U.S. EPA is soliciting grant proposals for programs and projects designed to address ambient air quality issues throughout Indian Country in Region 7. Projects will support short-term projects aimed at conducting and promoting research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention and control of air pollution.

The Denali Commission in concert with the Alaska Energy Authority is offering grants for cost-effective alternative energy projects in Alaska.

The Commission is offering up to $4.0 million in grant funds for alternative energy projects that serve rural Alaska. In addition, the Alaska Energy Authority is offering up to $1.0 million in grant funds for alternative energy project anywhere in Alaska. The Commission and AEA will consider providing additional grant funds depending on the quantity and quality of proposals received and funding available.

Complete application instructions are attached to this notice, including all eligibility and information requirements. Please download all attachments to this notice: Alternative Energy Solicitation; AES Construction Application; and AES Preconstruction Application.

Applications must be received by the Alaska Energy Authority at 813 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, Alaska 99503 no later than 4:00pm Alaska time on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. Please contact Rebecca Garrett at 907-771-3000 or toll free (Alaska onlly) at 888-3000-8534 if you have questions.

The Denali Commission intends to assist in funding energy cost reduction projects that will benefit rural Alaskans. The Alaska Energy Authority is acting as agent for the Commission in soliciting and evaluating proposals to reduce rural energy costs.

Please download the Cost Reduction RFP and the Cost Reduction Application.

Proposals must be received by the Alaska Energy Authority at 813 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, no later than 4:00pm Alaska time on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. Please contact Rebecca Garrett at 907-771-3000 or toll free (Alaska only) at 888-3000-8534 if you have questions.

Menominee Tribal Enterprises, in Neopit, WI, seek to enter into a financial professional services agreement to assist in the development of a biomass facility capable of generating 5 to 20 MW of electricity.

The EcoCAR Challenge is a three-year competition that builds on the 19-year history of DOE VTCs by giving engineering students the chance to design and build advanced vehicles that demonstrate leading-edge automotive technologies, with the goal of minimizing the environmental impact of personal transportation and illustrating pathways to a sustainable transportation future. DOE has again joined General Motors (GM), Natural Resources Canada, and other sponsors for this new competition series, named the EcoCAR Challenge. Argonne National Laboratory, a DOE R&D facility, will organize and operate the EcoCAR Challenge.

^{1. The vehicle types supported in EcoCAR will be (similar to CARB Types D, E, II, and III):}

Hybrid vehicle < 50 kW hybrid power

Hybrid vehicle > 50 kW hybrid power

Range-extender and full-function electric vehicles

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

EcoCAR is based on a real-world integrated vehicle design and development process. Teams of engineers from the selected schools will develop their vehicles following a modified GM Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP) for each phase of the three-year competition. By the end of the competition, the sponsors expect fully developed vehicles equivalent to prototypes ready for a production decision. While applying proven methods for engineering successful prototype vehicles, students will learn real-world engineering skills that will make them highly effective in the automotive industry. At the conclusion of each of EcoCAR’s three years, a week-long competition involving all of the participating schools will take place in June at a GM vehicle proving ground or other appropriate location in North America.

This solicitation is for proposals for fiscal year 2008 funding through the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands program, administered by the Federal Transit Administration in partnership with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. The purpose of the program is to enhance the protection of national parks and Federal lands, and increase the enjoyment of those visiting them. The program funds capital and planning expenses for alternative transportation systems in parks and public lands. Alternative transportation is “transportation by bus, rail, or any other publicly or privately owned conveyance that provides to the public general or special service on a regular basis, including sightseeing service. Such term also includes a non-motorized transportation system (including the provision of facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, and non-motorized watercraft).” Federal land management agencies and State, tribal and local governments acting with the consent of a Federal land management agency are eligible to apply. For more information on project eligibility and how to apply, please follow the link below for the federal register notice.

Federal Register: December 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 239)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles

OBJECTIVE: Develop a lightweight, efficient, high-temperature blower which enables power-dense SOFC power units for long-endurance unmanned vehicle (UV) and munition applications.

DESCRIPTION: In recent years, UVs and weapon system capabilities have required significant adaptation in order to combat an increasingly mobile and elusive adversary. In one particular application, battlefield persistence will be achieved through the use of small (2 to 4 kW), long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) munitions which are required to stay aloft for 50 hours or more. To achieve these unprecedented endurances, compact SOFC power units are under development wherein system efficiency and power density are balanced such that far greater mission durations are possible compared to conventional reciprocating engines. These systems are currently being designed to operate on military logistic fuels which could include JP-8, JP-10, and desulfurized jet fuels. High-performance fuel processing and power generation subsystems are being developed to meet these requirements. However, these stringent mission requirements also place considerable constraints upon the cathode air blower, including high desired operation temperatures, low power consumption, high throughput air requirements, low weight and volume, and low acoustic operation. This research topic seeks advanced, lightweight, low-volume designs for SOFC cathode air blower/compressors which assist in enabling these long-endurance, high-power dense applications. The blower unit must be able to operate reliably for a minimum 1000 hours while supplying enough air for 2-kW fuel cell operation. Current technology is designed with the following specifications: speed 36,310 rpm, flow and pressure

400 slpm@15kPa, power 215 W, noise 78dBa. Developments should be focused on significant improvements to the parasitic power consumption and/or efficiency. Vibration and acoustic footprint are also primary concerns. System requirements shall be thoroughly analyzed and potential design approaches shall be presented in Phase I.

PHASE I: Conduct a basic trade analysis to down-select competing approaches, and present a detailed design of the approach. Prototype component(s) shall be assembled and tested to demonstrate progression toward meeting performance objectives.

PHASE II: Multiple prototypes of the enhanced design will be assembled and tested to military specifications to verify that they meet weight and performance objectives. Demonstrate that the device is readily manufacturable and project costs of the unit based upon limited (<1000 units) production. Deliverables will include five units which can be integrated into prototype 2-kW SOFC systems.

PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Compact cathode air blowers are essential for achieving high energy and power density, aggressive weight requirements for long-endurance UAV and munition applications. Commercial application: Potential commercial applications could include homeland security and related commercial aerospace applications.

REFERENCES:
1. Fontell, E., Kivisarri, T., Christiansen, N., Hansen, J.-B., and Palsson, J., J. Power Sources, Vol. 131, pp. 49-56, 2004.

2. Fuel Cell Handbook, 7th ed., U.S. Department of Energy, NETL, Prepared under contract DE-AM26-99FT40575, 2004.

3. http://www.netl.doe.gov/seca/.

KEYWORDS: auxiliary power units, APUs, fuel cell powered generators, solid oxide fuel cells, SOFCs, cathode, air blower

TPOC: Michael Rottmayer
Phone: (937) 255-5582
Fax: (937)656-7529
Email: Michael.Rottmayer@wpafb.af.mil

Request for Information and Notice of Pre-Solicitation Workshop: Planned Funding Opportunity Announcement for Research, Development, and Demonstration of Fuel Cell Technologies for Automotive, Stationary, Portable Power, and Early Market Applications

Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS36-08GO38002

The Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking applications for the funding opportunity announcement entitled, “Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Core Technology and Innovative Concepts.” The purpose of this announcement is to develop science and technologies that address specific technical challenges and barriers faced by the SECA Industry Teams in the Cost Reduction and Coal Based Systems program.

DOE formed SECA in 2000 with a goal of producing a solid-state fuel cell module that would cost no more than $400 per kilowatt. SECA is an alliance between government, industry, and the scientific community that strive to capitalize on the advantages of fuel cell technology and develop fuel cells that will be sold in virtually every market needing clean and affordable electric power. The key to the ambitious cost reductions is the development of fuel cell system modules that can be mass-produced using advanced manufacturing processes. These modules could be clustered into a variety of arrangements to supply stationary power for both central and distributed power generation schemes.

The Alliance is comprised of three groups: Industry Teams, Core Technology program participants, and federal government management. The Industry Teams design the fuel cells and handle most of the hardware and market penetration issues. The Core Technology program is made up of universities, national laboratories, small businesses, and other R&D organizations and addresses basic R&D and technological issues critical to the rapid commercialization of SOFC. The federal government management facilitates interaction between Industry Teams and the Core Technology program as well as establishes technical priorities and approaches.

In 2006, SECA Industry Teams transitioned into Phase II of the Cost Reduction program after successfully developing 3-10kW prototype systems in Phase I. All SECA Phase I prototypes surpassed the DOE Phase I performance targets, representative of the giant leaps made toward solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) commercialization. The prototypes demonstrated 1) an average efficiency of 38.5% with a high of 41%, 2) average steady-state degradation of 2% per 1000 hours, 3) system availabilities of 97%, and 4) projected system costs ranging from $724/kW to $775/kW. Even while these numbers are impressive, more work needs to be done to improve the electrochemical performance of cathodes, improve (or reduce) degradation rates, and reduce the overall system costs.

In 2006, in order to address the issue of scalability and integration with advanced generation power plants, DOE combined the SECA Cost Reduction activities with the SECA Fuel Cell Coal-Based Systems program. The goal of the SECA Fuel Cell Coal-Based Systems program is to develop and demonstrate the fuel cell technology and scale-up required for central power stations that produce affordable, efficient, environmentally-friendly electricity from coal. The new program leverages the advances made in SOFC technology under the SECA Cost Reduction program, extending coal-based SOFC technology to large-scale centralized power generation.

Further details on the SECA program are available at www.seca.doe.gov.

This SECA Core Technology and Innovative Concepts announcement focuses on the following specific areas of interest:

Area of Interest 1: Theory, Investigation and Stability of Cathode Electrocatalytic Activity

Area of Interest 2: Performance Degradation of Lanthanum Strontium Cobalt Ferrite (LSCF) Cathodes

Area of Interest 3: Novel Fuel Cells for Coal-Based Systems

Area of Interest 4: Sealing Systems Based on Viscous Glass

Applications may only be submitted to one of the areas of interest.

Applicants are instructed to submit an application under the program area which best fits the majority of the effort to be performed. Applicants are instructed to submit an application by January 15, 2008. Anticipated date for notification of selections is March 14, 2008 with anticipated award dates of May 2, 2008. Awards made under this announcement will be for Phase I only. Phase I will be for a period of 18 months. Continuation applications will be required for selected projects to continue beyond the first budget period (Phase I). A thorough review and evaluation by DOE will determine whether the project will continue into Phase II. Phase II will be for a period of 18 months.

This funding opportunity announcement requests applications for research and development ONLY in the SECA Core and Innovative Concepts elements described above and focuses on FOUR AREAS OF INTEREST LISTED BELOW. Applications cannot be submitted under the master announcement.

Area of Interest 1– THEORY, INVESTIGATION AND STABILITY OF CATHODE ELECTROCATALYTIC ACTIVITY (DE-PS26-07NT43208-01): https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/5E60F7B91EAE2B668525733D0053FA3A?OpenDocument

Area of Interest 2- PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION OF LSCF CATHODES (DE-PS26-07NT43208-02): https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/1D8EDA84630EC96A8525733D0054C981?OpenDocument

Area of Interest 3- NOVEL FUEL CELLS FOR COAL BASED SYSTEMS (DE-PS26-07NT43208-03): https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/8D5984C0BCDF7D798525733D00553C09?OpenDocument

Area of Interest 4- SEALING SYSTEMS BASED ON VISCOUS GLASS (DE-PS26-07NT43208-04): https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/D843E9EF157DCF628525733D0055A32C?OpenDocument

NOTE: This descriptive area provides an overview of this Funding Opportunity. This funding opportunity notice contains four program areas of interest. Applicants are cautioned that this funding opportunity announcement is a master announcement and that each program area of interest has its own program-specific number for submission of applications. Applications cannot be submitted under the master announcement. YOU MUST READ THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, EVALUATION CRITERIA AND HOW TO PREPARE AN APPLICATION UNDER AN AREA OF INTEREST. Please scroll to the bottom of this page to access the Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

The Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program provides up to $95,000 for hardware projects and $50,000 for modeling projects to small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts. Research projects must target one of the six PIER program areas, address a California energy problem and provide a potential benefit to California electric and natural gas ratepayers.

To encourage participation in the program the application and award process has been simplified and assistance is available in gaining access to technical experts.

Introduction: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the United States Department of Transportation, is responsible for reducing the number of injuries and deaths on highways resulting from vehicle crashes.

Specific Requirements: NHTSA intends to procure Hydrogen Vehicle fuel System Safety Research of which the objective is to generate data to assess the safety performance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fuel systems under similar crash conditions to those prescribed in the existing FMVSS, and to identify and assess any additional life-cycle safety hazards imposed by utilization of these unique propulsion systems. The contractor shall: 1) provide the facilities, personnel, expertise, material, and equipment necessary to perform fuel system integrity testing and evaluation of hydrogen vehicle fuel systems and fuel system components; 2) prepare a work plan, subject to COTR approval, for conducting safety performance research testing on hydrogen fuel containers, container arrays, packaged fuel systems, purpose built fuel systems (e.g. sleds or modified production vehicles) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hydrogen vehicles; 3) have the capability to design and assemble purpose built test articles for evaluation. An example of such a test article would be the retrofit of a commercially available hybrid electric/gasoline fueled vehicle with a hydrogen fuel system and fuel cell stack for safety testing of the high pressure storage system and postcrash electrical isolation; and 4) propose a research test plan in general accordance with current or proposed hydrogen fuel component/system safety assessment testing. The test plan shall include a test matrix and schedule, based on availability of components, vehicles, and the time required to fabricate test articles when vehicles are not available. Testing is to include, but is not limited to: Pressure-cycling, Hydrostatic burst, Bonfire, Flame impingement, Drop/Impact, Impact/Crash/Sled Testing, Penetration, and Permeation Testing.
Contract Award: NHTSA intends to award an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Research and Development Contract on a Time and Materials basis.

The period of performance is for a three (3) year Base Period and, if exercised by the Government, a two (2) year option period. The period of performance will be a total 5 years. This solicitation is full and open competition to include international sources.

Solicitation: The solicitation will be available for downloading from on or about December 20, 2007. All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via e-mail to chelly.johnson-jones@nhtsa.dot.gov no later than January 7, 2007. The anticipated award date for this resultant contract is expected on or about June 30, 2007.

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles

OBJECTIVE: Develop a high conversion efficiency 250W, 14 VDC hybrid thermoelectric-solid oxide fuel cell portable power generator that exploits recent advances in high performance thermoelectric and solid oxide fuel cell materials and heat transfer technologies in state-of-the-art generators. Develop and execute concepts for optimized efficiency hybrid generators with low parasitic thermal and electrical integration. Analyze potential for increased hybrid system conversion efficiency and develop models for design optimization. This technology development is directed at portable and scaleable DoD warfighter and platform applications, providing enhanced fuel efficiencies through cogeneration of electricity via waste heat recuperation as well as auxiliary applications of the thermoelectric module for personal cooling and heating.

DESCRIPTION: Significant improvements in thermoelectric performance of semiconductor systems have recently been realized in thin film and bulk materials through the incorporation of nanometer scale structures that significantly increase phonon scattering, leading to record low thermal conductivities. Advanced designed materials also feature in state-of-the-art solid oxide fuel cells.
This topic seeks new concepts that leverage these technological advances to achieve higher overall conversion efficiencies for portable power (250W – 1 kW at 14 VDC) through integration of advanced thermoelectric (TE) conversion devices recuperating waste heat from Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). SOFCs are expected to operate at 700 to 900°C, and with thermal energy discharged at relatively high temperatures (Thot

400°C) are amenable to cogeneration of electricity with advanced high ZT thermoelectric power generating devices. The resulting temperature differential, depending on ambient conditions, will be approximately 350°C, with advanced heat transfer concepts required to achieve this temperature drop across the TE module for the highest efficiencies. Minimizing parasitic losses and maximizing the temperature differential will be required for higher overall fuel-to-electrical energy conversion efficiencies.

Analyses and system designs should consider the most advanced, validated, state-of-the-art thermoelectric, fuel cell, and heat transfer technologies, thermal and electrical systems integration, and power conditioning, as well as the technical and cost trade offs associated with integrating the thermoelectric and SOFC devices. The analysis should explore a range of TE devices and SOFCs using JP-8 or alternative hydrocarbon fuels and define the technical performance and cost targets required of the component technologies that must be met to produce integrated TE-SOFC generators. Alternative hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., propane, butane) may be used for proof of the hybrid concept, with consideration given to transitions to JP-8 fuel in the field. To maximize system-level conversion efficiency, modules must be designed and materials selected that minimize parasitic losses and maintain mechanical robustness at operating temperature and through repeated temperature cycling. Power quality should be similar to current tactical generators (specifications for current Marine Corps generators are available at http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmeps/default.asp). Warfighter portability should be factored into the design of the generator, with a weight of no more than 30 lb. at the proof-of-concept stage and an ultimate target of 15 lb.

PHASE I: Develop detailed plans and comparative analyses for an integrated hybrid TE-SOFC -generator incorporating state-of-the-art TE and SOFC materials/modules, advanced heat transfer and low parasitic interfaces, and appropriate power conditioning for 250W – 1 kW power at 14 or 28 VDC. Demonstrate initial system proof-of-concept for overall efficiency gain by addition of TE generator to SOFC.

PHASE II: Optimize design for an integrated hybrid TE-SOFC generator incorporating state-of-the-art components for TE, SOFC, heat transfer, and power conditioning to deliver 250W – 1kW power at 14 or 28 VDC, with <10 minute startup, using JP-8 or alternative hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., propane, butane). Fabricate and test a fully integrated 250W – 1 kW prototype to demonstrate the potential for overall system efficiency gains of the hybrid design. Overall weight should not exceed 30 lb. and portability should be factored into the design. Analyze manufacturability, reliability, scalability, and cost issues for producing commercially viable power generation system.

PHASE III: Design and fabricate a performance- and portability-optimized hybrid thermoelectric-SOFC generator using the highest performance materials available that provides maximum total fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency, using JP-8 fuel, for 250W – 1 kW power at 14VDC, <10 min. startup time, and a total weight of 15-25 lb. that will enable the development of commercially viable portable power generators for renewable warfighter power.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The integration of thermoelectric generators using the highest performance materials available with state-of-the-art solid oxide fuel cells with thermal and electrical systems engineering that minimizes parasitic losses and provides maximum total conversion efficiency will enable the development of commercially viable portable power generators for renewable power with the potential auxiliary applications of cooling and heating, unattended remote power, and camping and recreational sporting power.

KEYWORDS: Thermoelectric, fuel cells, waste heat, hybrid, nanostructure, heat transfer, energy conversion, power generation, generator

TPOC: Dr. Mihal Gross
Phone: 703-696-0388
Fax:
Email: mihal.gross@navy.mil