ICYMI: AMO 2020 Virtual Peer Review Virtual Meeting

AMO held a virtual annual peer review on June 2–3, 2020. If you missed it, click here to learn more about our strategic plan, priorities, investments, and how we are working to accomplish our program goals. This two-day meeting also included remarks from Daniel R Simmons, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Alex Fitzsimmons, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Department of Energy Announces $67 Million to Enhance Manufacturing Competitiveness through Innovation

Last month, DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced a $67 million funding opportunity to stimulate technology innovation, improve the energy productivity of American manufacturing, and enable the manufacturing of cutting-edge products in the United States. Projects selected under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will aim to improve energy efficiency in energy-intensive processes and facilitate the transition to emerging, cost-competitive energy technologies in domestic production. Concept papers are due June 25, 2020. Learn more.

EVENT: Battery Critical Materials Supply Chain Opportunities Workshop – June 29, 2020

DOE is hosting a virtual Battery Critical Materials Supply Chain Opportunities Workshop to convene stakeholders across the battery critical materials supply chain. Join us for an in-depth conversation about the nation’s battery critical mineral cathode supplies, and learn about how DOE is driving U.S. economic competitiveness across the critical materials supply chain. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with industry stakeholders, DOE’s National Laboratories, and academia. Register today!

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Department of Energy Innovation Hub Announces $4 Million for Critical Materials Projects

DOE’s Critical Materials Institute (CMI) announced up to $4 million in funding to address challenges in establishing domestic supply chains for critical materials, with specific emphasis on industrial relevance, participation, and adoption. CMI anticipates making up to six awards, with all projects requiring a minimum 50% cost-share. Concept papers are due on July 1, 2020. View the call for proposals and submission requirements.

DOE to Fund National Laboratories up to $12 Million for Industry Partnerships in Battery Manufacturing Innovation

The Vehicle Technologies Office and AMO will directly fund the National Laboratories to establish public-private partnerships that solve engineering challenges and accelerate the adoption of advanced battery technologies. Full proposals, which must be submitted by the National Laboratories, are due on July 17, 2020. Potential industry partners should reach out directly to one or more of the National Laboratory contacts listed on the AMO website about opportunities to collaborate.

DOE Selects the University of Texas – San Antonio to Lead Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute

DOE announced the selection of the University of Texas – San Antonio to lead the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII), a public-private consortium to bolster U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, energy efficiency, and innovation. CyManII will focus on early-stage research and development (R&D) to advance cybersecurity in energy-efficient manufacturing. CyManII is funded by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) and co-managed with the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). Read more about this selectee.

Better Plants Program Announces New Goal Achievers and Energy Savings Data

Earlier this month, the Better Buildings, Better Plants program announced that more than 230 Better Plants partners had saved $6.7 billion in energy costs over the last 10 years. The program also honored two goal achievers:

JBT Corporation, a global technology solutions provider to the food processing and air transportation industries, leveraged Better Plants’ no-cost energy assessments and other tools to achieve 32.5% energy savings.
NEW Water topped the charts of Better Buildings, Better Plants goal achievers this year, marking 35% energy savings across two wastewater treatment plants and 13 pumping stations compared to a 2014 baseline.

View the news release on the AMO website.

DOE Selects 11 High Performance Computing Projects for Manufacturing Innovation and Materials Development

DOE announced $3.3 million for 11 projects under the High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation initiative to work with the National Laboratories on projects that apply advanced modeling, simulation, and data analysis. Visit the AMO website to learn more about the selected projects, which explore manufacturing productivity improvements and new materials that can withstand extreme conditions.

BLOG: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Responds to COVID-19

Technological innovation in advanced manufacturing is driving a robust and rapid response to COVID-19. AMO recently highlighted the work of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to develop new ways to produce N95 filters, masks, face shields, test-kit components, and more at two cutting-edge advanced manufacturing facilities at ORNL. Visit the AMO website to learn more about these efforts, which are aimed at arming industry with the information it needs to pivot and rapidly expand production for much-needed materials.

Updates from the 50001 Ready Program

Check out the latest updates from the 50001 Ready program, including a success story about the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Magnolia Combined Cycle Plant—the first American power plant to receive 50001 Ready recognition.

Visit the AMO website to learn more.