Nine projects with the goal of advancing concentrating solar-thermal (CST) systems technologies for solar fuel production and long-duration energy storage will receive $33 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The goal of this funding is to decarbonize U.S. industry through the use of solar technologies. Three of the projects focus on leveraging cheap heat from solar energy. The DOE asserts that these methods allow for the production of renewable fuels in a more cost-effective way than by using electricity and without the emissions from burning natural gas. Six of the projects concentrate on thermal energy storage technologies that can provide heat continuously or on demand. According to the DOE, this technology can be paired with a turbine to produce electricity or serve industrial processes that require heat.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “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. 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 in the news
$7.3 million available for 37 small, medium manufacturers to improve energy efficiency
The funding will be used to help the manufacturers upgrade their plants to save energy and reduce climate pollution.
DOE releases cybersecurity best practices for the energy industry
The document is designed to help manufacturers and others in the energy industry create a framework to strengthen key technologies that help manage and operate energy systems.
DOE invests $71 million to fund 18 projects to advance U.S. solar manufacturing
The funding will be used to support projects that will aid U.S. solar manufacturing capacity.
Learn more about industrial energy usage
Distributed-energy strategies and how manufacturers can operate as their own mini-utilities
Industrials in most verticals can take advantage of otherwise unusable/wasted space or processes for the purpose of generating electricity; rooftops and parking lots, for example, can house solar arrays.
Exploring Sustainable Practices in Machining
Reducing waste and energy consumption have operating cost advantages for manufacturers, and the add-on effects are worth considering too.
Microgrids Could Deliver a Short-Term Fix for America's Broken Energy System
A nationwide Smart Grid is at least a decade away.