Office of Basic Energy Sciences
Stored: Office of Basic Energy Sciences
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Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) is a program within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, dedicated to advancing fundamental research in the physical, chemical, material, and biological sciences that underpin new energy technologies. BES supports research that seeks to understand and control matter at its most basic levels.
Mission
The mission of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences is to foster fundamental research to expand the scientific basis for new and improved energy technologies and to understand, predict, and ultimately control matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular scales. This includes research into materials, chemistry, and geological processes that could lead to breakthroughs in energy efficiency and sustainability.[1]
Parent organization
BES is under the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, which manages multiple research programs to advance scientific understanding in fields related to energy.[2]
Legislation
BES operates under the general mandate of the Department of Energy for scientific research, without specific founding legislation noted.
Partners
- Universities for fundamental research in materials and chemistry
- National laboratories for advanced facility use and collaborative projects
- Industry for technology transfer and joint research initiatives
Number of employees
The exact number of employees in BES isn't publicly detailed, but it involves scientists, researchers, and administrative staff across DOE's facilities.
Organization structure
BES includes:
- Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, focusing on material properties and synthesis.
- Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, covering a broad spectrum of fundamental research.
Leader
BES is led by an Associate Director.[3]
Divisions
- Materials Sciences and Engineering
- Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences
Sub-Organization list
| OrganizationName | Mission | Employees | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Center | The Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Center (AMEWS) is committed to discovering, understanding, and developing advanced materials that improve energy-water systems. AMEWS's mission is to innovate at the interface of materials science and water management to enhance efficiency, reduce energy use, and promote sustainability in water treatment and related applications.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000021-QINU`"' | ||
| Biological and Light-Driven Energy Conversion | CHOISE's mission is to advance the fundamental science of hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors to develop new materials for energy conversion applications. It focuses on understanding and controlling the properties of these materials to enhance solar energy conversion, optoelectronics, and energy-efficient devices. | $13,300,000 (Four-year funding, 2021-2025) | |
| Center for Energy Efficient Magnonics | The mission of CEEMag is to explore and develop the science of magnonics for energy-efficient information processing. It aims to create new paradigms for computing and data storage by utilizing spin waves (magnons) instead of traditional electron-based methods, thereby reducing energy consumption in microelectronics. | $14,400,000 (Four-year funding, 2024-2028) | |
| Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy | CHOISE's mission is to advance the fundamental science of hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors to develop new materials for energy conversion applications. It focuses on understanding and controlling the properties of these materials to enhance solar energy conversion, optoelectronics, and energy-efficient devices. | $13,300,000 (Four-year funding, 2021-2025) | |
| Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction | The mission of CMQT is to advance the fundamental understanding of quantum-to-quantum transduction, focusing on converting quantum information at the molecular level. It aims to develop technologies that enable the coherent exchange of quantum information, with applications in quantum computing, sensing, and communication. | $14,500,000 (2024 grant) | |
| Center for Novel Pathways to Quantum Coherence in Materials | The Center for Novel Pathways to Quantum Coherence in Materials (NPQC) aims to dramatically expand our understanding and control of quantum coherence in solids. NPQC's mission is to develop materials and methods that harness quantum effects for next-generation information processing, sensing, and energy technologies.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000016-QINU`"' | ||
| Center for Plastics Innovation | CPI's mission is to develop transformative technologies for the deconstruction, upcycling, and recycling of plastics, focusing on creating sustainable solutions for plastic waste. It aims to advance scientific understanding and engineering practices to turn plastic waste into valuable chemicals, fuels, and new materials, thereby promoting a circular economy. | $14,500,000 (Five-year funding, 2020-2025) | |
| Center for Power Electronics Materials and Manufacturing Exploration | APEX expands materials for power electronics with novel designs and scalable manufacturing to boost efficiency for grid and transport decarbonization. | $13,900,000 (Four-year funding, 2020-2024) | |
| Center for Solar Fuels | The mission of CSF is to develop technologies for converting solar energy into storable and transportable fuels through artificial photosynthesis. It focuses on creating efficient, cost-effective solar-to-fuel conversion systems that mimic natural photosynthesis to provide sustainable energy solutions. | $12,000,000 (Four-year funding, 2020-2024) | |
| Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals | The Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals (CATS) seeks to revolutionize our understanding and application of topological materials by focusing on topological semimetals. CATS's mission is to accelerate the discovery, characterization, and implementation of these materials to enhance technologies in electronics, quantum computing, and energy efficiency.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000000-QINU`"' | $12.6M (Renewal Funding)'"`UNIQ--ref-00000001-QINU`"' | |
| Energy Frontier Research Center for Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials | The mission of the QSQM is to develop and apply advanced quantum sensing techniques to study quantum materials, aiming to uncover new physics and enable novel technologies. It focuses on understanding the complex behavior of materials at the quantum scale to advance fields like energy conversion, quantum computing, and sensing. | $12,600,000 (Four-year grant, 2022) | |
| Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center | ICDC's mission is to discover new classes of catalytic materials for energy applications, particularly through computational modeling and artificial intelligence, to understand and predict the structure-function relationships of catalysts. It aims to advance the science of catalysis for converting natural gas and other feedstocks into valuable chemicals and fuels. | $12,000,000 (Four-year grant) | |
| Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics | The mission of iCOUP is to develop transformative technologies for upcycling plastics into valuable materials and chemicals, reducing waste and fostering a circular economy. It aims to understand and innovate in the conversion of discarded plastics into high-value products, contributing to environmental sustainability and economic benefits. | $15,100,000 (Fiscal Year 2020-2024) | |
| Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials | IDREAM's mission is to conduct fundamental research to understand and control interfacial chemistry in radioactive environments, particularly in relation to nuclear waste management. It aims to develop scientific insights that support innovations in retrieving and processing high-level radioactive waste. | $14,000,000 (Four-year funding, 2020-2024) | |
| Ion Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials | IDREAM researches ion dynamics in nuclear waste to predict and solve retrieval and disposal challenges. | $14,000,000 (Four-year funding, 2020-2024) | |
| Quantum Photonic Integrated Design Center | The mission of QuPIDC is to advance the science and technology of quantum photonics by integrating quantum optics into photonic circuits for applications in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. QuPIDC aims to develop new materials, devices, and systems that leverage quantum effects for enhanced performance in these fields. | $13,900,000 (Four-year funding, 2020-2024) | |
| Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid | The mission of Ultra EFRC is to investigate and develop ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors for applications in creating a more resilient and smart electricity grid. It aims to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and size of power electronics used in grid infrastructure, thereby improving the integration of renewable energy sources. | $12,400,000 (Four-year grant, 2020-2024) |
List of programs
- Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs)
- Light Source Development
- Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs)
Dynamic table
| ProgramName | OrgSponsor |
|---|---|
| Energy Frontier Research Centers | Office of Basic Energy Sciences |
Last total enacted budget
Specific budget details for BES are not publicly detailed but are part of the DOE's Office of Science allocations.
Staff
The staff of BES includes researchers, program managers, and support staff, though exact numbers are not specified.
Funding
BES is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's budget, supporting research projects, user facilities, and scientific instruments development.
Services provided
BES supports fundamental research in materials science, chemistry, geosciences, and biosciences, providing access to advanced scientific facilities like synchrotron light sources, neutron scattering facilities, and electron-beam microcharacterization. This research underpins advancements in energy technologies.[4]
Regulations overseen
BES does not oversee regulations but contributes to the scientific knowledge base that can inform policy in energy and materials science.
Headquarters address
1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585, USA
History
The Office of Basic Energy Sciences has been a cornerstone of DOE since its formation, evolving from research into nuclear materials to a broad spectrum of fundamental science aimed at energy solutions. Significant contributions include pioneering work in X-ray science, neutron scattering, and materials synthesis.
External links
References
- ↑ Unknown (June 14, 2023). "BES Homepage". U.S. DOE Office of Science.
- ↑ Unknown (July 14, 2008). "Office of Science - Wikipedia". Wikipedia.
- ↑ Unknown (September 20, 2024). "Basic Energy Sciences". U.S. DOE Office of Science.
- ↑ Unknown (October 13, 2024). "BES Research". U.S. DOE Office of Science.