Energy Department Announces Launch of Energy Innovation Hub
for Critical Materials Research
Jun 01, 2012 -- Energy Department Documents and
Publications/ContentWorks
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to
invest up to $120 million over five years to launch a new Energy
Innovation Hub, establishing a multidisciplinary and sustained
effort to identify problems and develop solutions across the
lifecycle of critical materials. Rare earth elements and other
critical materials have unique chemical and physical
characteristics, including magnetic, catalytic and luminescent
properties, that are important for a growing number of energy
technologies. These critical materials are also at risk for
supply disruptions. The Hub, funded by up to $20 million in
Fiscal Year 2012, will work to advance U.S. leadership in energy
manufacturing - such as electric vehicles, wind turbines,
efficient lighting and others - through research aimed both at
having a reliable supply of these rare earths and other critical
materials, as well as finding efficiencies and alternatives that
reduce the amount we actually need.
"We must ensure America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers
continue to have access to these critical materials so we can
compete in the global energy economy," said Energy Secretary
Steven Chu. "As America has done throughout our history to meet
a great national challenge, we will pull together a group of
talented, creative scientists, engineers and innovators to find
the solutions we need for America's energy security. Our success
will be crucial to ensuring we can continue producing the
advanced energy technologies that will power our economy long
into the future."
First established in 2010, the Hubs are major integrated
research centers, with researchers from many different
institutions and technical backgrounds. They are modeled after
the strong scientific management characteristics of the
Manhattan Project, Lincoln Lab at MIT that developed radar, AT&T
Bell Laboratories that developed the transistor and, more
recently, the highly successful Bioenergy Research Centers
established during the Bush Administration to pioneer advanced
techniques in biotechnology, including biofuels. The new
Critical Materials Hub's research and development will advance
innovation at all stages of critical materials science and
technology.
The Critical Materials Hub builds on the Department's
Critical Materials Strategy
http://energy.gov/pi/office-policy-and-international-affairs/downloads/2011-critical-materials-strategy
report, which addresses the use of rare earths and other
critical materials in clean energy components, products, and
processes.
The goal of the Critical Materials Hub will be to reduce U.S.
dependence on critical materials and ensure that the deployment
of domestic energy technologies is not hindered by future
materials supply shortages. The Hub will address challenges
across the entire life of each critical material including
mineral processing, manufacture, substitution, efficient use,
and end-of-life recycling.
Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations,
and private firms are eligible to compete and are encouraged to
form partnerships when submitting their proposals. The award
selection is expected this fall. The full Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) is available HERE
https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
This will be the fifth Energy Innovation Hub established by
the Department since 2010. The other Energy Innovation Hubs are:
-
* - The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, which
focuses on advanced research to produce fuels directly from
sunlight.
* - The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water
Reactors, which is seeking to improve nuclear reactors through
sophisticated computer-based modeling and simulation.
* - The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for
Energy-Efficient Buildings, which is working to achieve major
breakthroughs in energy efficient building design.
* - A Batteries and Energy Storage Innovation Hub was also
announced earlier this year. The deadline for submitting
competitive proposals was this week.
Information on the existing Hubs can be found on the Energy
Innovation Hubs website: http://energy.gov/hubs
http://energy.gov/hubs.
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