ARPA-E
- Solicitation on Topics Informing New Program Areas
(DE-FOA-0001953)
Agency
Advanced
Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)
Description
This
announcement is purposely broad in scope, and will cover a wide range of topics
to encourage the submission of the most innovative and unconventional ideas in
energy technology. The objective of this solicitation is to support high-risk
R&D leading to the development of potentially disruptive new technologies
across the full spectrum of energy applications. Topics under this FOA will
explore new areas of technology development that, if successful, could
establish new program areas for ARPA-E, or complement the current portfolio of
ARPA-E programs. Cost sharing will not be required for any project
submitted by aneducational institution or domestic nonprofit applying as
a Standalone Applicant. Targeted Topics:
A.
Extremely Durable Concretes and Cementitious Materials
ARPA-E
is interested in receiving Full Applications in support of advancing extremely
durable concretes and cementitious materials. This topic seeks research towards
concrete that outlasts conventional concrete, reduces lifetime O&M expenses
and their associated energy requirements, and therefore greatly reduces
cement/concrete. Work under this program will consist of early stage
research.
•
CATEGORY
1 – Materials & Mixtures
•
CATEGORY
2 – Advanced Processing
•
CATEGORY
3 – Modeling, Testing, Sensing, & Maintenance
B.
Leveraging Innovations Supporting Nuclear Energy
It is clear that a substantial reduction of construction
cost, O&M cost, and construction time, in combination with targeting reactor
plant operation for commercial viability, is required to fundamentally enhance
the competitiveness and attractiveness of nuclear energy. The ARPA-E MEITNER
Program (DE-FOA-0001798) is already investigating several innovative
technologies that forward this goal. The purpose of this Targeted Topic is to
address key technology gaps in the portfolio.Technical Areas of
Interest:
•
Approaches
employing sensors, data analytics, robotics, and advanced controls (including
autonomy and integration of machine learning) that limit or eliminate the need
for humans to conduct regular monitoring and maintenance and enable early
corrective action for abnormal conditions.
•
High-performance
moderators for gas-cooled reactors to enable increased power density.
•
Advanced
power conversion systems for ultra-high temperature (>1500 °C) reactors.
•
Flexible
power production via technologies that enable physically changing plant power
output via sophisticated controls systems or management of reactor feedback
behavior, or systems that enable variable output like storing heat for later
use.
•
Advanced
construction techniques for faster, lower-cost construction.
C.
Downhole Tools to Enable Enhanced Geothermal Systems
ARPA-E seeks novel
low-cost sensor technologies capable of mitigating risks and lowering costs in
EGS development by better characterizing rock formations and fluid enthalpy at
depth. Technologies of interest include but are not limited to fiber-optic
sensors and enthalpy measurement devices, as well as companion electronics and
communications equipment. Successful projects will facilitate reservoir creation
and maintenance, reduce unexpected reservoir behavior, and ultimately lower
costs associated with EGS. Successful technologies developed for this purpose
may also offer side benefits in applications including O&G, subsurface
energy/CO2 storage, aerospace and automotive engineering, nuclear
energy, and space exploration. Technical Areas of
Interest:
•
High-temperature
downhole sensing tools for reservoir engineering, including but not limited to
the following two categories:
A.
Fiber-optic
based sensors, such as distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed
temperature sensing (DTS), and distributed strain sensing (DSS).
B.
Sensors
that measure geofluid enthalpy; in particular,
devices that measure real-time flowrate, temperature, steam fraction and
pressure.
•
Integrated
sensors that can serve more than one function over the course of operations
(e.g. strain and flow measurements) are encouraged.
The
same topics are also addressed under a separate Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) FOA,
DE-FOA-0001954.
Announcement
Number:
DE-FOA-0001953
Closing
Date:
February
18, 2019
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=311427
Contact
Information