Energy Frontier Research Centers
Stored: Energy Frontier Research Centers
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Basic Energy Sciences |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | N/A |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | To accelerate scientific breakthroughs needed for transformative energy technologies by conducting fundamental research in materials and chemical sciences. EFRCs aim to address the most challenging scientific questions to develop new energy solutions.[1] |
| Program Start | 2009 |
| Initial Funding | $777 million[2] |
| Duration | Indefinite |
| Historic | No |
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) are multi-disciplinary teams focused on fundamental research to overcome scientific barriers to energy technologies. By exploring new materials and chemical processes at the frontiers of science, EFRCs aim to catalyze innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon capture, significantly contributing to the nation's energy innovation landscape.[3]
Goals
- Accelerate the discovery of new materials and processes for energy applications.[4]
- Address complex scientific challenges that limit energy technology advancements.
- Foster collaboration among scientists from academia, national labs, and industry.
Organization
EFRCs are managed by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. Each center is led by a principal investigator from a host institution, which can be a university, national laboratory, or nonprofit organization. Funding comes from DOE's budget for basic research, with centers selected through competitive peer review.
The leader of each EFRC holds the title/position of **Principal Investigator** or **Director** of the specific center.
Centers
New centers
These were added in 2022:
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Center - Led by Argonne National Laboratory
- Catalyst Design for Decarbonization Center - Led by the University of Chicago
- Center for Novel Pathways to Quantum Coherence in Materials - Led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals - Led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center - Led by the University of Minnesota
- Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP) - Led by Ames Laboratory
- Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM) - Location not specified in the given data
Renewal centers
These were renewed in 2022:
- Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction - Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
- Energy Frontier Research Center for Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
- Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Other Centers
- Center for Power Electronics Materials and Manufacturing Exploration - National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
- Quantum Photonic Integrated Design Center - Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Center For Plastics Innovation - University of Delaware, Newark, DE
- Ion Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
- Center for Energy Efficient Magnonics - SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford, CA
- Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy (CHOISE) - National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
- Biological and Light-Driven Energy Conversion (BioLEC) - Led by Princeton University, with NREL involvement
- Center for Solar Fuels - University of California, Irvine, with NREL involvement
- Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics - Led by the University of Arizona, with NREL involvement
History
EFRCs were launched in 2009 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aiming to use basic science to solve energy challenges. Over time, the program has seen renewals and expansions, with new centers added and others retired based on scientific merit and relevance. Key historical events include the periodic funding opportunities and the integration of new research areas like quantum information science and environmental management.
Funding
The program started with an initial investment of $777 million for the first set of centers.[5] Funding for EFRCs is renewed through competitive solicitations, with each center typically receiving support for several years, subject to scientific review and relevance to current energy challenges.
Implementation
Implementation involves:
- Establishing centers focused on specific energy science challenges.
- Conducting research through integrated teams of experts from various disciplines.
- Regular reporting and peer-reviewed publications to advance scientific knowledge.
EFRCs are designed to continue indefinitely, with periodic assessments for funding renewal.
Related
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/energy-frontier-research-centers
- wikipedia:Energy Frontier Research Centers
Social media
- No specific social media accounts for EFRCs; follow the Department of Energy for updates.
References
- ↑ "Energy Frontier Research Centers". https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/energy-frontier-research-centers. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Department of Energy Announces $777 Million for New Energy Frontier Research Centers". https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-777-million-new-energy-frontier-research-centers. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Energy Frontier Research Centers". https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/energy-frontier-research-centers. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Energy Frontier Research Centers". https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/energy-frontier-research-centers. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Department of Energy Announces $777 Million for New Energy Frontier Research Centers". https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-777-million-new-energy-frontier-research-centers. Retrieved January 30, 2025.