President Barack Obama has launched a $120m programme to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s manufacturers.
Unveiling the project late last week, Obama said the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) would aim to bring together industry, universities and the federal government to invest in less energy-intensive processes and new materials to help companies reduce energy bills.
The Department of Energy, which is funding the initiative, said the AMP would accelerate the development of 35-50 selected projects, commercializing new processes or materials in the next five to seven years.
Early-stage development projects could receive up to $1m and must be completed within two years, while innovations that are able to be lab tested, or that boast a working prototype, are eligible for up to $9m awards.
Energy secretary Steven Chu encouraged applicants to form collaborative teams spanning large and small companies, universities and academic institutions, trade organizations, national laboratories and other research institutions.
“These breakthrough manufacturing processes, technologies and materials will help American companies reduce energy waste and lower costs,” he added.
The Department of Energy has also handed out $11.3m in funding to eight projects it says will advance geothermal energy in the country, a technology which Chu said could play an important role in achieving President Obama’s goal of generating 80 per cent of the country’s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035.
Grants ranged from up to $4.99m for a project looking to develop new ways of producing electricity from superheated and pressurized carbon dioxide in deep geothermal formations, to two $200,000 grants for Connecticut-based Gtherm ($200,000) and Physical Optics Corporation from Torrance, California.
Each of the schemes will conduct feasibility studies, which will determine whether they will receive further funding in Phase II of the government’s Geothermal Technologies Program.
“By investing in geothermal research and development, we are investing in our nation’s energy future and creating opportunities for energy innovation in the US,” Chu said.
(Source: www.businessgreen.com )