The U.S. DOE&rsquo;s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program has granted a total of $130 million to 66 projects focused on breakthrough energy technologies demonstrating fundamental technical promise, but are too early for private-sector investment. The selected projects encompass 11 technology areas in 24 states and focus on a wide range of technologies, including advanced vehicle and design and materials, building efficiency, carbon capture, grid modernization, renewable power and advanced fuels.
ARPA-E&rsquo;s first funding opportunity, &ldquo;OPEN 2009,&rdquo; was issued three years ago and was similarly an open call to America&rsquo;s top scientists and engineers for transformational energy technology solutions. Previously selected projects have already made major progress, by demonstrating the world&rsquo;s first 400 Wh/kg lithium-ion battery poised to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry; building a wind turbine, inspired by the design of jet engines, that could deliver 300 percent more power than existing turbines of the same size and cost; and engineering a high power laser drilling system that can penetrate hard rock formations over long distances and is ten times more economical than conventional drilling technologies.
Some examples of advanced fuels-based projects that were granted funding in the most recent round of ARPA-E awards include:
Lexington, Ky.-based Allylix Inc., which received $4.5 million to develop energy-dense terpenes as high-performance, liquid aviation fuels.
Princeton, N.J.-based Bio2Electric LLC, which will use $600,000 to develop a small-scale reactor that converts methane into a liquid transportation fuel by combining fuel cell technology with advanced catalysts.
Researchers from Colorado State University received $2 million to develop a system to rapidly Introduce new genetic traits into crops that currently cannot be engineered, for improved biofuel production.
Cornell University was granted $900,000 for the development of&nbsp; a compact reactor that distributes sunlight more efficiently for use in algae-fuel production.
Ceramatec Inc. in Salt Lake City will use $1.7 million to develop a small-scale membrane reactor to convert methane gas into transportable liquids in one step.
The Gas Technology Institute will use $770,000 to develop a new process to convert&nbsp; methane into methanol and hydrogen.
Researchers at Plant Sensory Systems in Baltimore, Md., were granted $1.8 million to produce an enhanced energy beet, optimized for biofuel production.
The University of Minnesota will use $1.8 million to develop an ultra-thin separation membrane to improve the production of biofuels, plastics and other industrial materials.
For the full list of award recipients, click <a href="http://arpa-e.energy.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Projects/OPEN2012_ProjectDescriptions_FINAL_112812.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The U.S. DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program has granted $130 million to 66 projects focused on breakthrough energy technologies demonstrating fundamental technical promise, but are too early for private-sector investment. 

DOE's ARPA-E funds 60 projects, includes biofuels, bioenergy

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