DOE invests in energy research centers

Ethanol Producer Magazine June 2009
By Hope Deutscher
Web exclusive posted May 15, 2009, at 1:41 p.m. CST

The U.S. DOE recently announced that the agency’s Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers over the next five years. Forty-six multi-million dollar EFRCs will be established at universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations and privation firms in an effort to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs required to build a new 21st century energy economy.

The centers will be funded through President Obama’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to the federal government, the EFRCs will bring together leading scientists to address a variety of issues ranging from biofuels, advanced nuclear systems, solar energy, electricity storage and carbon capture and sequestration. The 45 centers will receive between $2 million and $5 million per year for a planned initial five-year period. The DOE issued a solicitation in 2008 and received approximately 260 applications. Over 110 institutions from 36 states and the District of Columbia will participate in the EFRC projects. Approximately a third of the researchers will be supported by Recovery Act funding, the DOE and White House said.

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