| |
|
 |
The Department of Energy (DOE) has multiple missions that contribute
to the environment and natural resources R&D portfolio. These mission
areas include basic science and technology, environmental quality, energy
resources, national security, and industrial competitiveness.
Types of Environment and Natural Resources Research Supported
- Energy Resources: DOE conducts extensive R&D
in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy resources and
other advanced energy supply and demand technologies. These various
R&D programs are targeted at achieving diversity and efficiency
in energy use, efficiency in its generation, and a more secure national
economy. At the heart of some of DOE's programs is the concept of sustainable
development. Many of these programs are linked under a conceptual framework
that supports pollution avoidance, rather than the traditional end-of-the
pipe controls for industrial processes.
- Environmental Quality: DOE supports substantial R&D
in the area of environmental cleanup and remediation technologies. Because
of the Department's enormous cleanup mission, DOE is sponsoring some
of the most extensive and advanced R&D nationally and internationally
to determine safer, cheaper, faster, and more effective ways to clean
up contaminated environments, and to reduce or prevent the emission
of environmental pollutants. An area of particular R&D interest
is radioactive mixed wastes. Technology leveraging with the private
sector results in cost-shared risk through dollar leveraging. The result
is innovative technology systems to be transferred to the private sector
for commercialization.
- Fundamental Science: DOE programs in science and
technology include significant contributions to global change research.
Research into the underlying phenomena -- ranging from sophisticated
modeling of global climate to extensive field programs to gather data
on critical processes -- are all part of DOE's efforts in this area.
Advanced sensors are being developed to further the accuracy and precision
of key climatic measurements. These activities are conducted in response
to DOE's need for assessing the environmental consequences of energy
production and use. Additionally, the Department conducts significant
research into local air quality and air pollution phenomena, providing
a basic science perspective into urban air pollution issues, as well
as providing analytical tools that support the prediction and mitigation
of consequences from natural disasters.
Research Funding Opportunities
DOE uses various competitive procurement processes. In addition, DOE
accepts and funds unsolicited proposals, establishes grants, and encourages
work with its national laboratories through competitive procurement opportunities
announced at each laboratory.
The following list is partial and, especially for the year FY97, should
be viewed as preliminary. Continuing budget uncertainties requires such;
it is recommended that you contact the identified individuals for more
current information.
Resource Management
The Office of Fossil Energy sponsors R&D in the area of resource
utilization and management, specifically in the category of assessing
resources and their use. These multi-year projects apply to both FY96
and FY97. R&D activities follow:
- Develop and demonstrate economical and efficient tools and techniques
for recovering natural gas from geologically complex low permeability
reservoirs containing large volumes of natural gas
- Develop techniques for removing large quantities of impurities from
raw natural gas, thus upgrading the quality of the gas to a more pure
stream of methane and without poisonous concentrations of hydrogen sulfide
- Maximize oil recovery in an environmentally sound manner by providing
an understanding of reservoir architecture, reservoir geometry dimensions,
boundaries, fluid/rock properties, and fluid flow characteristics within
the reservoir
- Promote crude oil extraction simulation by developing process models,
reservoir models, economic models, and tracer models suitable for use
by independent oil companies; by developing improved oil recovery stimulation
methods that support water flooding, pressure maintenance, sweep improvement,
infill drilling, and horizontal wells; and by developing advanced oil
recovery methods based on chemical flooding, gas flooding, microbial,
thermal, and innovative methods.
Contact:
Peter Lagiovane
202.586.8116 (voice)
Peter.Lagiovane@hq.doe.gov
Atmospheric Sciences, Global Change, Bioremediation, and Environmental
Remediation
The DOE Office of Energy Research publishes an annual notice of continuation
of availability of grants and cooperative agreements supporting work in
environmental sciences programs relevant to CENR. The notice for FY96
was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 1995 (Volume
60, Number 199, page 53609).
Office of Energy Research programs address research on the physical,
chemical, and biological processes that cycle and transport energy-related
materials through the atmosphere and terrestrial and ocean environments.
They also address research on global environmental change from increases
in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Announcements
of the availability of grants in the following specific program areas
relevant to the CENR will also be published in the Federal Register
in 1996:
- The Atmospheric Radiation Program (ARM), which is part of the
USGCRP
Contact:
Patrick Crowley
301.903.3069 (voice)
- The Integrated Assessment Program , which is also part of the
USGCRP
Contact:
John Houghton
301.903.8288 (voice)
- The Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research Program
, which is part of the CENR Subcommittee on Toxic Substances and Hazardous
and Solid Wastes (STSHSW)
Contact:
Jay Grimes
301.903.4183 (voice)
- A fundamental research program on environmental remediation and restoration
at DOE sites, an activity also relevant to STSHSW
Contact:
Michelle Broido
301.903.4183 (voice)
- The Terrestrial Ecology and Global Change Program , an interagency
endeavor that is part of the USGCRP
Contact:
Jerry Elwood
301.903.4583 (voice)
In 1997, the general program announcement of continuation of grants and
cooperative agreements in environmental sciences programs relevant to
CENR activities will be published. Specific program announcements soliciting
grant applications are also anticipated for the Integrated Assessment
Program.
Energy and the Environment
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) implements
a balanced portfolio of research development and commercialization efforts
to provide America with clean energy today and to make sure we have inexhaustible
supplies of clean energy in the future. Energy efficiency and renewable
energy technologies play a key role in improving our environment, energy
security, and economy through creation of new businesses and entrepreneurial
opportunities here and abroad. Programs are structured to address the
needs of major end use sectors including buildings, transportation, industry,
and utilities. EERE conducts a broad range of activities including basic
and applied research, cost-shared demonstrations, and market collaborative
and education programs.
A number of initiatives in these program areas support the Administration's
Climate Action Plan. A key approach in R&D -- as well as the
nearer term outreach efforts -- is building customer-driven partnerships
with industry, businesses, State and local governments, universities,
and energy consumers. The major R&D programs are outlined below:
- Building Technologies : The Office of Building Technologies
operates a strategic array of programs including research and development
of advanced technologies and construction practices; collaborative programs
with industry and consumers to deploy high-efficiency technologies into
the commercial and residential markets; and national standards for appliances
and buildings to ensure that they meet minimum energy efficiency levels.
Contact:
Donna Hawkins
202.586.9389 (voice)
- Transportation Technologies : The Office of Transportation
Technologies focuses on R&D activities to reduce the Nation's use
of petroleum, thereby increasing energy security, and to provide environmental
benefits through reduced air pollution. Key program elements include
research, development, and deployment of alternative fuels, advanced
propulsion systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, and fuel cells. DOE
works in partnership with industry on the "Partnership for a New Generation
of Vehicles," an Administration initiative to commercialize a mid-size
car in the next decade that features three times the fuel economy of
today's models.
Contact:
Nancy Blackwell
202.586.8027 (voice)
- Utility Technologies : The Office of Utility Technologies leads
the Federal government's effort to help America's electric power producers
develop clean, renewable, and more economical forms of energy. These
technologies will help U.S. industry capture a significant share of
the global electric power market over the next decade. Research, development,
and deployment efforts are underway in photovoltaics, biomass power,
geothermal, wind, hydrogen, solar thermal, electromagnetic fields, superconductivity,
and energy storage.
Contact:
Kurt Klunder
202.586.4564 (voice)
- Industrial Technologies : The Office of Industrial Technologies
(OIT) conducts research, development, and technology outreach in partnership
with industry to improve energy efficiency and productivity in manufacturing
industries. A key focus of the OIT program is the Industries of the
Future approach, which includes a strategy of close collaboration with
industry that catalyzes R&D in seven energy-intensive industries
(i.e., aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, petroleum
refining, and steel). OIT implements a number of nearer term deployment
efforts including the program on National Industrial Competitiveness
through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3); Industrial
Assessment Centers; the Motor Challenge Program; and Climate Wise.
Contact:
Marsha Quinn
202.586.2097 (voice) |
|
