Manufacturing is the use of energy, equipment, information, services, and capital to convert raw materials, components, and parts into goods that meet market expectations. As an economic sector, manufacturing generates 12% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product ("GDP") and employs 12 million Americans. The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office ("AMO") makes research, development, and demonstration ("RD&D") investments in advanced manufacturing process and materials technologies. These technologies are foundational, pervasive, and promise crosscutting industrial applications and impact in reducing industry's energy footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as supporting the global competitiveness of clean energy products. By targeting the development of energy-related advanced manufacturing technology, AMO's work can create completely new supply chains and stimulate significant economic growth and job creation.
AMO's Next Generation Electric Machines ("NGEM") program is an RD&D effort leveraging recent technology advancements in power electronics and electric motors to develop a new generation of energy efficient, high power density, high speed, integrated MV drive systems for a wide variety of critical energy applications. Improvements to these systems can be realized through the application of key enabling technologies, such as wide bandgap devices, advanced magnetic materials, improved insulation materials, aggressive cooling techniques, high speed bearing designs, and improved conductors or superconducting materials. Through this development program, NGEM will facilitate a step-change that enables more efficient use of electricity, as well as reduced drive system size and weight, developing lasting capabilities for motor material development, design, and analysis that are cost-shared with industry stakeholders.
This specific Financial Opportunity Announcement ("FOA") is focused on advancing three key enabling technologies that can take the development of electric machines a giant step further by addressing significant reductions in three major categories of energy losses in an electric machine. The FOA leverages on recent technical advancements made in nanomaterial research, 6.5wt% siliconizing process in electrical steel manufacturing, and improved in-field performance of high temperature superconductor technology to realize the complete vision of developing a new generation of energy efficient, high power density, high speed electric machines for a wide variety of critical energy applications.
Number of Applications: Four
One concept paper from CWRU may go forward in each of the four following areas:
- Topic Area 1: High Performance Thermal and Electrical Conductor Manufacturing (see description above): EERE may issue approximately 2-3 awards in this topic area, with an average award amount of $1 million to $1.5 million.
- Topic Area 2: Low Loss Si Steel Manufacturing (see description above): EERE may issue approximately 2-3 awards in this topic area, with an average award amount of $1 million to $2 million.
- Topic Area 3: Superconducting Wire Manufacturing (see description above): EERE may issue approximately 2-3 awards in this topic area, with an average award amount of $4 million to $6.5 million.
- Topic Area 4: Other Enabling Technologies to Increase Performance (see description above): EERE may issue approximately 2-3 awards in this topic area, with an average award amount of $1.5 million to $2.5 million.
Eligibility
For complete eligibility requirements, see the opportunity announcement here.
Submission Process
Anyone wishing to pursue nomination for this opportunity should submit the application materials detailed below as one PDF email attachment no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 22, 2016. Materials should be submitted to Stephanie Endy at stephanie.endy@case.edu. Internal LOI should include:
- A cover page including the project title, specific FOA Topic Area being addressed and team member names and organizations.
- The PI's CV
- Technology Description (not to exceed two pages) succinctly summarizing:
- The proposed technology, including its basic operating principles and how it is unique and innovative;
- The proposed technology's target level of performance (applicants should provide technical data or other support to show how the proposed target could be met);
- The current state-of-the-art in the relevant field and application, including key shortcomings, limitations and challenges;
- How the proposed technology will overcome the shortcomings, limitations and challenges in the relevant field and application;
- The potential impact that the proposed project would have on the relevant field and application;
- The key technical risks/issues associated with the proposed technology development plan; and
- The impact that EERE funding would have on the proposed project.
The nominees will be notified of their selection by March 28, 2016.
Final proposal due to the Office of Research Administration by April 5, 2016.
Sponsor deadline is April 12, 2016.