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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today announced that three Ann Arbor energy projects will receive more than $9.9 million from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The grants were awarded through the ARPA-E’s OPEN 2015 program and come in advance of the COP21 U.N. Climate Negotiations in Paris next week. Accio Energy, Inc. in Ann Arbor, and two projects at the University of Michigan were selected to receive funding.

“Our scientists and engineers in Southeast Michigan are developing entirely new ways to generate, store and use energy,” said Dingell. “These cutting-edge technologies have the potential to solve some of our nation’s most pressing energy challenges, and this important investment will support efforts to combat climate change and enhance energy security around the globe.” 

ARPA-E funds innovative technologies that display promise for both technical and commercial impact, but are too early for private-sector investment. The OPEN 2015 projects come from 21 states and encompass 10 technical categories, including transportation, electricity generation and delivery and energy efficiency.

Local projects receiving funding are below. For a full list of recipients, please click here.

Accio Energy, Inc., Ann Arbor – $4,500,000
Project Title: EHD Innovative Low-Cost Offshore Wind Energy
Accio Energy, Inc. will develop and demonstrate an Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) turbine-less wind energy system that harvests energy through physical separation of charge. The technology uses the wind to separate a mist of positively charged water droplets from excess electrons that form a high voltage direct current source. The team’s innovative approach could create an entirely new option for low-cost offshore wind.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – $3,500,000
Project Title: Transitioning Advanced Ceramic Electrolytes into Manufacturable Solid-State EV Batteries
The University of Michigan will develop new electrode structures and manufacturing techniques to incorporate Lithium (Li)-conducting ceramic electrolytes into solid-state batteries. Solid-state Li batteries could double the energy density of today’s Li-ion cells and also eliminate the use of conventional flammable electrolytes, increasing abuse tolerance and reducing the need for battery thermal management systems.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – $1,923,845
Project Title: Split Micro-hybrid Boosting Enabling Highly Diluted Combustion
The University of Michigan will develop a high-efficiency engine system that integrates a compact micro-hybrid configuration of a supercharger with an electric waste heat recovery system and employs high rates of recirculated exhaust gases. When combined with sophisticated control strategy, this approach provides a solution for suboptimal engine breathing that is typical of transient engine operation. The performance is projected to match that of a naturally aspirated engine, and have a 20% increase in fuel efficiency compared to a turbocharged downsized engine, at a cost that is half that of a mild-hybrid system.