| | Welcome to The Production Line, a monthly snapshot of industrial innovation news delivered straight to your inbox. This month's newsletter will take approximately 8 minutes to read. Reach out to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office at iedo@ee.doe.gov with any industrial inquiries or suggestions. | | Upcoming Deadlines - The submission deadline for Phase I/Release 2 proof of concept grants through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs is Jan. 14, 2025, for letters of intent and Feb. 26, 2025, for full applications.
| | Recent News & Funding Opportunities | | Highlights $136 Million To Develop Transformational Technologies for Industrial Subsectors  On Jan. 8, 2025, DOE announced more than $136 million for 66 selected projects to support the research and development of transformational technologies essential for reducing energy demand and improving American productivity in key industrial subsectors. These investments will accelerate the development of innovative technologies to ensure the resilience and competitiveness of U.S. industrial supply chains in rapidly changing global markets. Selected projects will advance technology solutions for core portions of our nation's industrial base, which accounts for over 75% of the U.S. industrial energy demand, employs roughly 13 million Americans, and contributes roughly $27 trillion to the U.S. GDP. | | | $65 Million Small Business Funding Opportunity On Dec. 27, DOE announced a $65 million funding opportunity to support projects through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. This investment includes $1.1 million in Phase I/Release 2 proof of concept grants for projects funded by IEDO. These programs have helped thousands of American small businesses and entrepreneurs develop a range of cutting-edge technologies and transform science and technology breakthroughs into viable products and services. Letters of intent are due Jan.14, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. Full applications are due Feb. 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. | | Coming Soon: Transformative Pathways for U.S. Industry: Unlocking American Innovation Preview the new vision study that identifies and explores each of the pathways that can be pursued together to chart a course to an industrial transformation. The United States is rapidly nearing a transformation that will depend on continued American innovation. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the industrial sector and sharpen our competitive edge and national security globally. This transformative pathways report outlines a framework for industry to meet the next defining moment for American innovation. | | DOE Better Plants Hosts Energy Savings Treasure Hunt  DOE recently hosted a Better Plants Treasure Hunt to identify and quantify industrial savings opportunities across Honda's East Liberty plant. During this three-day event, DOE went out on the floor in both production and non-production hours with Honda's East Liberty and Goodyear employees for identification of opportunities. DOE also provided trainings and demonstrated how to use DOE software tools. The event brought together teams from different divisions to collaborate on and build a culture of industrial efficiency. | | Office of Technology Transitions Announced Five Phase 2 Winners of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters Round 3 On Dec. 5, 2024, the Office of Technology Transitions announced five Phase 2 winners of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Round 3. EPIC Round 3 is a multi-phase funding opportunity that aims to encourage energy innovation ecosystems, increase business productivity, and improve the commercial success of energy tech startups. The Phase 2 winners of EPIC Round 3 have earned the chance to negotiate cooperative agreements worth up to $1 million each. In particular, IEDO is funding the award for ClimateHaven, Inc, which will provide business support services to companies in Connecticut, focusing on early-stage companies with sector-specific support in chemistry and engineering. | | New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers  On Dec. 20, 2024, DOE announced the publication of the 2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which outlines the energy use of data centers from 2014 to 2028. The report estimates that data center load growth has tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple by 2028. DOE has anticipated this growing demand trend—it reflects robust industrial investments in America and national leadership on technology innovation. DOE continues to develop advanced technologies and leverage its resources to meet rising electricity demand in the United States while maintaining a reliable, affordable, and secure national energy system. | | | Industrial Technology Validation Program Helps Toyota and Nissan Plants Reduce Water & Chemical Use  Toyota and Nissan plants in Mississippi participated in DOE's Industrial Technology Validation program to test the performance and benefits of new, innovative electrochemical-based water treatment systems on an open loop cooling tower that will allow the facilities to reduce their use of water and chemicals, significantly reducing their production costs. Funded through IEDO, the program is open to all industrial sites that want to team with technology providers to evaluate innovative technologies in their plants, reduce energy use, and decrease costs. | | | Combined Heat and Power Installation Database Updates IEDO's Onsite Energy Program recently rolled out the annual update for the Combined Heat and Power Installation Database, which tracks over 4,000 efficient combined heat and power installations across the United States. This update reinforced market trends of new combined heat and power system projects using biogas and other renewable fuels. Combined Heat and Power systems help increase efficiency and provide energy resilience to critical facilities as a part of microgrids. | | In Case You Missed It  On Sept. 24-25, 2024, stakeholders recently gathered in Chicago, IL for the 2024 Joint IEDO-AMMTO Sustainable Food and Beverage Packaging Workshop focused on advancing sustainable packaging initiatives for the food and beverage industry. The insightful presentations and engaging discussions were invaluable in identifying innovative approaches to sustainable packaging in support of industrial efficiency goals. |  IEDO's Industrial Energy Storage Systems Prize is coming soon and open to pre-registration now. The prize is a $4.8 million challenge that seeks cost-effective energy storage concepts for industrial facilities that enhance energy efficiency and are applicable across industrial sectors. To accommodate a variety of industrial sectors, the prize invites submissions of thermal energy storage solutions across a range of temperatures of industrial relevance. |  The National Association of State Energy Officials has released "Manufacturing and Energy: Advancing Productivity, Prosperity, and the Environment - An Overview of Industrial Technical Assistance for State and Territory Energy Offices." Supported by IEDO, the report provides an overview of the importance of manufacturing to states and the multiple roles that State and Territory Energy Offices can take to help advance manufacturing competitiveness and productivity while furthering their state's economic, energy, and environmental objectives. | | | Upcoming Events & Opportunities Join IEDO's virtual webinar that will highlight the work we've accomplished with our partners in 2024 and our priorities for 2025. This webinar will include a presentation from IEDO Director Avi Shultz, remarks from several IEDO partners, and a preview of DOE's newest vision study, Transformative Pathways for U.S. Industry: Unlocking American Innovation. DOE is offering two Energy Bootcamp courses from Feb. 24-28 and Sept. 29-Oct. 3, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The course will educate attendees on energy management, process heating, steam, compressed air, and other industrial systems in addition to alternative energy options. Participants will learn how to use diagnostic equipment to identify energy savings opportunities and quantify cost savings. Save your spot by registering now! Check out the full list of topics for Better Plants' virtual trainings this year. These virtual trainings are workshops led by Better Plants experts that train participants on how to identify, implement, and replicate energy-saving projects. The training sessions occur online over the course of 4 to 8 weeks and are open to all U.S. manufacturers at no charge. From January to March, the virtual training topic will be compressed air systems, and from February to April, the virtual training topic will be manufacturing waste reductions. The Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit is an annual event for partners and key stakeholders to explore emerging technologies and share innovative strategies in energy efficiency, resilience, water and waste reduction, and more. The 2025 summit will be held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. Secure your spot now for this engaging event to experience interactive sessions across six tracks with fellow industry stakeholders and experts, as well as special events, workshops, and peer networking opportunities. View this year's schedule in our 2025 Agenda At-a-Glance. | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment