PROJECT SELECTIONS FOR FOA 3002: University Training and Research for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
AREA OF INTEREST 1 — Establish a visiting scholar program consisting of multi-institution collaborations to benefit students from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Synergizing Minority-Serving Institution Partnerships for Carbon-Negative Geologic Hydrogen Production — The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford, California) plans to enable carbon-negative geologic hydrogen (H2) production from subsurface ultramafic rocks in a new partnership. The overall objective is to cultivate the next generation of engineers and scientists, especially students from two Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)—Texas Tech University (TTU) and the University of Houston (UH)—to fill critical gaps in developing early-stage carbon-negative H2 production from the earth’s subsurface and promote the research capacities of the universities. Three visiting scholars from TTU and UH will conduct on-site research and write publications at Stanford for one month per year for three years. The team will characterize ultramafic rock properties, investigate reactions during carbon dioxide (CO2) carbonation and H2 generation, optimize reservoir-scale performance, and examine the economic and environmental impacts.
DOE Funding: $1,499,995
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,499,995
The Southwest CCUS Training and Research Partnership — New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (Socorro, New Mexico) aims to develop and sustain university training and research consortium for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and prepare underrepresented students from minority-serving institutions for jobs in clean energy technologies. The partnership comprises five minority-serving higher education institutions and one DOE national laboratory. The minority-serving education institutions are Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Southeast New Mexico College, San Juan College, Prairie View A&M University, and New Mexico State University, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory.
DOE Funding: $1,488,618
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,488,618
Engineering Highly Scalable and Efficient Sorption Materials for Direct Air Capture — New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (Socorro, New Mexico) intends to develop a visiting scholar program with a second host institution (University of Wyoming) and three MSIs (Central Wyoming University, Dillard University, and Navajo Technical University). The program will recruit, educate, and train four to six minority students annually to develop skills in advanced sorption materials for CO2removal via direct air capture. Students will gain experience in laboratory research, communication, writing, presentation, and publication. The project will advance a novel catalyzed hollow fiber sorbent to a technology readiness level (TRL) of at least 4.
DOE Funding: $1,500,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,500,000
Incubating Next Generation Clean Energy Scientists and Engineers Through Minority-Scholar Exchange and In-Situ Hydrogen Production Research — Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas) aims to incubate next-generation scientists and engineers by training and promoting the research capacity of partners Texas A&M University, Howard University, and the University at Buffalo and advancing in-situ, carbon-zero hydrogen production from shale gas reservoirs. The first objective is to equip students from MSIs with cutting-edge, highly translatable skills to fill the critical workforce gaps in the transition from fossil fuels to clean hydrogen energy. The second objective is to promote carbon-zero technology (in-situ electromagnetic-assisted catalytic heating for H2 production from shale gas reservoirs) from a TRL of 3-4 to 5, to be achieved in collaboration with four principal investigators and co-principal investigators, six visiting scholars, and other participants.
DOE Funding: $1,500,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,500,000
Digital Engineering Coalition for Energy Systems Innovation — University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, Texas) plans to conduct research that will experimentally validate the fidelity of a gasifier digital twin system for optimum hydrogen yield and reduced emissions for various feedstocks and operating conditions. The main goals are to develop and demonstrate the digital twin system of a 300-kWth high-pressure municipal solid waste-biomass fluidized bed co-gasifier and develop a talent pipeline for digital systems in energy engineering. This effort will focus on training students at the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, and Angelo State University to learn core digital skills with an overarching cybersecurity mindset.
DOE Funding: $1,499,999
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,499,999
AREA OF INTEREST 2 — Develop a geoscience education curriculum at MSIs to prepare a workforce for critical mineral production.
Development of Mining Engineering Education Curriculum at HBCU: Tennessee State University to Prepare a Workforce for Critical Mineral Production — Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee) aims to develop an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited minor in mining engineering to prepare graduates as the need for critical materials grows. Graduates will possess the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the mineral industry to help meet the sector’s increasing demand for expertise. A well-trained workforce can foster the growth of critical mineral production, potentially leading to increased investments and job opportunities in the region.
DOE Funding: $800,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $800,000
AREA OF INTEREST 3 — Support Humanities-Driven Science (including social sciences), Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to facilitate interdisciplinary student training and technology development.
Plasma-Assisted Conversion of CO2-Containing CH4 to Value Added Chemicals — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (Greensboro, North Carolina) intends to partner with the University of Wyoming to develop a plasma-catalytic approach for converting locally sourced, low-purity, CO2-contaminated methane into valuable commodity chemicals, with particular emphasis on production of benzoic acid and its higher homologs. The project also will develop maps to identify technologically suitable land for the new technology in eastern North Carolina. In addition, the project team will estimate the potential impact of the technology on employment and develop transferable, spatially explicit methodologies for evaluating the socio-economic impact of conversion facilities sourcing methane from flooded lands. This program will serve as the foundation for nurturing a new class of chemistry researchers who have a broader societal vision and can integrate their technical achievements into a demanding social environment.
DOE Funding: $999,988
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $999,988
A Humanities-Driven STEM Approach for Student Training in Carbon Capture and Conversion— The Regents of the University of California, Riverside (Riverside, California) aims to train students in both humanities/social science and STEM approaches to quantify societal considerations in carbon capture and conversion technologies. This approach includes a socio-economic analysis of carbon management technologies, advanced computational chemistry decarbonization research performed by underrepresented minorities, new humanities-driven STEM courses/outreach efforts, and education of students (in both humanities and engineering) on novel carbon management technologies. This project seeks to incorporate humanities/social sciences concerns in carbon management research to advance humanities-driven STEM approaches for net-zero emission efforts. The project will prepare students to think critically about environmental and health consequences associated with carbon management technologies.
DOE Funding: $999,990
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $999,990
The Role of CO2 Conversion in the Clean Energy Transition: Social, Economic, and Technological Opportunities and Challenges — University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyoming) plans to partner with New Mexico State University to examine social and technological opportunities and challenges associated with the use of hydrogen for decarbonization, with a special focus on formic acid as a hydrogen energy carrier. Project objectives are to (1) examine people’s attitudes and beliefs that may influence their adoption of new clean energy products and their support of renewable energy policies, (2) combine engineering and economic models to estimate the potential long-run climate impacts and the value of public investments in emerging CO2 conversion technologies, and (3) advance the development of experimental technologies for converting CO2 to formic acid for use as a hydrogen carrier.
DOE Funding: $1,000,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $1,000,000
AREA OF INTEREST 4 — Improve critical minerals and materials recovery from coal-based resources.
Characterization of Coal Mine Drainage Wastes to Inform the Extraction Potential of Critical Metals — Duke University (Durham, North Carolina) plans to study the geochemical characteristics of acid mine drainage fluids and treatment solids that are potential feedstocks for critical metals such as rare earth elements and cobalt. The objectives are to (1) delineate the chemical speciation and mineral phase associations of these critical metals in acid mine drainage wastes and (2) evaluate the implications of these associations for the efficiency of extraction processes. The research will use state-of-the-art geochemical and elemental analysis techniques to discern molecular coordination states of critical metals in acid mine drainage feedstocks and evaluate mineral phase associations. The project will also train student researchers in the valorization of coal-based wastes for critical metals resourcing and consider potential impacts on communities that host acid mine drainage sites.
DOE Funding: $500,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $500,000
Testing and Developing Ionic Liquids and Associated Methods for Extraction, Separation, or Refinement of Critical Minerals from Coal-based Resources — Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia) proposes to build on an iconic liquids capability for the leaching/extraction/separation of rare earth elements from coal fly ash and conduct a new study to optimize iconic liquids as an electrolyte for electrodeposition to refine as rare earth element mixtures. Project objectives include the production of a set of high-performing iconic liquids suitable for an integrated system to deliver high process efficiency and environmental sustainability for the recovery of rare earth elements from coal fly ash. This project will prepare a future workforce in critical mineral recovery and management.
DOE Funding: $500,000
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $500,000
Application of Carboranyl Ionic Liquids for Rare Earth Element Recovery from Coal Ash — Howard University (Washington, D.C.) plans to utilize dicarbollide iconic liquids to extract rare earth elements from coal fly ash. Dicarbollide iconic liquids have an advantage over conventional iconic liquids in terms of surviving aqueous and acidic environments. Given concentrations of between 156 and 590 ppm of rare earth elements in coal fly ash, a potential of 74,000 to 106,000 tons of rare earth elements can be realized from the 158 million tons of coal fly ash produced per year. This research will be carried out predominantly by students from Howard University (partnered with the University of Wyoming) and will establish training and advancement opportunities.
DOE Funding: $499,971
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $499,971
Advancing Rare Earth Element Recovery from Coal Refuse Streams: An Ionic Liquid-Assisted Process Coupled with Molecular Dynamics Simulation-Supported Machine Learning for Novel Ionic Liquid Development — University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington, Kentucky) intends to investigate a novel process that employs task-specific iconic liquids in two stages to enhance the recovery of rare earth elements from coal refuse streams. In the first stage, a mechanochemical activation process assisted with iconic liquids is used to selectively induce disorders in minerals associated with rare earth elements. This not only reduces energy consumption but also eliminates costly high-temperature processes and aids in the decarbonization of the overall process. In the second stage, novel functional iconic liquids are introduced to improve the loading capacity, kinetics, and separation factor in the solvent extraction process, contributing to more efficient recovery and lower environmental impact.
DOE Funding: $499,811
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $499,811
Novel Supercritical Fluid Extraction/Enrichment of Rare Earth Elements Directly from Solid Coal-Based Resources — Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) intends to systematically characterize coal-based materials—both coal fly ashes and uncombusted coal samples taken from the roof/floor of coal seams in Peabody Energy’s operations in the Midwest (Illinois Basin) and in Wyoming (Powder River Basin). This project will (1) examine the physicochemical properties and microstructures of coal-based materials; (2) develop a new technology that uses supercritical fluids to effectively extract, recover, and enrich rare earth elements directly from solid-phase coal-based materials in an environmentally benign manner; and (3) model a conceptual recovery pilot unit to predict the performance of the recovery process. The project will include multifaceted student recruitment with Lincoln University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Washington University’s Summer Engineering Fellowship program, as well as increased use of coal-based resources where disadvantaged communities may be deeply involved, outreach workshops for middle and high school students and teachers in the St. Louis area, and mentoring and community building.
DOE Funding: $499,683
Non-DOE Funding: $177,871
Total Value: $677,554
AREA OF INTEREST 5 — Expand energy asset transformation. This area will develop paper-based studies to explore the technical feasibility and community benefit regarding transition scenarios of existing fossil fuel-based assets to support the achievement of deep decarbonization.
Prospective Fossil Asset Transition for Alaska’s Legacy Pipeline for Distribution of Liquid Hydrogen Carriers — University of Alaska, Fairbanks (Fairbanks, Alaska) plans to carry out a public research campaign to understand the community benefit of transforming the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System into a multifunctional, clean energy asset for the efficient distribution of hydrogen energy across Alaska. The overarching aim is to understand the business opportunity and community benefits, as well as technical and regulatory issues. By aligning with state and federal guidelines, the project could provide a safe and reliable energy transition for Alaska and other regions. The university-led team will foster an environment that promotes outreach and collaborative opportunities for underrepresented groups.
DOE Funding: $749,165
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $749,165
Integrated Education and Research in Transition Energy for Communities — University of Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii) intends to repurpose a coal plant for clean energy and manufacturing. The project involves transitioning the AES coal plant to a battery energy storage system and studying the feasibility of small nuclear power plants in Hawaii. The transition to a battery energy storage system offers numerous benefits, including enhanced integration of renewable energy sources, improved grid flexibility, economic growth through job creation, and investment in clean energy technology, as well as a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, thereby aligning with Hawaii’s commitment to sustainability. Additionally, the battery energy storage system approach emphasizes community involvement and support.
DOE Funding: $692,097
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $692,097
A Comprehensive Roadmap for Repurposing Offshore Infrastructure for Clean Energy Projects in the Gulf of Mexico — University of Houston (Houston, Texas) aims to examine ways in which the life of these assets can be extended by repurposing them for clean energy projects, including wind power, hydrogen generation, and carbon sequestration. This study will generate a comprehensive framework of technical, social, and regulatory aspects and available resources that will encourage and incentivize communities, investors, and industry to move forward with projects under this initiative. It will also identify community resources and government incentives that can be leveraged, regulatory and legal requirements to be met, and industry and community concerns that should be considered. Success of this project may encourage investment, generate jobs and clean energy, save capital outlay, reduce the carbon footprint, and provide numerous benefits to affected communities in the Gulf Coast.
DOE Funding: $749,992
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $749,992
Houston Hydrogen Transportation Pilot — University of Houston (Houston, Texas) intends to complete specific tasks essential to implementing a hydrogen refueling pilot demonstration project for the greater Houston area. The work will demonstrate the potential for repurposing existing infrastructure to provide profitable, zero-emission transportation fueled by low-carbon intensity hydrogen and its positive workforce development and community impact. The objective of the first project phase is to develop a geographic information system application to facilitate optimization of low-carbon intensity hydrogen fuel supply and demand options, apply it to data gathered for the transportation pilot demonstration, and evaluate specific environmental and community risks. The second project phase will establish a workforce training network to develop skills that support hydrogen fuel supply.
DOE Funding: $750,000
Non-DOE Funding: $45,511
Total Value: $795,511
Charting a Path Forward: Energy and Economic Transition Pathways for Utah’s Coal Country— University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah) plans to explore new energy and economic pathways to guide this coal community through the energy transition. It will consider critical minerals extraction as a transition alternative for coal mining. This will include the exploration of uranium, vanadium, cobalt, and manganese, all of which have known deposits in Emery County. A second pathway will consider the construction of utility-scale solar power plants, leveraging the region’s substantial solar availability, access to high-voltage transmission lines, and land availability. In parallel, the project will also explore the economic potential of new manufacturing ventures in Emery County by working with several existing manufacturers of clean energy technologies. The project will bring together two research institutes at the University of Utah — the Energy and Geoscience Institute and the Gardner Policy Institute. The Energy and Geoscience Institute will complete technical evaluations while Gardner will explore the economic impacts each investment will have on the community.
DOE Funding: $748,988
Non-DOE Funding: $0
Total Value: $748,988