$136+ Million to Develop Transformational Technologies across America’s Most Critical Industrial Subsectors – CleanTechnica

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Projects will drive industrial energy use and emissions down while increasing America’s manufacturing competitiveness in global markets.

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $136 million for 66 selected projects to support the research and development of transformational technologies essential for reducing energy demand and improving American productivity in key industrial subsectors. These investments will accelerate the development of innovative technologies to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of U.S. industrial supply chains in rapidly changing global markets.

Selected projects will advance technology solutions for core portions of our nation’s industrial base, including the manufacturing of chemicals and fuels, iron and steel, cement and concrete, forest and paper products, food and beverage, glass and other industries. Together, these industries account for over 75% of the U.S. industrial energy demand, employ roughly 13 million Americans, and contribute roughly $27 trillion to U.S. GDP.

“These industrial subsectors are economic engines for our nation, producing critical consumer products and inputs used to make many other manufactured goods,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “By focusing on novel technologies and process optimization within these key subsectors, selected projects can bolster competitiveness and create a positive ripple effect for supply chains across our nation’s economy.”

Projects were selected in the following six topics:

1. Chemicals and fuels, accelerating next-generation industrial technologies for the production of chemicals and fuels by improving energy and material efficiency, utilizing advanced energy sources, and developing technologies which utilize sustainable chemical feedstocks.
2. Iron and steel, advancing innovative, high-impact technology opportunities in the iron and steel industry through alternative ironmaking process technologies, ore improvements, improved steel recyclability, and advanced steelmaking technologies.
3. Food and beverage products, developing and demonstrating high-impact technology solutions for a wide variety of food and beverage operations across a full spectrum of applications.
4. Building and infrastructure, developing technologies to address industrial emissions, particularly those inherent to industrial processes, for cement and concrete, asphalt, and glass.
5. Forest products, leveraging high-impact technology development opportunities in energy-intensive pulp, paper, and wood products manufacturing through dewatering and drying technologies and fiber preparation, pulping, and chemical recovery processes.
6. Industrial Pre-FEED Studies, where preliminary front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) refers to a stage of project development—after basic feasibility study and conceptual design—which develops the initial concept into a detailed design basis and scope of work to ensure a project is economically and technically feasible as well as accurately estimated.

DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) seek to reduce barriers for accelerated industrial adoption by de-risking innovative technologies integrated within realistic operational environments.

Learn about the 66 selected projects.

Pathways to U.S. Industrial Transformation: Unlocking American Innovation

Innovations in industry-specific technologies have the greatest potential for widespread impact including increasing efficiency, strengthening the manufacturing workforce, and reducing emissions. To help industry identify unique pathways to maximize their own impact, DOE will soon release a vision study, titled Pathways to U.S. Industrial Transformation: Unlocking American Innovation.

This report identifies strategic pathways in each of the key energy-and-emission-intensive industries for decarbonization, while ensuring well-paying jobs and clean air and water for American communities. This new vision study builds upon DOE’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap and Pathways for Commercial Liftoff reports to identify industry-specific strategic pathways to achieve a resilient and competitive U.S. industrial sector.

To be notified of the release of the report, please subscribe to the IEDO newsletter.

Project Support

These investments are part of the Technologies for Industrial Emissions Reduction Development (TIEReD) Program, which leverages resources across DOE’s applied research offices to invest in fundamental science, research, development, initial pilot-scale demonstrations projects, and technical assistance and workforce development.

These projects are funded by DOE’s IEDO, HFTO, and  FECM.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.