N.C. to receive $3.1M to boost alternative energy research

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that it will provide more than $3.1 million to fund energy research in North Carolina.

The grant is part of the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s selection of 37 projects nationwide that will study and propose new methods to use and produce energy. North Carolina is one of 17 states that have received funding from a total pot of $151 million.

Triangle research institute RTI International was awarded a portion of the grant to advance its studies of a “single-step catalytic biomass pyrolysis process with high carbon conversion efficiency to produce a stable bio-crude ‘oil’ with low oxygen content” to unify the three processes of the production, stabilization and upgrading of pyrolysis oil—a synthetic fuel being studied as a possible replacement for petroleum—into one.

ARPA-E, originally founded under the America Competes Act of 2007, is funded by a $400 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The organization aims to develop innovative ways to improve ways the world produces and uses energy.

This year’s 37 recipients of ARPA-E funding comprised the organization’s first round of grants. The various research projects explore the numerous realms of energy technology, including renewable power, building efficiency and biofuels.

More than 3,600 concepts were submitted for consideration, according to the ARPA-E Web site. The final 37 projects were selected following a process of expert reviews and assessment of possible impact.