Funding-Limited submission - US Dept. of Energy - Energy Innovation Hub - Fuels from Sunlight; February 3, 2010

The Department of Energy will launch three Energy Innovation Hubs in FY2010—one in each of the focus areas listed below:

Fuels from Sunlight,
Energy Efficient Building Systems Design, and
Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors.

The Secretary of Energy has identified the problems in these topic areas as presenting the most critical barriers to achieving national energy and climate goals while having proven resistant to solution by conventional R&D enterprise structures. In a new R&D structure modeled on the Department’s successful Bioenergy Research Centers, each Hub will comprise a highly collaborative team, spanning multiple scientific, engineering, and where appropriate, economics, and public-policy disciplines. By bringing together top talent across the full spectrum of R&D performers—including universities, private industry, non-profits, and National Laboratories—each Hub is expected to become a world-leading R&D center in its topical area.

Critical issues for the Fuels from Sunlight Hub include the following:

(1) Understanding and designing catalytic complexes or solids that generate chemical fuel from carbon dioxide and/or water. This research would necessarily be coordinated with complementary efforts to comprehend and design other essential elements required for the overall conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels. These include solar photon capture, energy transfer, charge separation and electron transport. A fundamental concern is the design and discovery of materials that will be cost effective and sustainable in the future economy.

(2) Integration of all essential elements from light capture to fuel formation into an effective solar fuel generation system. This would require research and methodology that seek to understand complex issues of the system as an operating unit. Unlike natural photosynthesis, successful systems within the scope of this FOA should function efficiently at full solar flux; hence, the efficacy of system components should be evaluated in consideration of such a demanding environment. Expertise in complex systems engineering will be required to affect this integration.

(3) Pragmatic evaluation of the solar fuel system under development. While a robust solar fuels industry does not presently exist for deployment of resulting technologies, the Hub should have the capacity to determine the practicality of a solar fuel system as a prototype and as a potential product in the marketplace. Guidance and input from industry will be an essential aspect of this evaluation.

The full announcement can be accessed at: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/PublicSearch/Public_Opportunities.aspx

Because the Department of Energy only allows one application as the prime applicant per institution, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following information electronically to the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Wednesday, February 3, 2010:

Names and departments of the Principal Investigator and project personnel
Names of other consortia members
Cost (including cost sharing proposed, indicate amount and source of the match)
Narrative (maximum 4 pages) – provide (a) an overview of the strategic plan, including the long term vision and goals for the proposed Hub; (b) the objectives for the five-year award period of the project; (c) an overview of the research and management plan for the proposed Hub; and (d) an overview of the plans to provide laboratory and office space for the proposed Hub including estimated cost ranges, to the extent applicable, for leasing, renovation and equipment.

A committee will be appointed to review the applications and make a recommendation. The individual selected will be notified in time to prepare and submit the full application and supporting material electronically for the March 29, 2010 deadline.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).