IEDO Newsletter – March 2023
Water is earth’s greatest natural resource and is a fundamental building block of our world. Water is not only necessary for people to hydrate, clean, and cook, it is also essential to produce food, energy, and many of our manufactured products. However, as our water and energy systems become more interdependent, water scarcity—exacerbated by the growing climate crisis—is increasing demand on the U.S. energy system.
To meet demand and tackle the climate crisis, it is critical that we change the way we think about, use, and reuse water. In celebration of World Water Day last week on March 22 and this year’s theme “Accelerating Change,” we highlighted members of our team who are working hard to ensure our water systems are more resilient, secure, affordable, and equitable. Read our blog to learn more about the current challenges facing our water systems and what IEDO is doing to help solve them— from decarbonizing the wastewater treatment processes to diversifying our water supplies and making desalination more energy efficient.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a $156 million funding opportunity that will advance high impact applied research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the U.S. industrial sector. The FOA will drive innovation to develop the next-generation technologies required to decarbonize industry and move the U.S. towards a clean energy economy for all Americans. Learn more about the funding opportunity and DOE’s approach to industrial decarbonization.
NAWI Selects 12 Projects to Improve Energy Efficiency of Desalination and Water Reuse Technologies
On March 22, DOE, in partnership with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) hub, announced the selection of 12 projects that will advance NAWI’s strategic goal of achieving pipe-parity for 90% of nontraditional water sources and improving energy efficiency of desalination and water reuse technologies. The selected projects focus on desalination pretreatment process, concentrate management, and electrification. Learn more about the selectees.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $6 Billion To Reduce Industrial Emissions and Create Healthier Communities
DOE announced approximately $6 billion in funding to accelerate decarbonization projects in energy-intensive industries and provide American manufacturers with a competitive advantage in the emerging global clean energy economy. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, the Industrial Demonstrations Program will focus on the highest emitting industries where decarbonization technologies will have the greatest impact, such as iron and steel, aluminum, cement and concrete, and other energy-intensive industrial processes. Learn more.
IEDO Lab Call to Support the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program
IEDO recently issued a lab call for proposals to support the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development program. Activities will deliver technical assistance and foster industry partnerships to increase the adoption of energy efficiency, decarbonization technologies, energy management programs, and water/waste reduction technologies and practices across the industrial sector. The topic areas follow the recommendations outlined in DOE’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap and will help expand and integrate program activities in energy efficiency, energy management systems, onsite renewables and storage, energy-water nexus, and workforce development. Learn more about the lab call and how to apply.
Highlights
NEW Decarbonizing America’s Industrial Sector Fact Sheet
Decarbonizing America’s industrial sector is key to tackling the climate crisis. DOE is building an innovation pipeline to accelerate the development and adoption of industrial decarbonization technologies with investments spanning foundational science; research, development, deployment, and demonstrations (RDD&D); and technical assistance and workforce development. DOE’s new Technologies for Industrial Emissions Reduction Development (TIEReD) Program leverages resources across DOE’s applied research offices to invest in fundamental science, research, development, and initial pilot-scale demonstrations projects. Read the fact sheet to learn more about the TIEReD Program.
White House Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Advances Cleaner Industrial Sector to Boost American Manufacturing and Cut Emissions
The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced new actions to grow American competitiveness, expand manufacturing jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector. Further strengthening our industrial base will revitalize local economies, lower costs for consumers, provide more pathways to the middle class through good-paying union jobs, and boost American competitiveness in global markets. As part of this announcement, the White House launched a new Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership. Twelve Alliance states (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington) are joining forces with the federal government to support the procurement of lower-carbon infrastructure materials and send a harmonized demand signal to the marketplace. Read more about the Administration’s actions to decarbonize the U.S. industrial sector.
Sustainable Manufacturing and the Circular Economy Report
The manufacturing industry follows a linear production model where raw materials are mined or grown, transformed into manufactured goods, used, and then discarded. At the other end of the cycle, there are challenges with the efficiency and effectiveness of our waste disposal system. To maintain and restore the natural environment and enhance the well-being of society, manufacturing and the global supply chain must be transformed from a linear to a circular model. Read this report to learn more about the sustainability of different circular economy strategies.
Renewable Thermal Energy Systems Report Series
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published a three-report series that evaluates the provision of renewable heat for industry and buildings via current and prospective renewable thermal energy system (RTES) technologies.
- Renewable Thermal Energy Systems: Characterization of the Most Important Thermal Energy Applications in Buildings and Industry (Report 1)
- Renewable Thermal Energy Systems: Systemic Challenges and Transformational Policies (Report 2)
- Renewable Thermal Energy Systems: Modeling Developments and Future Directions (Report 3)
We’re Hiring: Join the IEDO team!
Check out these open opportunities:
- Technical Project Officer Program Manager
- Cross-Sector Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Technologies Technology Manager
- Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries Technology Manager
- Technology Manager for Technical Assistance and Workforce Development
- Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries Sr. Technology Manager
In Case You Missed It: Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Program
We recently announced a funding opportunity to establish a new regional network of Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) to increase the adoption of onsite clean energy technologies. If you have onsite energy expertise and are interested in providing technical assistance to facilities in your region, learn more about how to apply.
Upcoming Deadlines
- Water Resource Recovery Facilities FOA Application Deadline: April 3, 2023
- Onsite Energy TAPs FOA Application Deadline: April 21, 2023
- $156 Million Industrial Decarbonization Multi-topic FOA:
- Concept Papers Due: April 17, 2023
- Application Deadline: June 23, 2023
- IEDO Lab Call Applications Deadline: May 19, 2023
This annual event for Better Buildings, Better Plants partners and other key stakeholders gives professionals the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and share innovative strategies in energy efficiency, decarbonization, water, and waste reduction. Attendees take part in interactive sessions with industry experts and market leaders and can connect with peers, technical experts and other Better Buildings partners. Learn more about the event and register to attend.
AMMTO/IEDO Joint Peer Review – May 16 -18
The Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO) will conduct a joint Peer Review to evaluate their strategic and operational impact. The Peer Review will evaluate each office’s strategy, mission space, and investments through forward-looking presentations on project portfolios and priorities, poster sessions highlighting current activities, and stakeholder engagement. The event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington, D.C.-Crystal City. Learn more and register to attend.