Energy Capital The Magazine-December 2022-Edition 16

ERG projects and the blockchain: an approach that incorporates validation

and a simple, low-risk launch

By Susan Nash, Ph.D. AAPG

There are advantages to converting a part of your ESG projects, whether they be upstream, midstream, or downstream, to a form that can be bought and sold within the blockchain. One is the expanded potential for tax credits and another is the ability to achieve corporate ESG goals. Another is the ability to reach a larger and different market as they buy and sell digital non-fungible tokens relating to your projects on various carbon exchanges or web3 marketplaces for NFTs and crypto collectibles.

For simplicity’s sake, let’s take the case of reducing carbon emissions and imagine that you have a project or series of projects that will involve reducing emissions in pipelines, oil and gas operations, refineries, just to name a few possibilities. In the past, the many of the carbon exchange transactions

primarily involved carbon dioxide, but in recent years the focus has expanded to include methane emissions.

Despite the benefits, the process can be very daunting. It can seem complicated, expensive, and fraught with potential bad faith, as it seems quite difficult to verify or validate the claims of the companies that are actively involved in pulling carbon dioxide or methane out of the atmosphere and doing something with it.

THE WORLD OF BUYING AND SELLING CARBON CREDITS AND ESG COMMODITIES

First, to get into the world of buying and selling carbon credits, is it necessary to join a carbon exchange? The short answer is that yes and no. Yes, you’ll need to have a digital product (your NFTs) in an NFT exchange so you can sell your tokens. You may not qualify at first for the large carbon exchanges, or you may want to start with a less expensive, friendlier exchange.

But, selecting an exchange or a platform is the last step along the way. First, you need to have bona fide projects, and also you need to validation.

Let’s take a look at potential projects:

Carbon Dioxide:

• Reducing emissions: Efforts are made to make engines more efficient, reduce transit including air and ground transportation, convert to electric vehicles, capture CO2 emissions from industrial sources, and more.

• Creating carbon sinks: This is a popular method for creating carbon credits. Individuals and organizations can establish tree farms, set up algae farms using seawater (DesignBloom is one such company), and other methods, all of which have calculated how much carbon dioxide is being pulled from the atmosphere.

Methane:

• Reducing emissions: detecting leaks and monitoring pipelines, gas gathering facilities, storage facilities; correctly plugging abandoned oil and gas wells and monitoring them.

• Creating methane “sinks”: There are not too many ways to pull methane from the air, but it is possible in areas where methane is generated (sewer, city sanitation facilities, agriculture, low-volume gas) and to capture it for use in generating electricity, etc.

Once you have selected a project that will result in an abatement of emissions, there are vitally important steps that you must incorporate in order for your project to have any credibility or value:

• Independent third party validation: A neutral and technically competent and relevant group must have established standards, processes, and procedures to follow.

They can be in the form of “Best Practices” there need to be clearly defined checklists of tasks to complete according to standards established in “Best Practices”

•Measurable and verifiable results

Emissions before the project was completed

Emissions afterwards How the calculations were made (following

and industry accepted methodologies)

The type of equipment and processes used in both abating the emissions and in ongoing monitoring

• Credible sign-off or validation from government or relevant non-government organization (NGO) that will assure that there was compliance with respect to both adherence to best practices and the measurements. The government or NGO can Government entity approval can mean tax credits

NGO entity approval can mean tax credit, potential grants

Local utilities provider approval can mean rate discounts

Validation: The Case of Project Canary

Project Canary is a public benefit corporation based in Denver, Colorado, that uses an array of sensors and software to monitor oil and gas assets. They are a data and software firm and they collect, analyze, quantify, and visualize environmental risk and emission profiles for the assets.

Because they use an integrated array of 3rd party sensor data, assessment scores and keep the data in their Canary SENSE Platform, they are able to provide independently verifiable climate attribute data for upstream, midstream, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects.

In addition, Project Canary certifies natural gas as Responsibly-Sourced Gas (RSG), which validates that the gas that is being sold has gone through a rigorous process of investigation to make sure that the methane molecules were produced following best practices to minimize environmental and community impacts.

Project Canary’s Responsibly Certified Gas (RSG) designation could be desirable for a company needing validation for their project, especially one that they

would eventually like to make a part of an NFT project and traded a regional exchange dedicated to carbon trading. One of the largest is Xpansiv CBL, based in New York.

CREATING YOUR NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTs)

First, you’ll need to create your tokens, which are the actual digital items you’ll sell on the exchange.

Anyone can create a non-fungible token (NFT) to buy and sell using cryptocurrency. One might even say that an NFT is cryptocurrency since it is created in a blockchain such as Ethereum. It’s a bit different because it’s non-fungible, so can vary in value.

Validation: The Case of Project Canary

Project Canary is a public benefit corporation based in Denver, Colorado, that uses an array of sensors and software to monitor oil and gas assets. They are a data and software firm and they collect, analyze, quantify, and visualize environmental risk and emission profiles for the assets.

Because they use an integrated array of 3rd party sensor data, assessment scores and keep the data in their Canary SENSE Platform, they are able to provide independently verifiable climate attribute data for upstream, midstream, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects.

In addition, Project Canary certifies natural gas as Responsibly-Sourced Gas (RSG), which validates that the gas that is being sold has gone through a rigorous

process of investigation to make sure that the methane molecules were produced following best practices to minimize environmental and community impacts.

Project Canary’s Responsibly Certified Gas (RSG) designation could be desirable for a company needing validation for their project, especially one that they would eventually like to make a part of an NFT project and traded a regional exchange dedicated to carbon trading. One of the largest is Xpansiv CBL, based in New York.

CREATING YOUR NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTs)

First, you’ll need to create your tokens, which are the actual digital items you’ll sell on the exchange.

Anyone can create a non-fungible token (NFT) to buy and sell using cryptocurrency. One might even say that an NFT is cryptocurrency since it is created in a blockchain such as Ethereum. It’s a bit different because it’s non-fungible, so can vary in value.

1. Pick a digital item (graphic, etc.) that you have created and you own the digital rights to.

• Be sure to create a family or grouping of NFTs. For example, you might have a group of tokens entitled “Orphan Wells.”

• Create one token for each orphan well that has been plugged and abandoned according to Best Practices.

• The token information for each one would include all the certifications that show standards have been met, and how much impact it had (the emissions measurements).

2. Choose a blockchain. The most popular now is Ethereum. If you are just getting started, you can go to OpenSea (https://opensea.io/) which is the largest digital marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). OpenSea is a “one-stop shopping” location that automatically gets you on a blockchain (Ethereum) and guides you through setting up a digital wallet.

3. Set up a digital wallet. Coinbase Wallet seems to be a popular one now. OpenSea walks you through setting up a Metamask wallet, which is a non-custodial software wallet that is popular for NFTs and easy to use.

4. Select a Crypto Marketplace. OpenSea is popular and accessible. You can mint your own NFT in OpenSea, and it’s one of the leaders in NFT sales.

• Mint your NFT – make sure that you have a roadmap so that your designs are consistent and appealing

• Learn how to schedule your NFT drops (reveals)

• Learn the best way to publicize the drops (Twitter and Discord)

• Learn how the sales and resales occur

5. Plan your NFT drops:

• Your mint schedule

• Your project roadmap

• The team behind the project

6. OpenSea allows you to develop your NFT drops and to mint the individual NFTs at the same time so that you have a clear plan and can keep everything organized around a schedule. It also helps you develop a marketing and publicity plan to develop awareness of your NFT.

WHERE TO SELL:

OPENSEA VS XPANSIV CBL

Xpansiv CBL (https://xpansiv.com) is a trading platform for environmental products, which include the results from different types of emissionsabatement (carbon dioxide and methane) projects. It is a dedicated platform for environmental NFTs. To be included, your project must be evaluated by Xpansiv.

OpenSea.io is a trading platform that is much broader and easier to use. You would need to provide your own outside validation which would be encompassed in your token. You’d need an effective way to get the word out to your potential buyers and the market in general because the potential buyer could be distracted by the popular culture-focused NFTs in OpenSea. However, because OpenSea is so easy to use, the potential market is much larger.

THE KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

At the end of the day, to get into the world of carbon exchanges and buying and selling tokens in the blockchain, you’ll need to be able to ask yourself very tough questions about your plans and your roadmap.

1. Do you have bona fide projects that will materially impact carbon emissions in a measurable and verifiable way?

2. Is your validation process one that follows best practices that have been issued by a respected authority?

3. Can you measure the impact, and are the measurements verifiable?

4. Do your monitoring efforts have the potential to yield reward such as tax credits or utilities discounts?

5. Are you able to qualify for “approved” lists from organizations such as government agencies, energy trusts, local utilities, interstate / regional compact commissions?

THE ROAD AHEAD

Efforts to reduce emissions of harmful gases and to reduce the number of leaks, both liquid and gaseous, are more important than ever, and there is an increasing level of support for the efforts. Further, new technologies and processes are increasing the trustworthiness of reported results. While direct payment for services is definitely a foundational part of the business proposition of reducing emissions and cleaning up the environment, more long-term, “longtail” opportunities have emerged in the form of carbon exchanges and trading carbon credits, or investing in projects that have a positive impact.

While it might be a bit daunting at first to tackle the notion of minting your own tokens and promoting them for transactions in different NFT exchanges, including ones dedicated to carbon trading, it is gaining in popularity and represents a true opportunity for expanded participation in and support for your projects.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards $2.8 Billion to Supercharge U.S. Manufacturing of Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Electric Grid

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today announced the first set of projects funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electrical grid and for materials and components currently imported from other countries.

The 20 companies will receive a combined $2.8 billion to build and expand commercial-scale facilities in 12 states to extract and process lithium, graphite and other battery materials, manufacture components, and demonstrate new approaches, including manufacturing components from recycled materials. The federal investment will be matched by recipients to leverage a total of more than $9 billion to boost American production of clean energy technology, create good-paying jobs, and

support President Biden’s national goals for electric vehicles to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030 and to transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

“This is truly a remarkable time for manufacturing in America, as President Biden’s Agenda and historic investments supercharge the private sector to ensure our clean energy future is American-made,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Producing advanced batteries and components here at home will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to meet the strong demand for electric vehicles, creating more good-paying jobs across the country.”

Although plug-in EV sales have tripled since President Biden took office, the U.S. depends on foreign sources for many of the processed versions of critical minerals needed to produce

EV batteries. Since coming into office, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken swift action to secure a reliable and sustainable battery supply chain. Today’s grants are a critical next step in that strategy. The funded projects announced today include U.S. processing and recycling of critical minerals to support domestic manufacturing.

Responsible and sustainable domestic sourcing of the critical materials used to make lithium-ion batteries—such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite—will strengthen the American supply chain, accelerate battery production to meet increased demand, and secure the nation’s economic competitiveness, energy independence, and national security.

The funding for the selected projects will support:

• Developing enough battery-grade lithium to supply approximately 2 million EVs annually

• Developing enough battery-grade graphite to supply approximately 1.2 million EVs annually

• Producing enough battery-grade nickel to supply approximately 400,000 EVs annually

• Installing the first large-scale, commercial lithium electrolyte salt (LiPF6) production facility in the United States

• Developing an electrode binder facility capable of supplying 45% of the anticipated domestic demand for binders for EV batteries in 2030

• Creating the first commercial scale domestic silicon oxide production facilities to supply anode materials for an estimated 600,000 EV batteries annually

• Installing the first lithium iron phosphate cathode facility in the United States

Currently, virtually all lithium, graphite, batterygrade nickel, electrolyte salt, electrode binder,

THE FUNDED PROJECTS WILL HELP EMPLOY WORKERS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL UNIONS AND 15 OF THE PROJECTS WILL COLLABORATE WITH MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

and iron phosphate cathode material are produced abroad, and China controls the supply chains for many of these key inputs.

Workforce and Community Engagement

DOE evaluated applications on technical merits and contributions to increasing American production of advanced battery components, as well as on applicants’ commitments to deliver benefits for

communities and workers. The companies submitted plans for engagement with local stakeholders, Tribal nations, environmental groups, and labor unions to ensure the funded projects create high-quality jobs; advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and contribute meaningfully to the Justice40 initiative to provide 40% of the overall benefits of federal clean energy investments to disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

Of the 20 companies selected, five will build new facilities in disadvantaged communities, and 15 in locations adjacent to disadvantaged communities. Additionally, six announced projects have established goals for hiring residents of disadvantaged communities into permanent roles, and 13 included commitments to negotiate Workforce and Community Agreements. These agreements are focused on engagement with host communities, labor unions, and/or Tribal entities, to agree on community benefits and implementation plans. At least two funded projects have collective bargaining agreements for both construction and ongoing production jobs, and an additional nine projects have committed to labor neutrality, with two applicants already pursuing Project Labor Agreements with unions representing their workers.

The funded projects will help employ workers from many different construction and industrial unions and 15 of the projects will collaborate with minority serving institutions, including

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to hire and train workers. The new and expanded facilities funded through these awards are expected to cumulatively support more than 8,000 jobs, including 5,000 permanent jobs.

The funding announced today is the first phase of $7 billion in total provided by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen the domestic battery supply chain by supporting upstream materials processing to create the precursor materials for batteries. DOE anticipates moving quickly on additional funding opportunities to continue to fill gaps in and strengthen the domestic battery supply chain.

American Battery Material Initiative

The President also announced the launch of the American Battery Material Initiative, a dedicated effort to align Federal investments and activities, domestic and international, to accelerate the development of the full end-to-end battery supply chain, including the critical minerals and materials we need to meet production and deployment goals.

The Initiative will be led by DOE, with support from the Department of the Interior, and work closely with the Partnership on Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Department of State to align and leverage dozens of programs and efforts across the Federal government to support and grow the battery supply chain, including resources through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

The Initiative will coordinate domestic and international efforts to accelerate permitting for critical minerals projects, ensuring that the United States develops the resources the country needs in an efficient and timely manner, while strengthening Tribal consultation, community engagement, and environmental standards to build smarter, faster, and fairer.

U.S. Department Of Energy Invests $14 Million To Enhance Environmental And Wildlife Benefits From Solar Energy Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $14 million in funding to researchers to study how solar energy infrastructure interacts with wildlife and ecosystems.

By EERE News

These projects are part of DOE’s nearly $100 million renewable power research portfolio that invests in innovative, cost-effective solutions to minimize wildlife impacts—and maximize the environmental benefits—of renewable energy technologies. As renewable energy deployment grows to combat the climate crisis and achieve President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, DOE is supporting research to ensure renewable energy deployment also benefits native wildlife and ecosystems.

“DOE is committed to ensuring that renewable energy deployment protects natural environments,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “This first-ever DOE investment in tools to better understand how solar energy infrastructure interacts with native wildlife and the environment will help increase adoption of ecosystem-friendly clean energy deployment.”

“If we hope to have an inhabitable planet for our kids and grandkids, we need to get serious about renewable energy sources –including solar power. As we take steps to combat the climate crisis, we must conduct more research to ensure that we can preserve and protect our ecosystems and wildlife as we transition to renewable energy,” said U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (IL). “I’m encouraged by DOE’s trust in Illinois’ world-class research facility, Argonne National Laboratory, and congratulate the Argonne scientists selected to lead this research.”

SAID U.S. SENATOR EDWARD MARKEY (MA).

"As we build out the clean energy infrastructure that will power our carbon pollution-free future, we need to be mindful about protecting native wildlife and ecosystems from unintended consequences,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (NM). “I'm proud to welcome this investment that will help researchers at places like Sandia National Labs and the Wildlands Network in New Mexico study the impacts of utility-scale solar installations and concentrating solar power projects and develop data-backed strategies to protect birds, mammals, and healthy ecosystems."

“I am thrilled that UMass Amherst has received over a million dollars from the Department of Energy to help maximize the environmental benefits of solar energy,” said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA). “This critical investment in research will help ensure that we can protect wildlife while transitioning to a clean energy future.”

“As we build our clean energy future, green technologies will need to coexist with wildlife and help our environment to thrive,” said U.S. Senator Edward Markey (MA). “I am excited to see this funding support important research at University of Massachusetts at Amherst— because we’re not just the Bay State, we’re the Brain State. With these federal dollars, UMass Amherst will be able to contribute to the growing body of research that underpins our clean energy economy, and will expand our understanding of the relationship between birds and insects and renewable energy, so that both our ecosystems and our economy can flourish.”

Solar energy development can benefit local communities, protect native wildlife, and foster healthy ecosystems. However, there is little data about how large-scale solar facilities

AS WE BUILD OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE, GREEN TECHNOLOGIES WILL NEED TO COEXIST WITH WILDLIFE AND HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT TO THRIVE,”

affect wildlife, making it difficult for developers to use best practices when building and managing solar facilities. With today’s investments, DOE is taking critical steps to address this research gap. In addition, new solutions like establishing pollinator habitats under solar arrays can support insects and other wildlife that pollinate crops. These are a type of benefits known as ecosystem services, which can also include carbon sequestration and improved soil and water quality.

Through the Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB) funding program, researchers will study the interactions of pronghorn, pollinators, birds, and other species with solar energy facilities in 26 states. This funding program also includes DOE’s first-ever investments in tools that can assess and help optimize ecosystem services at solar installations.

Projects

addressing wildlife interactions ($8.8 million):

• Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): $2 million to use an emerging technology to quantify insect biodiversity and pollinator communities at solar facilities.

• Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (Washington, DC): $600,000 to design and build a solar-wildlife datasharing infrastructure that enables stakeholders to assess solar-wildlife interactions and improve wildlife management practices.

• Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM): $2 million to develop smart surveillance technology to monitor bird activity and study measures to prevent bird fatalities at concentrating solar-thermal power facilities.

• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): $1.3 million to assess biodiversity at large-scale solar facilities to gain an understanding of solar-wildlife interactions and benefits from native vegetation management practices in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

• University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Amherst, MA): $1.2 million to conduct the first assessment of avian reproductive success at solar facilities and apply

emerging bioacoustics technology to monitor native insect activity in the Northeast.

• Wildlands Network (Santa Fe, NM): $1.7 million to evaluate the response of pronghorn and other mammals to installation of utilityscale solar energy systems in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Projects addressing ecosystem services ($5.3 million):

• Argonne National Laboratory (Lemont, IL): $2 million to develop a national soil data collection system at solar facilities that enables soil health and soil ecosystem services assessments.

• Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): $1.5 million to develop a tool for assessing the costs and benefits of ecosystem services provided by large-scale solar facilities for the solar industry and host communities in the Northeast.

• Great Plains Institute (Minneapolis, MN): $1.8 million to create an equitable ecosystem services framework based on host community and tribal priorities in the Midwest.

This funding complements a robust portfolio of research on renewable energy development and wildlife. DOE has over $30 million invested in research to understand how birds, bats, and marine animals interact with wind turbines and develop technologies to reduce impacts. DOE has over $40 million invested in hydropower and marine energy research to protect fish, other wildlife, oceans, and rivers, including an upcoming $4 million funding opportunity to advance fish passage and protection technologies in hydropower. DOE is also supporting research in solar energy development to monitor avian interactions and maximize benefits to pollinators, soil, and water.

26+% CAGR, Hydrogen Fueling Station Market Size Worth Nearly $4 Bn by 2030

Premium Research Study by The

Insight

Partners

THE GLOBAL HYDROGEN FUELING STATION MARKET SIZE TO GROW WITH INCREASED EMPHASIS ON DECARBONIZING ENERGY END USE AND EXPANSION IN THE EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY AND AN INCREASE IN HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY SAFETY MEASURES.

By The Insight Partners

Global Hydrogen Fueling Station Market: Competitive Landscape & Key Developments:

Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, Ballard, FirstElement Fuel Inc., Cummins Inc., Linde Group, Nel Hydrogen, PDC Machines Inc., Black and Veatch Holding Company, ITM Power are among the key hydrogen fueling station market players profiled during the study. Several other major companies were studied and analyzed during this research study to get a holistic view of the global hydrogen fueling station market and its ecosystem.

In February 2021, Howden—a UK-based major engineering firm—said that it would provide

Everfuel, a leading Danish company, with cutting-edge H2 compressor solutions. Advanced systems are being implemented by businesses like Howden to improve their manufacturing capabilities. These businesses are creating cutting-edge fueling facilities worldwide due to the significant demand for low-carbon solutions. Several businesses adhere to strict emission requirements by implementing low-carbon technology-induced infrastructures supported by favorable government policy frameworks. These components are projected to positively impact the worldwide hydrogen fueling station market during the forecast period.

Following the recent success of cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen, hydrogen fueling stations have attracted a lot of attention. Some businesses are attracted to the ease with which fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) may be manufactured. The growing number of retail hydrogen fueling facilities in key areas is helping to enable the initial rollout of fuel cell electric vehicles. The first introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles is supported by the rise in retail hydrogen fueling outlets in several regions.

Customers in markets where hydrogen fuel is accessible, especially in California, can buy or lease production FCEVs from manufacturers, including Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota. With more connecting and destination stations, the goal has been to provide hydrogen fuel at existing gas stations serving areas in Northern California close to San Francisco and Southern California close to Los Angeles and San Diego.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Hydrogen Fueling Station Market:

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the sales of hydrogen fueling stations globally. However, it has created opportunities in addition to demanding situations for the players present inside the ecosystem. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the automotive sector because of the protracted global lockdowns and the economic crisis, which caused spending on next-generation technology to decline. Major European nations adhered

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

STATIONS GLOBALLY. HOWEVER,

IMPACTED THE SALES OF HYDROGEN FUELING

IT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDITION TO DEMANDING SITUATIONS FOR THE PLAYERS PRESENT INSIDE THE ECOSYSTEM.

ACCORDING TO ESTIMATES, SEVERAL EUROPEAN NATIONS HAVE WELCOMED THE SWITCH TO HYDROGEN-BASED TRANSPORTATION, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF SEVERAL HYDROGEN STATIONS IN THE REGION.

to the stringent social distance guideline to stop the virus's spread. As a result, fuel cell electric vehicle sales were declined. Several initiatives are being implemented globally to equip these stations with "green" hydrogen or hydrogen created using renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines. This development is consistent with a global push for carbon-free green energy. According to estimates, several European nations have welcomed the switch to hydrogen-based transportation, which has resulted in the deployment of several hydrogen stations in the region. Germany, France, and the UK are leading the transformation. The NORDICs region has more of these stations deployed to cater to the specific demands of end users. In addition to passenger cars, buses, and trucks, these new fuel cell technologies are also suitable for other end users.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Decarbonization Offices

By By Steve McKnight, Acting Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Decarbonization Offices at EERE

EARLIER IN OCTOBER, NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY WAS CELEBRATED. RECOGNIZING MANUFACTURING AS THE HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA’S ECONOMY, DOE CONTINUES TO ADVANCE CRITICAL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY AS IT HAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION 45 YEARS AGO.

In fact, DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) is a vital part of the American manufacturing ecosystem. Since its inception, AMO has been dedicated to making the U.S. manufacturing sector stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable. AMO’s partnerships across industry, academia, government, and these national labs have ushered in critical new technologies that are reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and moving us closer to a netzero economy.

At AMO they know that the clean energy future of tomorrow begins with the work they’re doing today. From machine learning and 3D printing, to supercomputing and rare earth element extraction,

their office is pioneering manufacturing processes and technologies to keep their manufacturing sector competitive in the global clean economy. AMO’s investments in innovation are building domestic supply chains that are robust, sustainable, and agile, relying on recycled materials and materials from waste streams.

Their commitment to training and workforce development is creating the clean energy workforce of tomorrow with good-paying jobs for Americans across the country. And they’re engaging with communities and small businesses to shape manufacturing and transition to a cleaner, healthier, more equitable future for all Americans.

AMO continues to lead on DOE-wide initiatives to tackle the climate crisis and turn ideas into real-world impact. AMO launched seven Clean Energy Manufacturing Institutes and two Energy Innovation Hubs, each focusing on applied research and technology development to solve unique manufacturing challenges. From increasing the adoption of next-generation processes like smart manufacturing to securing clean energy supply chains, AMO’s public-private collaborations are bringing game-changing innovations to the factory floor. As part of DOE’s Next Generation of Electric Machines program, AMO has worked with researchers to change the way industry powers its operations— from building cheaper more efficient semiconductors to redefining power converters for wind turbines.

In addition to their strong collaborative partnerships, AMO has invested billions to spur novel innovation across the industrial sector. AMO’s investments span the full research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) continuum – developing technologies that reduce industrial emissions and propel the manufacturing sector forward. They’ve collaborated with their industry partners to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint for chemical manufacturing of essential products,

AMO’S LAB-EMBEDDED ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED EARLY-STAGE FUNDING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING TO 120 STARTUPS WITH PROMISING CLEAN TECHNOLOGY IDEAS WHO HAVE COLLECTIVELY RAISED $918 MILLION IN FOLLOW-ON FUNDING AND CREATED NEARLY 1,000 JOBS.

like ethylene, and partnered with clean tech entrepreneurs to increase the safety, reliability, and longevity of lithium-metal batteries, facilitating faster charging for new electric vehicles.

AMO also equips the current and future American manufacturing workforce with the in-demand skills they need to advance their careers, boost domestic energy productivity, and decarbonize their industrial operations while simultaneously providing technical assistance to meet the immediate needs of the manufacturing sector. Through their Better Plants program, they’ve helped 270 manufacturers save more than $10 billion in energy costs and keep more than 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Furthermore, AMO’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program has provided earlystage funding and entrepreneurial training to 120 startups with promising clean technology ideas who have collectively raised $918 million in follow-on funding and created nearly 1,000 jobs.

The Path Forward

Now more than ever—with historic investments in domestic manufacturing through the Bipartisan

Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act—DOE is poised to make America a global leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation, and AMO will play a critical role in ensuring that happens.

They’re in a position to implement solutions and advance innovation for exciting new technologies that not only reduce emissions, but also foster job growth and economic opportunity. Now is the time for DOE to rapidly accelerate the innovation pipeline for American manufacturing. That’s why they’re announcing the formation of two industrial and manufacturing technology offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

By EERE News

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on a new $1 billion program to improve energy generation in rural or remote communities across the country. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program will strengthen the resilience, reliability, and availability of energy systems, helping communities unlock the public health and cost-saving benefits cleaner, more efficient energy provides. The new program reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to ensuring no communities are left behind in the historic transition to a clean energy future.

The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced its intent to use $30 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund research and development projects that will lower costs for wind energy projects on land and offshore to benefit communities across the country. Wind energy accounted for more than 9% of total domestic electricity generation in 2021 and will play a significant role in achieving President Biden’s goals to reach 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.

“Wind power is abundant, homegrown, affordable, and already provides enough

electricity to power 40 million homes,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “But that is just the start — wind power is poised for explosive growth. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE is helping to break down technology barriers to turbo-charge the deployment of this affordable resource all across the country.”

These investments, together with the Inflation Reduction Act—which provides market certainty and incentives for domestic wind energy component manufacturing—will bolster the continued growth of wind energy and reinforce its key role as an American-made clean energy resource. The investments also further the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to jumpstart the American offshore wind industry and reach 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes with clean energy, support tens of thousands of jobs, and spur private investment up and down the supply chain.

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Issue Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for the Reduction of Barriers to Offshore, Land-Based, and Distributed Wind Deployment

Applicants for the forthcoming $28 million funding opportunity must submit projects that support the following initiatives:

• Advancing technologies needed to transmit large amounts of electricity from offshore wind over long distances. Funding in this topic area ($9.7 million) will support standards for

high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission for offshore wind, develop and validate innovative controls to ensure reliability and compatibility with alternating current and direct current, and identify and address gaps in education and workforce training to support HVDC transmission deployment for U.S. offshore wind.

• Helping coastal communities benefit from offshore wind development through social science research and community engagement. Funding in this topic area ($6.9 million) will help characterize economic and other impacts of offshore wind development on local communities, and support research enabling communities to better participate in, and benefit from, offshore wind development.

• Improving permitting processes to make distributed wind more accessible to communities where distributed wind can be costeffectively and equitably deployed. Distributed wind energy, which is wind that provides power for nearby homes, farms, schools, and businesses, can help communities transition to low-carbon energy. However, established zoning and permitting processes for distributed wind are not present in all municipalities, and others have burdensome requirements that discourage development. To reduce costs and accelerate the equitable deployment of community-based clean energy, funding in this topic area ($3.3 million) will support innovative zoning and permitting approaches for distributed wind projects that leverage successes that have been achieved in permit reform for distributed solar photovoltaics and that work for communities and industry alike.

• Improving technologies that help bats avoid wind turbines as the industry works to minimize impacts on local wildlife and ecosystems. Funding in this topic area ($8 million) will support bat behavioral research, technology development, and field testing to advance bat deterrent technologies.

Anchoring and Mooring Request for Information (RFI)

In support of the Floating Offshore Wind Energy Earthshot and to inform $2.5 million in future R&D funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE released an RFI on research needs for the anchors and mooring systems that attach floating offshore wind structures to the sea floor in deep water.

The Biden-Harris Administration has set a goal of deploying 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035, enough to power 5 million homes with clean energy, while supporting state offshore wind deployment and bringing these economic opportunities to more regions. Information obtained from the RFI will inform future work funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance floating offshore wind toward costeffective commercialization and domestic manufacturing, including the technologies that keep floating turbines in place at sea.

THE INVESTMENTS WILL REACH 30 GIGAWATTS (GW) OF OFFSHORE WIND BY 2030, ENOUGH TO POWER 10 MILLION HOMES WITH CLEAN ENERGY, SUPPORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS, AND SPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT UP AND DOWN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

General Fusion and UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) announce collaborative agreement to advance commercial fusion energy

Together with the UKAEA’s world-leading researchers, General Fusion progresses its Fusion Demonstration Program

By Globe Newshire

General Fusion and the UKAEA kick off projects to advance the commercialization of magnetized target fusion energy as part of an important collaborative agreement. With these unique projects, General Fusion will benefit from the vast experience of the UKAEA’s team. The results will hone the design of General Fusion’s demonstration machine being built at the Culham Campus, part of the thriving UK fusion cluster. Ultimately, the company expects the projects will support its efforts to provide lowcost and low-carbon energy to the electricity grid.

General Fusion’s approach to fusion maximizes the reapplication of existing industrialized technologies, bypassing the need for expensive superconducting magnets, significant new materials, or high-power lasers. The demonstration

machine will create fusion conditions in a power-plantrelevant environment, confirming the performance and economics of the company’s technology.

“The leading-edge fusion researchers at UKAEA have proven experience building, commissioning, and successfully operating large fusion machines,” said Greg Twinney, Chief Executive Officer, General Fusion. “Partnering with UKAEA’s incredible team will fast-track work to advance our technology and achieve our mission of delivering affordable commercial fusion power to the world.”

“Fusion energy is one of the greatest scientific and engineering quests of our time,” said Ian Chapman, UKAEA CEO. “This collaboration will enable General Fusion to benefit from the ground-breaking research being done in the UK and supports our shared aims of making fusion part of the world’s future energy mix for generations to come.”

Advancing polychromators for Thomson Scattering

General Fusion benefits from the UKAEA’s expertise in building polychromators, which are used in an industrystandard diagnostic called Thomson Scattering that measures electron temperature. The UKAEA will be building a new, larger Thomson Scattering system, which will be installed on General Fusion’s fusion demonstration machine at Culham. Electron temperature measurements are used for thermal confinement calculations, a fundamental calculation to determine experiment success.

Improving neutronics model development and simulation

Since its founding, General Fusion has formed over 200,000 hydrogen plasmas, averaging 100 neutrongenerating plasmas per day. In its collaboration with the UKAEA, the company will harness UKAEA’s extensive

“FUSION ENERGY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING QUESTS OF OUR TIME.”

IAN CHAPMAN, UKAEA CEO

neutron modelling software and expertise to simulate the neutron flux distribution from General Fusion’s operational large-scale plasma injector (PI3) as well as future machines. The simulation results from PI3 will be used to develop higher level physics models that will inform the design of neutron diagnostics on future machines, including the fusion demonstration and commercial power plants.

Customizing vacuum test steel for fusion demonstration vessel

In the past 20 years, enabling technologies, such as advanced composite materials and additive manufacturing, have offered innovative new pathways to resolve historical barriers to fusion energy. In General Fusion’s fusion demonstration, the design will use special steel that can withstand the high temperatures and compressive forces found in a fusion vessel. The UKAEA will use its vacuum facilities to test the specific steel that General Fusion will use and help inform the demonstration facility’s final design.

High voltage equipment cost reduction

By Energy Capital

ACHIEVING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY ALLOWS US TO BE SURE THAT ANY EQUIPMENT WILL CORRECTLY DEVELOP ITS FUNCTIONS; INVOLVING EFFECTIVENESS AND COST REDUCTION FOR THE USER.

High voltage

High voltages range from 115,000 to 230,000 VAC and Extra-High voltages range from 345,000 to 765,000 VAC. The United States transmits up to 500,000 volts on the high-voltage grid. High voltages require specialized switching and distribution panels.

The transmission lines for high voltage deliver electricity over long distances. The high voltage is required to reduce the amount of energy lost during the distance. Unlike other energy sources such as natural gas, electricity can't be stored when it is not used. If demand exceeds supply, a blackout occurs.

High voltage is used in electrical power distribution, in cathode ray tubes, to generate X-rays and particle beams, to produce electrical arcs, for ignition, in photomultiplier tubes, and high-power amplifier vacuum tubes, as well as other industrial, military and scientific applications.

Equipment with high voltage

The high-voltage equipment typically includes power transformers, switchgear, control equipment, communicating devices, or insulators. This equipment means high voltage electrical circuits (above 1 kV) forming part of a system, on which safety from the system may be required or on which safety precautions may be applied to allow work to be carried out on a circuit.

The primary reason that power is transmitted at high voltages is to increase efficiency. As electricity is transmitted over long distances, there are inherent energy losses along the way. High voltage transmission minimizes the amount of power lost as electricity flows from one location to the next.

However, if high voltage is not managed in the correct form, it may make appliances run too fast and too high until they burn or damage.

Technology and solutions

Achieving the right level of energy efficiency ensures that there is and will be a sufficient energy supply for the entire population. Technology plays a significant role in generating, producing, and distributing high-voltage electricity.

SIMPLE AND RELIABLE REACTIVE POWER TO IMPROVE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, QUALITY, AND EFFICIENCY.

Huawei Enterprise

To meet this market need, some companies, such as Huawei Enterprise, offer using digital platforms, information technologies, and digital energy platforms to serve the segment of power grids in high voltage. These cloud solutions move power grid operations to a digital ecosystem.

With this proposal, the company obtains relevant information on the status of the energy networks, which also allows interconnecting the operation through multiservice optical transport devices (MS-OTN). With the information received, decisions can be made in any situation. The system also supports the automation of energy distribution and concentrates on the management of results for analysis.

This type of solution allows that in case of any failure or breakdown, only the damaged system is required to be shut down and isolated; so, the rest of the areas that do not have problems can recover their power supply in a few minutes. This capability is also of great support during maintenance

operations of the electrical network, as it is not necessary to stop the whole process; it can be done in stages.

GE

As a global leader in grid infrastructure products and services, GE supports a broad set of utility applications ranging from medium voltage to high and ultrahigh voltage power equipment.

GE line from HV includes Transformers, Gas-Insulated Substations, Circuit Breakers, Disconnectors (Switches), Instrument Transformers Capacitors & Reactors Voltage Regulators Bushings, Arresters & Insulators Digital Monitoring & Control Solutions SF6free Solutions (g3).

Hitachi ABB

Another company with solutions dedicated to this area is Hitachi ABB Power Grids. It offers the market various products aimed at operating equipment that contribute to the stable energy supply. Its portfolio includes high-voltage transformers, turnkey substations and compensators, and various equipment that helps to counteract energy loss.

Its solutions also distribute electricity efficiently and compensate for the demands of long-distance transmitters. Hitachi ABB also has an intelligent digital substation. It replaces copper wires with fiber optic cables. Fiber optics enable the digital recording of data from electrical installations. The purpose is to monitor substation operations and prevent

power failures. This is how electrical grids can incorporate technology in analyzing their functions, creating an intelligent electrical grid.

Siemens Energy

On the other hand, Siemens Energy also offers high voltage efficiency in power supply. Its products are aimed at transmission, distribution, and power supply processes. Its applications range from resilient electrification and efficient automation processes; to the integral digitalization of these services.

The company uses HVDC cables to interconnect converter stations. The use of this high-voltage technology represents a transmission capacity of 2,000 megawatts and potential savings of 23 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.

THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITS

UP TO 500,000 VOLTS ON THE HIGH-VOLTAGE GRID.

Siemens Energy's scope of supply encompasses much more than the highvoltage equipment required to operate a substation. It includes high and mediumvoltage switchgear, transformers, equipment, and ancillary systems for control, protection, communication, and condition monitoring.

In addition, Siemens Energy supplies the entire high-voltage substation as an individual turnkey solution or can even act as a general contractor for engineering, procurement, and

INDUSTRIES CAN BENEFIT FROM USING HIGH-VOLTAGE SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASED CAPACITY, STABILITY, AND POWER QUALITY.

construction (EPC)/engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) projects.

Siemens Energy provides the full range of services, technologies, and components required for successfully constructing and operating a high-voltage substation. Its wide range of available services includes concept, planning, engineering; project execution, project management and fabrication of all key components; commissioning; operation, maintenance, refurbishment, upgrades, decommissioning of old equipment, and financing.

Energy efficiency

Lower currents incur less power loss, therefore high-voltage levels are utilized to reduce current to effective levels. If the same amount of power was transmitted over a distance at a lower voltage, there would be a greater loss of power.

As we have seen, companies require energy efficiency. For some, high voltage is necessary to achieve levels of operation. So, adjusting electricity consumption es essential to the user's needs. Although, adopting and implementing solutions and systems adequate to high voltage, to save energy by avoiding losses during the generation, distribution, and final consumption process; will help companies to reduce economic costs.

In conclusion, a higher voltage system is more efficient than a lower voltage since it experiences less energy loss from resistance given the same amount of power draw.