Weekly Jolt ⚡ News From Our National Labs, Clean Energy Advancements, and More!
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy
Our mission is to create & sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. We're hiring!
A Spotlight on Our National Labs 🥼
❓ Nobody knew why the promising cathode batteries 🔋 still have a capacity that declines so fast—enter Argonne National Laboratory ! Using a pioneering technology, Argonne researchers unraveled the mystery of declining cathode, getting one step closer to improving the driving range and cost of EVs. 🚗 Learn how Argonne researchers made this discovery.
National Charging Experience Task Force: Assemble! 😎💥 The ChargeX Consortium has built a team of scientists, software developers, vehicle manufacturers, and other national labs and industry partners to make sure that every part of the electric vehicle (EV) charging experience works smoothly. 🚙⚡ Read more about how the ChargeX Consortium task force works to create reliable and positive EV charging experiences.
Did you know that you can shorten solar installation permitting timelines by 14 ½ business days? 📅✔️ In 2023, the Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+) platform launched, saving over 15,000 hours of staff time for building departments. ☀️ Learn more about how the SolarAPP+ program continues to grow safe and fast solar permitting.
🌵 Sedona, Arizona, is home to less than 10,000 people but welcomes almost 3 million visitors per year—so they knew they needed to strengthen their EV infrastructure. 💪 DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program gave them the peer and expert advice they needed to streamline the EV charger installation process! 🤝 Learn more about how C2C’s peer-learning cohorts provide each other with valuable insights and tools, and grow connections in the clean energy industry.
Did you know that communities within 20 miles of operational wind energy projects see an increase in employment rates and income? 🤗✨ Berkeley Lab 's (LBNL’s) study investigates how wind energy development 💨 impacts jobs and wage rates. Read LBNL’s findings to find out more! 🔎
Come Work With Us ✏️
Got a project that tests the efficacy and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)? 💭 EERE’s Geothermal Technologies Office just announced their second-round funding opportunity, offering up to $14.2 million for EGS projects that tap into subsurface heat resources in the eastern United States! 🔥 Read the full funding announcement to learn how you can help demonstrate the potential for EGS to provide clean, reliable energy 🤗, submit your letter of intent by July 18, and apply by September 25!
Advancing hydropower technology 💧🔌 is crucial to maintaining a reliable grid—enter the Hydropower Testing Network (HyTN), which aims to connect hydropower technology developers with testing facility providers. 🌊 If you’re interested in working with HyTN to advance hydropower technologies, apply by August 8!
The Winners’ Circle 🏆
Picture this. No, really, get a good shot! 📷 The Framing the Future: Industrial Technology Photo Contest wants your best photos of innovative technologies, processes, and people who help decarbonize the U.S. industrial sector. 🏗️ Submit your best photo by November 21 to compete!
What’s New in Sustainable Transportation and Fuels? 🚦
🧠 Meet the minds behind the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium (ChemCatBio): a collaborative consortium of eight national labs and over 120 researchers focusing on technology development for bioenergy applications! 🌱⚡ Learn more about how ChemCatBio is working to decarbonize our economy.
What’s New in Renewable Energy? 📰
So, you’ve installed rooftop solar panels on your house! 🏡✔️ But now you’ve got some questions: How long does a household solar system last? When does it need to be replaced? Well, EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office has all the answers you need, 👍 so check out the variety of out-of-this-world resources for all your solar system needs. 🛸
What's New in Buildings and Industry? 🏙️
We use batteries every day—so as the U.S. electric grid transitions to sustainable energy, batteries need to evolve to keep up. 🔋 That’s where next-generation batteries come in! 😮✨ Check out the helpful breakdown by EERE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office to learn more about the uses and benefits of next-generation batteries.