PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW

OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

The Department of Energy is committed to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry.  The mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that: enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.

EERE leads the Federal government’s research, development, and deployment efforts in energy efficiency. EERE's role is to invest in high-risk, high-value research and development that is critical to the Nation's energy future and would not be sufficiently conducted by the private sector acting on its own.

It is estimated that the energy technologies and practices supported by the EERE programs have saved Americans many billions of dollars in energy costs over the past decade.  These savings are projected to dramatically increase as emerging and new energy technologies are developed and commercialized.  These energy savings are accompanied by parallel reductions in emissions of pollutants that affect human health and in the production of greenhouse gases.  The EERE programs in renewable energy have advanced the state of technologies in such areas as solar, wind, and biomass to the point where renewables have been projected to supply as much as 28 percent of the Nation’s energy by 2030.

Program activities are conducted in partnership with the private sector, state and local government, DOE national laboratories, and universities.  EERE also works with stakeholders to develop programs and policies to facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices.

For additional information regarding the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy priorities, click here.

TOPICS:

1.  Use of Cellulosic Biomass to Produce Biofuels

      a.   Handling and Preprocessing of Ensiled (Wet) Biomass

      b.   Densification/Granulation of Dry Biomass

      c.   Fermintation/Biochemical Conversion

      d.   Distributed Biomass Pyrolysis and Bio-oil Upgrading/Thermochemical Conversion

2.   Solar Energy

      a.   Monitoring and Self-Diagnosing PV Systems, Components and Modules

      b.   PV (Crystalline Silicon and Thin Film) Manufacturing Diagnostics

      c.   Non-Inverter Balance-of-System Components and Net-Metering Technologies

      d.   Non-Cell Concentrator Photovoltaic System Components

3.   Hydrogen Delivery and Production

      a.   Off-Board Hydrogen Bulk Storage

      b.   Hydrogen Liquefaction

      c.   Hydrogen Compression

      d.  Hydrogen Production

4.   Wind Energy Reliability and Cost Reduction

      a.   Smart Wind Grid Integration Systems

      b.   Wind Turbine Health Monitoring Systems

      c.   Wind Turbine Operating and Control Systems (Sensors and Actuators)

      d.   Advanced Manufacturing and Assembly Techniques for Wind Energy Systems

5.   Technologies Related to Hybrid Electric Vehicles with Special Emphasis On Plug-In Hybrids

      a.   New Materials to Improve the Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries in HEV and PHEV Applications

      b.   Improved Lower Cost Electrode Materials for Electrochemical Capacitors

      c.   Technologies to Address Problems Associated with Internal Heating Capacitors

      d.   Technologies Associated with Advanced Motors

6.   Alternative Feedstocks to Chemicals

      a.   Coal to Chemicals

      b.   Cellulose-Based Biomass to Chemicals

      c.   Tar Sands and Heavy Oils to Chemicals

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