer to discovering a near-limitless, safe, and clean source of energy.

Scientists at the California-based Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory repeated the breakthrough in an experiment in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) on July 30 that produced a higher energy yield than in December, a Lawrence Livermore spokesperson said. The final results are still being analyzed, the spokesperson added.

Nuclear fusion involves smashing together light elements such as hydrogen to form heavier elements, releasing a huge burst of energy in the process. The approach, which gives rise to the heat and light of the sun and other stars, has been hailed as having huge potential as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source.

On December 5, 2022, Lawrence Livermore first achieved a net energy gain in a fusion experiment using lasers. That experiment briefly achieved what’s known as fusion ignition by generating 3.15 megajoules of energy output after the laser delivered 2.05 megajoules to the target, the Energy Department said.

In other words, it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.

The U.S. Department of Energy called it “a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power.”

Fusion energy raises the prospect of plentiful clean power: the reactions release no greenhouse gases or radioactive waste byproducts. A single kilogram of fusion fuel, which is made up of heavy forms of hydrogen called deuterium and tritium, provides as much energy as 10 million kilograms of fossil fuel. But it has taken 70 years to reach this point.

Scientists cautioned that the technology is far from ready to turn into viable power plants—and is not about to solve the climate crisis—but have hailed the latest breakthroughs as evidence that the power of the stars can be harnessed on Earth.

Source: ASM International

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Up To $1.2 Billion For Nation’s First Direct Air Capture Demonstrations in Texas and Louisiana

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:52:30 GMT

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Up To $1.2 Billion For Nation’s First Direct Air Capture Demonstrations in Texas and Louisiana

WASHINGTON, D.C . — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $1.2 billion to advance the development of two commercial-scale direct air capture facilities in Texas and Louisiana. These projects—the first of this scale in the United States—represent the initial selections from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs program, which aims to kickstart a nationwide network of large-scale carbon removal sites to address legacy carbon dioxide pollution and complement rapid emissions reductions. These emissions are already in the atmosphere, fueling climate change and extreme weather and jeopardizing public health and ecosystems across the globe. The Hubs are expected to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement and contribute to the President’s Justice40 Initiative. Together, these projects are expected to remove more than 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year from the atmosphere—an amount equivalent to the annual emissions from roughly 445,000 gasoline-powered cars—and create 4,800 good-paying jobs in Texas and Louisiana.

Today’s announcement will be the world’s largest investment in engineered carbon removal in history and each Hub will eventually remove more than 250 times more carbon dioxide than the largest DAC facility currently operating. Their development will help inform future public and private sector investments and jumpstart a new industry critical to addressing the climate crisis on a global scale—highlighting how Bidenomics is driving a manufacturing boom that is delivering new economic opportunities, positioning America to be a global leader in the industries of the future, and accelerating efforts to meet the President’s goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.

“Cutting back on our carbon emissions alone won’t reverse the growing impacts of climate change; we also need to remove the CO2 that we’ve already put in the atmosphere—which nearly every climate model makes clear is essential to achieving a net-zero global economy by 2050,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With this once-in-a-generation investment made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE is laying the foundation for a direct air capture industry crucial to tackling climate change—transforming local economies and delivering healthier communities along the way.”

DAC is a process that separates CO2 from the air, helping to reduce legacy CO2 in the atmosphere. The separated CO2 can then be safely and permanently stored deep underground or converted into useful carbon-containing products like concrete that prevent its release back into the atmosphere. Widespread deployment of DAC and other innovative technologies that capture emissions are key to combatting the climate crisis and reinforcing America’s global competitiveness in the zero-carbon economy of the future. DOE estimates that reaching President Biden’s ambitious plan for a net-zero emissions economy will require that between 400 million and 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2 be removed from the atmosphere and captured from emissions sources annually by 2050. The two DAC Hubs selected for award negotiations today will help further demonstrate the ability to capture and store atmospheric CO2 at scale.

Selected projects include:

Project Cypress (Calcasieu Parish, LA): Battelle, in coordination with Climeworks Corporation and Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc., aims to capture more than 1 million metric tons of existing CO2 from the atmosphere each year and store it permanently deep underground. This hub intends to rely on Gulf Coast Sequestration for offtake and geologic storage of captured atmospheric CO2. The project is estimated to create approximately 2,300 jobs, with a goal to hire workers formerly employed by the fossil fuel industry for 10% of the overall workforce. Project Cypress will implement a robust two-way communication program with local communities and stakeholders to solicit input into the project while also generating new employment opportunities and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.

South Texas DAC Hub (Kleberg County, TX): 1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental, and its partners, Carbon Engineering Ltd. and Worley, seek to develop and demonstrate a DAC facility designed to remove up to 1 million metric tons of CO2 annually with an associated saline geologic CO2 storage site. The project is estimated to create approximately 2,500 jobs in construction, operations, and maintenance with existing agreements for local hiring. The selectees will also establish a Citizen Advisory Board to ensure meaningful community engagement.

DOE is dedicated to ensuring that the selected Regional DAC Hubs projects deliver community benefits and avoid harm in those communities while also advancing the development of carbon capture, transport, and storage systems. The Hubs are expected to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement and contribute to the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments, such as climate and clean energy, go to disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. DOE, in coordination with the selected project teams, is planning to co-host in-person community briefings to engage with local stakeholders in Texas and Louisiana in September. Learn more about the two Regional DAC Hubs projects selected for award negotiations here.

Potential Future DAC Hub Studies

To assess the viability of future DAC Hub demonstrations, DOE also announced 19 additional projects selected for award negotiations that will support earlier stages of project development, including feasibility assessments and front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies. Fourteen projects will enable early-stage efforts to explore the feasibility of a potential DAC Hub location, ownership structure, and business model. Five projects will perform FEED studies that establish and define technical requirements focused on project scope, schedule, and costs to reduce risk during later project phases. Learn more about these 19 projects selected for award negotiations here.

DOE intends to issue additional funding opportunity announcement in the coming years to fully implement the Regional DAC Hubs mandate from Congress. Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.

Carbon Negative Shot Pilots

DOE also announced its intent to publish a series of funding opportunities for projects and prizes focused on supporting the development and commercialization of a suite of carbon dioxide removal technologies. These efforts will collectively support the Carbon Negative Shot, part of DOE's larger Energy Earthshots Initiative and the U.S. government’s first major effort to help spur innovation and position U.S. enterprises as leaders in research, manufacturing, and deployment in the carbon dioxide removal industry. The Earthshot sets a goal to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it at meaningful scales for less than $100 per net metric ton of CO2-equivalent within the decade. Read the full NOI.

The DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), in collaboration with the DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), manages the Regional DAC Hubs Program and will provide project management oversight for the DAC Hubs projects selected to demonstrate the capture, processing, delivery, and storage or end-use of captured carbon as well as community benefit plans and environmental safety. here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Emergence of advanced materials across key manufacturing sectors in India

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:28:45 GMT

Advanced Materials emerge across manufacturing sectors in India

According to Ernst & Young, Businesses in India are moving toward new-age or advanced materials, such as composites, ceramics, advanced aluminum alloys and performance alloys. This transition is driven by the demand from various end-use industries due to their better performance efficiency, lower weight and cost effectiveness.

Trends and opportunities: from energy to construction

1. Energy sector: penetration in key renewable energy applications to reach 70% by 2028

The energy sector is witnessing higher demand for clean energy, thus pushing capacity expansions in wind and solar and increasing focus on energy storage. As a result of this, the advanced material market is expected to reach US$1.96 billion in 2028 from US$0.99 billion in 2021.The growth is driven by demand for materials such as carbon, glass composites, silicon, lithium and nickel that are used in wind blades, photovoltaic cells, batteries and smart grids.

2. Aerospace and defense: Penetration in key structural applications to reach 65% by 2028

Aerospace and defense industry is transitioning to lightweight and hypersonic aircraft with drones also becoming an integral part of the ecosystem. With a CAGR of 8% to 10%, the advanced materials market in this sector is expected to hit US$0.55 billion in 2028 from US$0.31 billion in 2021 driven by rising demand for super alloys and composites for structural applications as well as shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials for sensors and active control components in autonomous aircraft and drones.

3. Healthcare: penetration in implants and prosthetics to reach 45% by 2028

Healthcare trends such as 3D printing, nanotechnology and smart prosthetics are driving the demand for advanced materials. The market is anticipated to reach US$300 million in 2028 from US$130 million with 12% to 14% CAGR. The demand will be majorly driven by increasing consumer preference for ceramic implants and other materials such as titanium and alloys, silicon, biomaterials across applications such as prosthetic limbs, spinal screws and sensors, among others.

4. Automotive and transportation: penetration in key passenger vehicle applications to reach 25% by 2028

Automotive sector is witnessing a surge in demand for advanced materials driven by the need for light weighting to meet higher fuel efficiency norms and extended battery range. The market is estimated to witness a 10% to 12% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 to reach a sizable market of US$3.83 billion from US$1.83 billion. The demand is for materials such as glass and carbon composites, lithium, silicon, and nickel across applications such as battery casings, body panels, temperature and pressure sensors.

5. Construction: penetration in key structural and non-structural applications to almost double by 2028

Smart cities are expected to be one of the biggest pockets of demand within the building and construction sector, thus spurring the need for advanced materials. Greater adoption of modular construction as well as sharper focus on sustainability is increasing the need for green and lightweight substitute materials. The market is currently valued at US $0.6 billion to grow by a CAGR ranging from 12% to 14% to reach US $1.41 billion by 2028. Materials such as glass, carbon and wood composites along with green steel are being used, majorly finding applications in structural components, walls, rebars, facades, metro tunnels among others.

News Source By Sailesh Rao. The article is also contributed by Ishank Kataria, EY Parthenon.

$152 Million from DOE for 3 separate announcements

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:44:19 GMT

$152 Million from the Department of Energy for three separate announcements

$34M for Clean Hydrogen.

This will fund 19 industry- and university-led research projects to make clean hydrogen more available and affordable.

$70M for Research Training in Historically Underrepresented Institutions.

The funding, through our Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) initiative, will support internships, training programs, and mentor opportunities at 65 different institutions, including 40 higher-learning institutions that serve minority populations.

$48M for Grid Modernization.

Three states and nine tribal nations will receive this funding to modernize the electric grid against climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters. This is the 6th cohort of our Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant program.

Bayou Bend carbon capture project could 'future proof' Southeast Texas industry

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 22:39:23 GMT

'Good for the environment, good for the economy' : Bayou Bend carbon capture project could 'future proof' Southeast Texas industry

Chevron and two other companies will work together to capture harmful emissions and inject them thousands of feet underground.

Chevron executives have high hopes for their Bayou Bend carbon capture and storage project that's planned for Jefferson and Chambers counties. If permits are acquired, and funding secured, the project could be operational by 2026 or 2027.

This project is a joint venture between Chevron U.S.A, Inc ., Talos Energy, Inc. and Carbonvert, Inc . The companies want to capture harmful emissions and inject them thousands of feet underground for safe storage. If everything goes according to plan, the offshore component could be up and running in 2026 and the inland section could follow in 2027.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:42:09 GMT

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act

TODAY marks the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—the most ambitious clean energy and climate investment in our nation’s history. Here’s a look back and a look forward on this special day.

What’s been accomplished:
- Brought in $110B in clean energy investments since being signed into law.
- Lowered energy costs for homes & businesses.
- Created tax credits and upcoming rebate programs for energy-efficient home upgrades.

What’s to come:
- IRA + the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) are projected to save American families $27B-$38B on electricity bills by 2030.
- Electricity generated from clean sources expected to increase from 42% in 2022 to 72-81% by 2030, thanks to IRA and BIL
- IRA and BIL expected to help drive energy-related emissions in the industrial & manufacturing sector down 33-42% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Biden Administration Announces $3.16 Billion from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Boost Domestic Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chains

Sat, 14 May 2022 16:15:22 GMT

DOE Funding Will Support Growing Ele ctric Vehicle and Energy Storage Demands Through Increased Battery Manufacturing, Processing, and Recycling

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $3.1 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make more batteries and components in America, bolster domestic supply chains, create good-paying jobs, an d help lower costs for families. The infrastructure investments will support the creation of new, retrofitted, and expanded commercial facilities as well as manufacturing demonstrations and battery recycling. DOE is also announcing a separate $60 million to support second-life applications for batteries once used to power EVs, as well as new processes for recycling materials back into the battery supply chain. Both funding opportunities are key components of the Administration’s whole-of-government supply chain strategy to strengthen America’s energy independence to reduce our reliance on competing nations and support the President’s goal to have electric vehicles make up half of all vehicles sales in America by 2030.

“Positioning the United States front and center in meeting the growing demand for advanced batteries is how we boost our competitiveness and electrify our transportation system,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s historic investment in battery production and recycling will give our domestic supply chain the jolt it needs to become more secure and less reliant on other nations—strengthening our clean energy economy, creating good paying jobs, and decarbonizing the transportation sector.”

With the global lithium-ion battery market expected to grow rapidly over the next decade , DOE is working with industry to prepare the United States for increased market demand. As of the end of March 2022, more than 2.5 million plug-in electric vehicles have been sold in America, with more than 800,000 of those having been sold since President Biden took office. Battery costs have fallen more than 90% and since 2008, and energy density and performance have increased rapidly, paving the way for an accelerated transition to zero-emission vehicles. Responsible and sustainable domestic sourcing of the critical materials used to make lithium-ion batteries—such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite—will help avoid or mitigate supply chain disruptions and accelerate battery production in America to meet this demand and support the adoption of electric vehicles.

“For too long, other countries have been outpacing the United States in funding new technologies. We are at a critical moment in our competition to build the next generation of electric vehicles and batteries here in America and to secure Michigan’s automotive leadership in these next generation vehicles. Thanks to our bipartisan efforts in Congress, and with the President’s leadership, this funding will help us win this race by investing in our supply chain and manufacturing here at home. Our workers are the best in the world, and there’s nothing more American than ensuring that our products and technology are built in America,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI).

“I secured provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the domestic critical mineral supply chain used in battery production,” said U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV). “Nevada’s innovation economy is at the forefront of battery manufacturing and recycling, and the infrastructure law could bring vital new investments to the state. These grants to grow U.S. battery manufacturing are going to create good-paying jobs, spur our economic competitiveness, and help us combat the climate crisis. I appreciate Secretary Granholm and the dedicated staff of the Department of Energy for advancing this priority in timely manner.”

“The future of mobility is electric – and this support could help to ensure Michigan remains on the forefront of innovation by shoring up our supply chains for advanced battery technologies necessary to deploy the next all-electric fleet,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI). “I was proud to help secure this funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to lessen our dependence on foreign producers like the Chinese government for these critical technologies – and help our automakers meet the growing demand for cleaner, safer cars.”

“Establishing a new generation of mobility in this country requires bringing our supply chain home, investing in domestic production of minerals and materials for electric vehicle batteries, and creating good-paying, union jobs here in Michigan and the United States,” said U.S Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12). “Today’s announcement utilizing funding provided by my battery material legislation enacted under the IIJA demonstrates the Biden Administrations commitment to making good on our promise of ensuring half of all auto sales are electric vehicles by 2030. We have a lot of work to do to meet that goal, but today marks an important milestone in our efforts. In the days and weeks ahead, I will continue to bring labor, environmental advocates, industry leaders, and elected officials together to move us forward.”

“The 13th Congressional District is home to many frontline communities that have already seen the devastating impacts of climate change which underline the urgent need for a just and equitable energy transition,” said U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-13). “I am thankful to Secretary Granholm and the Department of Energy for visiting our communities and investing in the future with the announcement of funding to increase battery production. This type of funding is what we need to ensure that a green future is accessible to all. I look forward to continuing to work with the DOE to ensure we rapidly deliver clean, renewable energy and a livable planet for generations to come.”

The “ Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing ” and “ Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications ” funding opportunities are aligned with the National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries , authored by the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries, and led by DOE and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and State. The blueprint details a path to bolstering the domestic battery supply by equitably creating a robust and diverse battery workforce by 2030. In alignment with President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, establishing a goal that 40% of the benefits of Federal investments in climate and clean energy flow to disadvantaged communities, applicants for new funding opportunities will be prompted to consider how project benefits can flow to relevant disadvantaged communities. DOE’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity today issued a letter to Americans that reiterates this mandate as a priority for President Biden’s Administration.

Strengthening America’s Supply Chains

In response to President Biden’s Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains , DOE issued a 100-day review of the large capacity battery supply chain which recommended establishing domestic production and processing capabilities for critical materials to support a fully domestic end-to-end battery supply chain, as well as investments in battery recycling and the circular economy to increase domestic supply and reduce the future need for new extraction and raw materials.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directs more than $7 billion to strengthen the U.S. battery supply chain, which includes producing and recycling critical minerals without new extraction or mining and sourcing materials for domestic manufacturing. The funding opportunities mark the first to be released as a collaboration between DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the new Office of Manufacturing and Supply Chains, created by DOE’s organizational realignment to ensure that the Department has the structure needed to effectively implement the clean energy investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Energy Act of 2020. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also includes $7.5 billion for electric vehicle chargers, $5 billion for electric transit buses, and $5 billion for clean and electric school buses.

Beaumont Chamber of Commerce industry expo draws large crowds

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:12:44 GMT

S ome say our region was able to survive and even thrive thanks to the industrial jobs that have been here for decades.

Southeast Texas businesses have some new momentum thanks to this industry expo. It was put together by the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and really gave businesses the chance to come together and build better connections. Jefferson County Judge, Judge Jeff Branick says this was a prime opportunity to get the workforce trained and ready for the new expansion that the 409 is experiencing. Watch the video to see how this event went beyond just networking.

Water Calculator

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:37:30 GMT

What's your water footprint?

Calculate your water footprint here .

This free online tool includes your tap water use and the “virtual water” used to produce

your food, electricity, gas and home goods.

Webinar: Earth Day 2020 and COVID-19. How Are Environmental and Health Crises Linked?

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:31:21 GMT

Held on Wednesday 22 April 2020, 13:00 Central European Summer Time (7:00 New York, 13:00 Paris, 20:00 Tokyo)

Sign up here to register and participate in the Earth Day 2020 and COVID-19 Webinar. If you cannot access the sign up sheet or have any questions, then please contact us on webinars@futureearth.org

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22, to demonstrate support for environmental protection and represents a day of action to shift human behaviour and provoke policy changes. The very first celebration took place in 1970, and by now it grew to a staggering global event with celebrations in more than 193 countries involving over a billion people.

Given the urgency of the shared challenge we are facing on Earth, the main objective of this webinar would be to present the link between environmental issues and the current health crisis (COVID-19). The emphasis would be on two main drivers: i) rapid urbanization and ii) loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as the consequences: hotspots of zoonotic diseases. The conversation will address how population density, population size, and airline connections explain the rapid spread of COVID-19, and will also touch on the ways the global response is providing evidence that coordinated environmental interventions (such as climate or pollution mitigation efforts) can be effective. Moving forward with the reality of a world in which COVID-19 plays a central role, we will focus on cities and how mapping vulnerable populations can be instrumental for decision making.

COVID-19 Energy Sector Response Efforts and Frequently Asked Questions

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 19:07:32 GMT

This page is the product of collaborative efforts to gather current information. DOE appreciates everyone’s patience during this dynamic event. Send any updates, concerns or questions to energyresponsecenter@hq.doe.gov .

Current Status of DOE Response Efforts

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) has been closely monitoring the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) since January 31. Within CESER, the Emergency Support Function #12 (ESF#12) Energy Response Organization (ERO) continues to support the federal mitigation and response to COVID-19. CESER and the ERO continue to coordinate with federal, state, and energy sector partners to discuss preparations, provide awareness, and assess issues that may require federal support, including long-term concerns due to supply chain disruptions.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s ESF#12 team is activated and ESF#12 Regional Coordinators have been virtually supporting activations in the National Response Coordination Center and FEMA Regions V, IX, and X. In the other regions, the DOE Regional Coordinators are monitoring and staying in regular contact with states in their designated regions to identify needs.

CESER advises energy sector partners to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats. Energy sector partners are encouraged to work with the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), the Downstream Natural Gas ISAC (DNG-ISAC), and the Oil and Natural Gas ISAC (ONG-ISAC) to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats, including COVID-19 themed phishing emails, and to ensure that the latest cybersecurity guidance is provided to their organizations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released guidance on defending against video-teleconferencing hijacking.

CESER also urges energy sector companies to assess the full breadth of risk within the supply chain, including that of managed and industry service providers to evaluate how COVID-19 may affect service and their contractors approach to service delivery.

COVID-19 Resources

Government Web Links:

DOE: Coronavirus Hub
CDC: COVID-19 Situation Summary
World Health Organization: Coronavirus homepage
DHS CISA: COVID-19 Homepage and Risk Management for COVID-19
DHS CISA: Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce
FEMA: National Business EOC Operations Dashboard
FEMA: Coronavirus Rumor Control
Transportation Security Administration COVID-19 Enrollment Questions

Energy Sector Links:

American Public Power Association: Coronavirus page

American Gas Association: Coronavirus page

American Petroleum Institute: Pandemic Resources page

American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers: COVID-19 page

American Public Gas Association: Coronavirus Resources page

Edison Electric Institute: Pandemic page

Electric Power Research Institute: COVID-19 Page

Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC): COVID-19 Resources

International Association of Drilling Contractors: COVID-19 Update page

International Liquid Terminals Association: Pandemic Resources page

Interstate Natural Gas Association of America: COVID-19 Response page

National Rural Electric Cooperatives: COVID-19 page

Petroleum Marketers Association of America: Coronavirus Resources page

Offshore Operators Committee: COVID-19 Mitigations page

State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Web Links:

National Governors Association (NGA) State Coronavirus Actions
National Conference of State Legislations (NCSL) State Legislator COVID-19 Resources
National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Support for State Energy Offices
National Association of State Regulators (NARUC) COVID News and Resources
National Association of Counties (NaCo) County and State Emergency Declaration Map

FAQ

What guidance is available for energy sector personnel & social distancing?

Protective measures for access to homes and businesses in restricted areas should follow CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance:

Non-essential work orders at customer homes or businesses that require workers to enter may be deferred or postponed when possible to preserve Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE) for essential emergency work and to protect the health and safety of personnel.

Are energy personnel and services considered essential?

CESER worked with industry and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to put together a list of essential critical infrastructure workers, which included electricity (across all sources), petroleum, natural gas and propane workers. The DHS website was updated on March 28, 2020 to include the current guidance on essential workers.

The National Governor’s Association (NGA) sent a memorandum to Governors and their Energy Advisors on March 25, 2020, highlighting three areas where Governors can support the energy sector during the pandemic response. The three items identified are:

Ensure critical energy infrastructure employees can be identified and credentialed in the event of a shelter in place order
Critical infrastructure workers may need priority access to testing, PPE, and cleaning supplies
Waivers for fuel carrier standards and commercial driver’s licenses may be needed to move critical utility supplies

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette issued letters to Governors requesting assistance to ensure critical infrastructure remains operational.

How can essential personnel gain access to restricted areas?

In cases where access is restricted, the State Emergency Operating Centers (SEOCs) have defined protocols for allowing access for essential personnel. County Public Health Departments are also involved and will have representatives at the SEOC for coordinating purposes. DOE ESF#12 Regional Coordinators are supporting SEOCs virtually and can assist if needed. Send an e-mail to energyresponsecenter@hq.doe.gov if you need to contact your DOE Regional Coordinator.

How can my company acquire PPE for essential personnel?

At Secretary Brouillette's direction, the Department of Energy conducted a thorough review of inventories of PPE and other supplies across the DOE enterprise (including our labs, plants and sites across the nation) to assist with the President’s response to COVID-19. The Department, working with FEMA, will make its excess PPE available for the national COVID-19 response, so they may get supplies to the communities in need as quickly as possible.

DOE continues to support the safety and security of the energy sector workforce who maintain the surety of our energy system 24/7. Providing for this vital strategic asset helps maintain the American way of life and underpins the strength of our national security.

Energy sector companies are monitoring the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for essential workers. Currently the first priority is to ensure PPE is available to healthcare workers and first responders.

In the jurisdictions in which they operate, energy sector companies can connect with local or state energy officials and emergency operations centers to identify prioritization of any future needs for PPE, testing, or other unmet needs.

What are the guidelines for optimizing PPE?

Organizations are encouraged to review existing health and safety plans and procedures for opportunities to reduce, reuse, or repurpose PPE. The CDC issued a PPE optimization strategy for use when PPE supplies are stressed, running low, or absent.

FEMA issued a PPE preservation best practices fact sheet with the following items:

Reduce Usage Rate of PPE by Modifying Normal Operations and Procedures
Reuse PPE by Implementing Optimization, Decontamination, and Reuse Procedures
Repurpose Alternative Types or Sources of PPE
Use alternative NIOSH-approved respirators in lieu of N-95 FFR for activities for which respiratory protection is required per CDC direction.

How can my company acquire testing for essential personnel?

CDC has issued guidance for who should be tested, but decisions about testing are at the discretion of state and local health departments and/or individual clinicians. The CDC posted a prioritized testing brochure that identifies energy essential critical industry personnel with symptoms as Priority 3.

CESER is working with multiple FEMA task forces and federal, industry and state partners to identify new testing options and best practices as they become available. Energy industry suppliers and infrastructure operators are identifying “essential” and "mission essential" employees for prioritized COVID-19 testing. More information regarding prioritized testing requests can be found in this industry letter to national organizations representing state and local government leaders. The Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council also updated Testing and Protecting Mission Essential Control Center and Generation Facility Personnel.

What are some measures industry is using for sequestration of essential critical infrastructure workers?

Some energy companies are implementing sequestration protocols for mission essential personnel to ensure the uninterrupted operations of energy functions, including:

Conducting workforce analysis to determine the minimum number of mission essential workers needed to ensure uninterrupted operations
Asking for sequestration volunteers with needed skills and setting expectations about duration
Organizing “units” or “crews” with appropriate skillsets that will share the same shift, but not be exposed to other personnel
Creating a total separation of living, sleeping, cooking, laundry, and rest/entertainment areas for the individual work crews
Creating greater physical separation between workstations when possible
Providing individually assigned peripheral equipment (e.g., mice, keyboards, chairs)
Testing workers for COVID-19 prior to being sequestered
Requiring all employees to wear appropriate PPE while working
Thoroughly sanitizing work areas at each shift change and regularly during the shifts at high touch points
Implementing pre-site entry wellness questionnaires and temperature checks throughout the shift
Requiring workers conducting wellness checks to use social distancing and wear PPE

How are wellness checks being implemented in the sector?

Based on the CDC guidance to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and the OSHA guidance to prevent exposure in the workplace many organizations are implementing wellness checks throughout the work shifts of essential workers. The wellness checks may include questions on how the workers are feeling and a temperature check to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. The medical or non-medical professionals conducting the wellness checks should have instructions on how to proceed and who to notify if symptoms of COVID-19 are detected.

The CDC issued guidance for critical infrastructure workers who may have had COVID-19 exposure. Workers who were exposed but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during their work shift:

Pre-Screen: The employee’s temperature and symptoms should be checked prior to them starting work and ideally before entering a facility.
Regular Monitoring: As long as the employee does not have a temperature or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of their employer.
Wear a Mask: The employee should wear a facemask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure.
Social Distance: The employee should maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit.
Disinfect and Clean workspaces: Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment routinely.

What does “shelter in place” and Area restrictions mean & how will these orders affect critical energy services?

Some Governors and local government leaders have instituted “Stay at Home” or “Shelter in Place” orders to limit the spread of COVID-19. The orders vary, but generally include provisions to allow essential services to remain open and for essential workers to continue working. Links to these types of orders can be found on the NGA website.

Federal authority is generally limited to preventing the spread of COVID-19 from foreign countries into the United States and through interstate commerce. The FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control web page has confirmed that there is no national lock-down or quarantine in place.

Will domestic travel restrictions affect access?

Domestic travel advisories are not expected to affect critical services or travel for energy sector employees. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued domestic travel advisories for New York City, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in these areas. The advisories do not apply to employees for critical infrastructure as defined by the Department of Homeland Security essential staff guidance, which includes energy sector services and personnel supporting essential energy services.

What is the current role of the National Guard?

The President issued a Memorandum, offering National Guard troops to support states by operating under Title 32 status. This allows the National Guard to be managed by state Governors, but be funded by FEMA and DHS. Additional detail on National Guard activities in states can be found on the COVID-19 Response website and the FEMA website.

As of April 15, 2020, fifty-two states/territories have activated their State National Guard. Over 31,600 Air and Army National Guard professionals are supporting the COVID-19 response at the direction of their Governors. Current National Guard COVID-19 response missions include, but are not limited to:

Staffing SEOCs to synchronize National Guard efforts with local and state mission partners to plan and execute an effective response
Sewing and distributing masks for mission essential personnel
Supporting warehouse operations and logistics efforts to help deliver critical supplies
Delivering food in hard-hit communities
Providing critical PPE training and delivery to first responders and hospital personnel
Supporting local emergency management agencies with response planning and execution
Providing support and symptoms screening to testing facilities
Providing transportation and assessment support to healthcare providers
Assisting with disinfecting/cleaning of common public spaces

What are the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico border travel restrictions?

The United States and Canada, as well as the United States and Mexico are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across the U.S. border. The restriction allows travel for essential workers and deliveries for supply chains to ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines are maintained. DOE ESF#12 responders are available to work with the FEMA National Response Coordination Center and DHS to coordinate any issues or concerns for critical energy infrastructure located near the U.S. border to allow travel across the border to support critical work. The updated travel restrictions for U.S./Canada can be found here and for U.S./Mexico here.

What guidance has been issued to industry to ensure energy reliability amid potential coronavirus impacts?

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as well as the DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued guidance to provide additional flexibility to operators and staff to help ensure continued operations. Operators for transportation including hazardous liquid and gas pipeline, underground natural gas storage, liquefied natural gas, and bulk electric systems are focusing their resources on keeping people safe and providing critical services during this unprecedented public health emergency. Additional guidance: PHMSA Stay of Enforcement, Guidance for State Partners, and the NERC and FERC Industry Guidance to Ensure Grid Reliability.

Can the use of winter blend fuel continue beyond the May 1 switch to summer blend?

To minimize or prevent the disruption of an adequate supply of gasoline throughout the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a nationwide fuel waiver that waives certain federal fuel standards under the Clean Air Act. This waiver applies to the following regulations:

Federal Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Standards require the sale of low-volatility summer gasoline by refiners, importers, distributors, resellers, terminal owners and operators, and carriers beginning May 1. Without a waiver of the summer gasoline requirements, regulated parties would be required to stop selling high-volatility winter gasoline in their storage tanks on May 1. The waiver does not permit refiners to produce gasoline after May 1 that exceeds the summer gasoline standard and does not permit any party to blend butane to cause the gasoline to exceed the summer gasoline standard. Regulated parties must continue to comply with applicable state or local requirements, or restrictions related to RVP, unless waived by the appropriate authorities.
Federal Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) Requirements in all RFG covered areas that apply to terminal owners, terminal operators, distributors, carriers, retailers, and wholesale purchaser-consumers. Additionally, EPA is waiving provisions that prohibit combining any RFG blendstock for oxygenate blending with any other gasoline, blendstock, or oxygenate, unless certain conditions are met.

In addition, several states have issued waivers that apply to state-level RVP requirements that typically begin April 1. The EPA has also issued a Memorandum that allows discretion for COVID-19 implications for EPA’s enforcement and compliance assurance programs. For more information on waivers, visit the DOE Energy Waiver Library .

How can my company ensure timely and efficient transport of goods and services? Is there an hours-of-service waiver?

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION EMERGENCY DECLARATION

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a Federal Motor Carrier Administration Declaration and Expanded Emergency Declaration that provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations that are providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19. The declaration shall remain in effect until the termination of the emergency or until 11:59 P.M. (ET) on April 12, 2020, whichever occurs sooner.

FMCSA DECLARATION INFORMATION

FMCSA FAQ part 1 and FAQ part 2 related to the Emergency Declaration
FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Waiver 3/24/20
FMCSA Emergency Declaration Extension

EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS WAIVERS, EXEMPTIONS AND PERMITS

FMCSA Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits homepage
FMCSA list of State Emergency Declarations
FMCSA 3-month Waiver for States and Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) Holders

What are the effects of COVID-19 on port access?

The Coast Guard has issued multiple Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIB) on the Novel Coronavirus. To view the most recent MSIB regarding COVID-19, refer to the Coast Guard MSIB Publications. The Coast Guard recommends that people review the CDC travel guidance and the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories related to COVID-19.

What is the current guidance on making hand sanitizer?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Temporary Policy for Preparation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products. For additional guidance on how to comply with these requirements, contact FDA at COVID-19-HandSanitizers@fda.hhs.gov .

What are the respiratory protection recommendations to manage the spread of COVID-19?

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an enforcement guidance memorandum for Respiratory Protection. The guidance outlines enforcement discretion to permit the extended use and reuse of respirators and the use of respirators beyond their manufacturer’s recommended shelf life.

The CDC issued guidance on April 3, 2020 for the public to wear cloth face coverings in public settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Are there new “call before you dig” guidelines?

April is National Safe Digging Month. While some areas of the country are seeing typical digging activity, others are emphasizing online requests or discouraging nonessential digging. Visit www.call811.com for more information about safe digging. Social media messages and other resources to promote the safe digging can be found at PHMSA and the Common Ground Alliance .

Will industry mutual assistance be used for outages during the pandemic?

The Electric Subsector Coordinating Council has a dedicated team analyzing how restoration processes and procedures may need to be modified given the known health risks. During non-health emergencies, such as severe storms, electric utilities, independent power producers and suppliers often accelerate power restoration by bringing in additional skilled workers from organizations and contractors outside the area through mutual assistance.

These mutual assistance processes were demonstrated earlier this week when severe weather impacted the Southern and Eastern portions of the U.S., causing 1.3 million customers power outages at the peak. For these responses, the mutual aid process brought in additional workers and equipment from nearby utilities and contractors to assist with assessment and repair. Crews utilized PPE and social distancing per the CDC and OSHA guidelines to perform their restoration duties.

Department of Energy to Provide $18 Million for Research on Critical Materials

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:56:23 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to provide up to $18 million for basic research aimed at helping to ensure the continued availability of rare earth elements—or effective substitutes—critical to the functioning of the modern U.S. economy.

Rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum, and many others are vital to a host of contemporary technological and industrial applications, ranging from magnets in motors and wind turbines, to components of smartphones and computers, to catalysts in the chemical industry.

“Our nation’s economy continues to be bolstered by the research done at our national labs,” said Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. “By supporting the acceleration of our knowledge of rare earth elements, we can look forward to breakthroughs within our scientific community. This will impact everyday items Americans use from critical materials from our own backyard.”

The research will seek fundamental breakthroughs to enable improved methods to increase the availability or reduce the use of rare earth elements, more efficient separation approaches to enable reuse, and discovery of effective substitutes for rare earths, among other topics.

“Increasing the availability of critical materials and discovering alternatives for them is essential to America’s energy security and will also open new avenues for commercial applications,” said Dr. Chris Fall, Director of DOE’s Office of Science. “While we’ve seen real progress in this field, both basic and applied research are needed to secure the availability of the resources that are critical for today’s technologies.”

Planned funding totals $18 million for projects of three years in duration, with $6 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 dollars and outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations.

The Department’s Office of Science is coordinating the funding opportunity with ongoing applied efforts in critical materials research sponsored across the Department. The aim of the Office of Science is to seek basic science breakthroughs that can ultimately lead to technology development.

Today’s announcement is part of a DOE-wide effort totaling more than $158 million in FY 2020 funding, including $23 million from the Office of Fossil Energy, $104 million from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (including the Critical Materials Institute at Ames Laboratory), $11 million from ARPA-E, and an additional $14 million from Office of Science core research programs in materials sciences and chemistry.

This cross-cutting effort aims to promote research and development of the critical minerals and rare earth elements supply chain that is imperative to strengthening U.S. energy and national security.

“Critical minerals and rare earth elements are essential to technologies that we use every day from cell phones to lifesaving medical equipment to batteries for electric cars,” said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. “Unfortunately, the U.S. is heavily dependent on countries like China to supply these critical materials needed to manufacture products that support the U.S. economy. The research and development being done at DOE labs is critical to harnessing our domestic supply of rare earth elements and critical minerals and is key to developing new ways to process and recycle these elements.”

DOE national laboratories are invited to submit proposals for breakthrough fundamental research in materials and chemical sciences. Applicants are encouraged to find partners at universities, national laboratories, and other institutions. Awards are expected for both small groups and larger multidisciplinary teams.

The announcement for DOE laboratories can be found on the funding opportunities page of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences within the DOE Office of Science under the heading “National Laboratory Announcements.”

DOE Announces Crude Oil Storage Contracts to Help Alleviate U.S. Oil Industry Storage Crunch

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:50:48 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it is negotiating contract awards with nine U.S. companies for the purpose of storing their U.S. produced crude oil in the Nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Hit with the combined effects of COVID-related demand destruction and excess supply, the U.S. oil industry is faced with storage demand exceeding availability. Responding quickly to this emerging storage crunch, on April 2, 2020, DOE issued a Request for Proposals to use available storage capacity at the SPR for temporary storage.

“When producing oil you have two options – you either use it or you store it. With the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing an enormous decrease in demand as our country works to contain the virus,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. “This is why making storage capacity available in the SPR is so important. Providing our storage for these U.S. companies will help alleviate some of the stress on the American energy industry and its incredible workforce.”

The awards under negotiation are for approximately 23 million barrels of crude oil storage, which will be distributed into all four SPR sites. Most of these deliveries will be received in May and June 2020, with possible early deliveries in April. Awardees can schedule return of their oil through March 2021, minus a small amount of oil to cover the SPR’s cost of storage.

In combination, these nine companies will be storing oil aggregated from numerous small, medium, and large U.S. producers at the SPR.

The pending awards are the initial step toward filling the SPR to its capacity as directed by the President. The Department continues to view purchasing oil, contingent on federal appropriations, and providing storage opportunities to industry as priorities.

U.S. Department of Energy Announces Education Awards for the Next Generation of Nuclear Scientists and Engineers

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:42:28 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C . – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced more than $5 million in awards through the Office of Nuclear Energy’s Integrated University Program. The program offers undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students pursuing nuclear engineering degrees and other nuclear science and engineering programs relevant to nuclear energy. The awards include 42 scholarships and 34 fellowships for students at 32 U.S. colleges and universities.

“The Integrated University Program is focused on attracting the best and the brightest to nuclear energy professions,” said Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. “We are continuing that effort through these awards to students who will help carry nuclear energy forward, while also enhancing educational institutions’ capabilities to perform cutting-edge research, and supporting the need for qualified personnel to develop and maintain the nation’s nuclear power technology.”

Each undergraduate scholarship provides $7,500 to help cover education costs for the upcoming year, while the three-year graduate fellowship provides $52,000 each year to help pay for graduate studies and research. Fellowships also include $5,000 to fund an internship at a U.S. national laboratory or other approved research facility to strengthen the ties between students and DOE’s energy research programs.

Since 2009, DOE has awarded close to 800 scholarships and fellowships totaling approximately $44 million to students pursuing nuclear energy-related degrees. Ninety-three percent of students who have completed nuclear energy-related fellowships have either continued to advance their education in nuclear energy or have obtained careers at DOE’s national laboratories, other government agencies, academic institutions, or private companies. Nine former fellowship winners are now university professors engaged in nuclear energy-related research, and one was competitively awarded an Office of Nuclear Energy research and development award in FY 2019.

Find additional information about DOE’s nuclear energy scholarships and fellowships awarded at the Nuclear Energy University Program website.

News Media Contact: (202) 586-4940

Secretary Brouillette Applauds Historic Deal

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 09:42:28 GMT

“Today, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Russia and Saudi Arabia have finalized a historic deal, ending a price war that has caused unprecedented uncertainty in global oil markets. I commend the President for his strong leadership and all parties for coming to a consensus that will benefit nations around the globe who are feeling the impacts of this serious market instability. Under the Trump Administration, America has ushered in a historic era of growth in energy production. While the demand disruption caused by COVID-19 and the price war have greatly harmed the industry, I am confident it will soon bounce back stronger than ever before.”

- Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette

elementale-enterprises

https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-workforce-trends-nuclear-energy-2025

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