Categorical Exclusion Determinations: Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

The Disruptive DC Converters for Grid Resilient Infrastructure to Deliver Secure energy (DC-GRIDS) program supports the small-scale research and development of more compact and cost effective power electronics converters for direct current (DC) transmission to transport electricity over longer distances with less electricity lost during conveyance from generator to user.
Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of protein exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers to produce hydrogen by using new materials, designs, and manufacturing processes to overcome high operating and capital costs associated with conventional PEM water electrolyzers.
The Jumpstart Opportunities to Unleash Leadership in Energy Storage with 1K Energy Storage Systems (JOULES-1K) Phase 2 Program (previously Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane ELectrification with 1K energy storage systems [PROPEL-1K]) consists of projects chosen from Phase 1 of the JOULES-1K program which show the most promise of developing novel energy storage to support drones, robots, Electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and other applications that would benefit from ultra-high-density storage systems.
This Amended Determination follows the approval of additional funding, an extended period of performance, and new project milestones to support the project team's small-scale research and development activities of an autonomous laboratory platform, "AlloyBot," intended to develop new structural alloys for energy and propulsion technologies with extreme operating conditions.
This Third Amended Determination follows the approval of additional funding, an extended period of performance, a change of teaming partners, and new project milestones to support the project team's small-scale research and development activities of developing an energy storage and power generation (ESPG) system consisting of fuel-to-electric power conversion devices, metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and turbogenerators, in progress under the Range Extenders for Electric Aviation with Low Carbon and High Efficiency (REEACH) Phase 2 Program.