DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will act as facilitator. The 25-square-mile demonstration zone is in the southwest corner of the Nevada Test Site, a former nuclear testing site, on land owned by DOI's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and administered by DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration. Following planning and reviews, construction of demonstration projects is scheduled for September 2011. The zone will serve as a proving ground for new solar technologies, providing a critical link between DOE's advanced technology development activities and full-scale commercialization efforts.
The demonstration zone will complement BLM's establishment of 24 "solar energy study areas" on federal lands across the Southwest by helping to ensure the most advanced CSP technologies are ready for commercial deployment.
Plans are underway to create a new DOE funding opportunity for demonstration projects at the Nevada Test Site that will include matching investments from the private sector. DOE selected the demonstration zone after evaluating 26 locations for suitable solar conditions, terrain, and infrastructure to support solar projects. BLM and DOE are working closely with the U.S. Air Force to identify and address potential problems with operating the demonstration zone. See the DOE press release, the MOU (PDF 135 KB), DOE's CSP page, and BLM's renewable energy Web site.
DOE-Funded Clean Energy Projects Win 8 R&D 100 Awards
DOE national labs and researchers won 39 of 100 awards this year by R&D Magazine for outstanding technology developments with promising commercial potential, including eight awards for energy efficiency and renewable energy research projects.
The sought-after "R&D 100 Awards" are presented annually in recognition of exceptional new products, processes, materials, and software developed throughout the world and introduced to the market the previous year. An independent panel of judges selects the award receipients based on technical significance, uniqueness, and usefulness of projects and technologies from across industry, government, and academia. See the DOE press release for the full list of DOE-funded award winners, and R&D Magazine for all R&D 100 Award winners for 2010.
Six of DOE's R&D 100 Awards went to renewable energy research projects, including three for biofuels and biobased products. The Idaho National Lab won for its Supercritical/Solid Catalyst (SSC), which converts wastes, such as fats and oils, into biodiesel. SSC turns the worst of wastes into high-quality biodiesel fuels using a single step - a breakthrough that could replace 20% of petroleum diesel used in the U.S., representing crude imports of 800,000 barrels per day.
Los Alamos National Lab was honored for its Ultrasonic Algal Biofuel Harvester, a one-of-a-kind device that uses extremely high-frequency sound waves to extract oils and proteins from algae, separating out and recycling the water, all in one integrated system.
And Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) was recognized for its development of a process to make propylene glycol from renewable sources. PNNL researchers developed a chemical catalyst that converts a plant-based compound into the additive. See press releases from INL and LANL, and PNNL.
Three awards went to solar breakthroughs, including two for the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). NREL's "black silicon" solar cells, which have been chemically etched with a nanocatalytic solution, can better absorb the sun's energy. The one-step method, which reduces light reflection from silicon wafers to less than 2%, could reduce manufacturing production costs and capital expenses.
NREL also won an award for the Amonix 7700 Solar Power Generator, a concentrating photovoltaic system that produces 40% more energy than conventional fixed PV panels. The 53 kW device, developed in partnership with Amonix, pairs an Amonix Fresnel lens with high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells.
Micro Power Source, an ultra-small solar cell, was developed jointly by Sandia National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Front Edge Technology, Inc.
