U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $68 billion for 53 businesses in 23 states to help solve scientific problems that include developing tools for climate research and materials and technologies for clean energy conversion.
Among areas of research funded are nuclear physics and rare earth elements, according to a Feb. 22 news release. Four programs in the Department of Energy’s Office of Science will fund the projects: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Nuclear Physics, Basic Energy Sciences and Biological and Environmental Research.
“From the Industrial Revolution to Silicon Valley, small businesses have always propelled innovation in America, and they will play a critical role in the transition to clean energy,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “The companies working on the incredible projects announced today are creating a bridge between the laboratory and the marketplace, where the rubber will meet the road.”
The Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Awards fund the awards. The recently selected projects are for Phase II research and development because the businesses “demonstrated technical feasibility for innovations during Phase I of their grants,” the release said. The median Phase II award is $1.1 million for two years.
“For example, one project aims to make geothermal energy systems, which are powered by heat from beneath the Earth’s surface, cost-competitive, while another is developing a tool that can help site infrastructure to capture and store carbon-dioxide emission,” the release said.
One of the companies will work on two projects, resulting in funding for 54 projects, according to the release.
