Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative
Stored: Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative
| Type | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Partnership |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative crafts fuels and engines to lift efficiency and cut emissions in U.S. vehicles, speeding up biofuels and combustion tech via research. |
| Program Start | 2015 |
| Initial Funding | $12 million |
| Duration | 2015-2021 |
| Historic | Yes |
Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative (Co-Optima) was a Department of Energy effort that united the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) to pioneer a synchronized approach to fuel and engine research, enhancing vehicle performance and cutting emissions. The initiative developed innovative fuels and engine technologies to boost efficiency and reduce emissions across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, accelerating the commercialization of sustainable biofuels and advanced combustion systems through partnerships with nine national laboratories, over 20 universities, and numerous industry stakeholders. Launched in 2015 and concluding in 2021, Co-Optima’s breakthroughs, like identifying high-performance biofuel blendstocks and advancing exascale computing readiness, have transitioned into ongoing DOE efforts like the Bioenergy Technologies Office’s fuel optimization programs.
Goals
- Identify fuel properties and engine designs to maximize efficiency, targeting a 10% fuel economy improvement for light-duty vehicles.
- Reduce transportation-related petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions, leveraging domestic biofuel resources.
- Accelerate market adoption of co-optimized technologies, with success measured by industry uptake and emissions reductions.
Organization
The Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative was a partnership co-sponsored by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Vehicle Technologies Office, executed through a consortium of nine national labs, including NREL, Argonne, and Sandia, alongside universities and industry partners like Cummins and ExxonMobil. Funding came from DOE appropriations, starting with $12 million in 2015, supplemented by cost-sharing from partners. Governance involved a leadership team from BETO and VTO, coordinating research across spark-ignition and compression-ignition engine strategies.
The leader of the program held the title of Co-Optima Project Leader, with John Farrell of NREL serving prominently during its tenure.
Partners
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- University of Michigan
- Cummins Inc.
History
Co-Optima was launched in 2015 to address limitations in conventional fuels and engines, spurred by rising vehicle efficiency demands and emissions reduction goals, without specific legislation but under DOE’s EERE mandate. It built on prior biofuels and combustion research, achieving milestones like the 2018 release of studies identifying top biofuel blendstocks and a spark-ignition merit function. Running through 2021, it delivered tools like fuel property databases and supported systems like Summit at Oak Ridge, transitioning its findings into ongoing DOE bioenergy and vehicle tech programs.
Funding
The initiative began with $12 million in 2015 from DOE’s BETO and VTO budgets, with funding growing through annual appropriations and partner cost-shares—e.g., $47 million awarded in 2023 for related consortia work. Funding spanned 2015 to 2021, totaling tens of millions, supporting lab research, university grants, and industry collaborations. Post-2021, additional funding shifted to successor efforts building on Co-Optima’s outcomes.
Implementation
Co-Optima was carried out through a multi-pronged approach: identifying optimal fuel blendstocks, developing advanced engine designs, and testing co-optimized systems across vehicle classes. Strategies included lab experiments, simulations, and industry trials, phased from foundational research (2015–2017) to applied validation (2018–2021). It ended in 2021, with its legacy informing ongoing DOE HPC and biofuel initiatives.
Related
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/co-optimization-fuels-engines
- https://www.nrel.gov/research/co-optima.html