US energy dept earmarks US$89 mn for innovative manufacturing tech

The US Department of Energy (DOE) allocates US$89 million to support innovative, advanced manufacturing research and development projects. The programme tackles key priorities of the DOE such as domestic manufacturing for energy storage.

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Proposal in three areas is highlighted in the project, including innovations for the manufacture of advanced materials, which focuses on employing machine learning to develop better batteries, phase change storage materials for heating and cooling applications, and new semiconductors that convert temperature differences into electricity through development and scaling new, low-cost manufacturing processes to catalyse increased domestic battery manufacturing for vehicle and stationary applications; lower thermal budget processes for industrial efficiency & productivity, which will delve on novel research on industrial process drying technologies that increase energy efficiency throughput and product quality. It also seeks new ideas on process intensification to reduce overall heating energy; and, connected, flexible and efficient manufacturing facilities and energy systems, which will tackle on the application of more efficient industrial power conversion equipment and new opportunities for converting process energy to electrical energy and better integrating it with the electrical grid. It also seeks advancements in combined heat and power that result in higher electrical efficiencies.

The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office will lead this initiative.