A University of Maryland professor's wood replacement product that's stronger than steel scored a $20 million grant last week for development expansion.

The money came from the U.S. Department of Energy's innovation office – Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) – according to UMD's Nov. 30 news release. The grant will fund InventWood, a company founded by UMD's Liangbing Hu, a Herbert Rabin distinguished professor in the university's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, as well as Center for Materials innovation director.

"Dr. Hu has been exploring surprising and innovative uses for an everyday material that most of us hardly think twice about," UMD Vice President for Research Gregory F. Ball said in the news release. "Now his exceptional focus is paying off in a way that could revolutionize sustainable construction while taking a big bite out of our carbon emissions."

MettleWood is reportedly 60% stronger than construction grade steel while being 80% lighter, cheaper and more sustainable, according to the news release.

"Meeting the president's goals of cutting greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will require an acceleration of private-sector investments across the clean energy and transportation sectors," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. "These projects will catalyze the commercialization of promising technologies so that they are available to be broadly deployed across the country in support of reaching our clean energy future."