Energy Department Awards $63 Million to Help Commercialize Novel Energy Technologies

The Department of Energy awarded $63 million to support the commercialization of four transformative energy technologies. The funding is through the Seeding Critical Advances for Leading Energy technologies with Untapped Potential, also known as SCALEUP. This marks the third cohort of projects selected under the program. The SCALEUP initiative provides new funding to previous Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy awardees that have de-risked their technology, paving the way for successful commercial implementation.

The four projects are focused on: energy-efficient insulated glass units using aerogels, thermal batteries providing combined heat and power from renewable electricity, energy-dense solid-state batteries, and cement decarbonization.

Massachusetts-based AeroShield Materials will use the $14.5 million funding for a pilot manufacturing facility to produce aerogel products for building insulation. The aerogel glass units will help commercial and residential buildings lower heat loss through windows during cold months, helping them become more energy-efficient.

California-based Antora Energy received $14.5 million in funding to commercialize its thermal battery technology. Antora’s solid state thermal battery stores waste heat released from industrial operations, which can be released later and converted to electricity.

Maryland-based Ion Storage Systems will use its $20 million award to develop its novel solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicle use. The company aims to develop more compact, lightweight batteries that can compete with traditional lithium batteries without compromising performance. The funding will help scale up Ion Storage’s domestic U.S.-based battery production operations and allow it to be cost-effective. With electric vehicle use projected to grow rapidly in the U.S. in recent years, the Biden administration wants to ensure that domestic battery production can meet demand without relying on foreign battery imports.

New Jersey-based Queens Carbon will use its $14.5 million award for decarbonizing cement production. The company will build an on-site pilot facility to produce carbon-neutral cement. Queens Carbon technology aims to use hydrothermal energy to reduce energy use during production and captures the carbon dioxide released during the process.