Getting energized by DOE dollars
Paul Smaglik
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 15:29 UTC
A call for proposals, issued by the US Department of Energy last month will have physicists, engineers, chemists and computer scientists competing for $3.375 billion to refashion the US energy production and delivery system into a so-called “Smart Grid”. Smart Grid technology aims to produce cleaner energy and track its transmission from power plant to user and maximize energy efficiency by letting consumers know when energy costs less.
There will likely be many regional winners in this bonanza. I wrote that New Mexico aims to be a contender for these DOE dollars. But many other states will also have a shot at this serious pot of money. The call for proposals is split into two parts:
- Smart Grid Investment Grant: $20 million, matching funds, for industry.
- Smart Grid Demonstration project Phaser Measurement Unit (PMU) $40 million for regional demonstrations, $50 million for technology that measures energy transmission through the grid and $60 million for energy storage technology.
Scientists looking to work in this field would do well to monitor what their institution is doing to pursue these grants. It’s almost certain that US utility companies will partner with US universities, as well as federal labs.
For individual scientists, or university departments, pursuing funding for energy storage might be one of the best opportunities to get into this game. This is the area that requires the most basic research and remains one of the biggest obstacles to switching over to wind, water and sun for power, since there are no good ways to hold onto the power after it’s generated. The DOE anticipates that it will award 12 to 19 grants of up to $60 million in that category.
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Replies
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5 14 09 before we spend an excessive amount and time on large high quality capacitors 20,000 uf and larger, with rare expensive materials, and toxicity of these materials as they age or are cooled by other toxic or expensive subsystems. we should think this out in relation to what is providing energy, and where on our ENERGY GRID it is attached. mca5516
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The Obama plan gives so many groups free cash that it gives the appearance of helping everyone. It’s filled with feel good phrases , like green energy, solar power, renewable energy.
These types of business have been around for many years. The problem is that they can’t compete with traditional energy sources. Hoping that technology will make them more economical is like waiting for the 2nd coming of Christ. You need to be a true believer.
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