Energy Innovators Get a $100 Million Boost

by Nathaniel Whittemore · 2010-03-02 15:34:00 UTC
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In recent years, we've heard plenty of talk about the development of a "smart grid," one that could help distribute energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. But so far, it hasn't materialized. With U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu's announcement of $100 million in new funding for breakthrough energy projects today, though, could that change?

This particular installment of funds marks the third wave of stimulus money (under the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy program) that's specifically aimed at building a new green infrastructure. According to Chu's announcement, the new funding will target three distinct areas: grid solutions, new transmission technologies and more energy-efficient air conditioners.

The idea of a "smart grid" refers to the massive infrastructure needed to capture energy, store and then deliver it where it's needed at any given time. Transmission technologies help power get to the places it needs to be. Meanwhile, according to a VentureBeat article, energy-efficient air conditioners are part of ARPA-E's overall interest in more efficient power converters. (While more energy-efficient air conditioners might not seem like a top priority, in fact, there are huge potential energy savings that can be found in better climate cooling devices -- particularly in the tropical world.)

This installment of funding is the latest to have been issued through ARPA-E as part of the Recovery Act. The first was a $151 million set of funds distributed to 37 recipients, each of which was working on an unusual or novel solution to a vital problem relating to energy and climate change. The second round was $100 million for projects focused on better batteries, carbon sequester solutions and biofuels.

Given the mammoth climate change-related problems we face, $100 million (or even the total $400 million allocated to the Dept. of Energy by the Recovery Act) isn't a ton of money. For that reason, I'm encouraged by the fact that ARPA-E is focusing on specific types of projects, and are open to funding early stage proof-of-concept technologies.

To learn more about the types of projects being funded by ARPA-E, watch one recipient from the first $151 million round of funding talk about the realization he describes as seeming "too good to be true" -- that sunlight plus water can equal fuel:

Photo Credit: Center for American Progress Action Fund

Nathaniel Whittemore is the founder of Assetmap. Previously he was the founding director of the Northwestern University Center for Global Engagement.

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