DOE to invest $420M in energy frontier research centers to aid clean energy evolution

Through a new, $420 million funding opportunity, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to advance early-stage research into clean energy technologies, advanced and low-carbon manufacturing, and quantum information science at Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC).

Meant to assist President Joe Biden’s established goal of eliminating emissions from the economy by 2050, this research will unite universities, national labs, industry, and nonprofits in accelerating green advancements. The DOE encouraged interested applicants to gather diverse and multi-disciplinary teams of researchers for the endeavor, particularly those led by or in partnership with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and underrepresented groups in STEM programs.

Any applications should come with a specific set of research goals.

“Spearheaded by world-leading scientists, DOE’s Energy Frontier Research Centers are innovation powerhouses that have unlocked scientific breakthroughs leading to transformative climate solutions like solar windows and carbon capture technology,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “This funding will create good-paying jobs and open doors to an array of clean energy technologies across industries that will be crucial to lowering carbon emissions, meeting our climate goals, and creating the clean infrastructure of the future.”

Since the EFRC program was founded in 2009, it has included 88 centers spread across 41 states. Today, 41 are currently active, assisting in areas of materials sciences, chemical sciences, geosciences, and biosciences. Their research has led to more than 200 issued patents, the development of advances like high-capacity batteries, and more.

A webinar on this latest opportunity will be hosted on Jan. 19, 2022.