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Update on the Energy Innovation Hub:
Fuels from Sunlight
Eric A. Rohlfing
Director; BES Chemical Sciences, Geosciences,
and Biosciences Division
BESAC Meeting, March 2, 2010
 Science background (Rich Greene & Mark Spitler)
 Hub coordination activities
 Some Q&A
 Process update
Fuels from Sunlight: A Hub Approach
Fuels from Sunlight: Nature’s Way
We’ve wanted to copy
Nature for a long time!
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Artificial Photosynthesis: A Long Standing BES Interest
1st ERDA Solar Photochemistry Research Conference
May 12-13 1977
One aspect of this work [in Solar Photochemistry] is the group of studies that have
been…called
artificial photosynthesis
and defined… as the generation of fuel or electricity using
model systems which mimic natural photosynthetic systems in light gathering
and charge separation.
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BES Council on Chemical and Biochemical Sciences
Workshop on the Efficiency of Photosynthesis
Robert Blankenship, Washington University (Co Chair)
David Tiede, Argonne National Laboratory (Co-Chair)
May 23, 24, - 2009
Albuquerque, NM
Jim Barber, Imperial College, UK
Tasio Meilis, UC Berkeley
Gary Brudvig, Yale Univ.
Tom Moore, Arizona St. Univ.
Chris Moser, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Dan Nocera, MIT
Graham Fleming, UC Berkeley/LBNL
Art Nozik, NREL
Maria Ghirardi, NREL
Don Ort, Univ. of Illiniois
Marilyn Gunner, City College of NY
William Parson, Univ. of Washington
Wolfgang Junge, Univ. Osnabruck, Germany
Roger Prince, Exxon
David Kramer, Washington State Univ.
Richard Sayre, Danforth Plant Science Center
Can biologists studying natural photosynthetic systems talk to
physical scientists doing PV research? Yes, and usefully!
What is the solar energy conversion efficiency of natural
photosynthesis compared to photovoltaic cells?
Efficiency of photosynthesis
conversion to biomass:
From Don Ort, USDA-ARS
4.6% - 6.0%
2.4% - 3.7%
calculated
actual field PS
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Natural Photosynthesis: Focus on the Thylakoid Membrane
Matrix for reaction centers I & II, the electron transfer chain, and catalytic redox sites
light
light
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Artificial Photosynthesis: Working Definition
The “Z” scheme of photosynthesis is depicted in overlay on the structure
ms - ms
e-
fuels
eenergy
light
ps - ns
light
fs
2H2O
O2 + 4H+
ms - ms
solar microcatalytic
energy conversion
- Photon capture and energy transfer - fs
- Charge separation and electron transport – ps-ns
- Catalysis and fuel formation – ms-ms
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Fuels from Sunlight: Critical Issues in Research
fs
Photon absorption
and harvesting
How do we control light
harvesting to utilize all of
the photons?
-Need to know how to
design and control
exciton transfer in
molecular systems
-Need red absorbers to
harvest the bulk of the
solar spectrum
ps-ns
Charge separation and
transport
How do we avoid
recombination of photogenerated charge
carriers?
ms-ms
Photocatalysis
How do we produce
fuels with the energy
provided by visible light
absorption?
-Need to overcome
geminate recombination
in organic systems
-Need hetero/homo geneous catalytic
systems for water
splitting
-Need to design
transport to reduce nongeminate recombination
in all systems
-Need to couple light
absorption to catalytic
processes for C-C bond
formation
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Prospects for Solar Fuels Production
Two Limits
What we can do today:
Ultimate goal:
solar microcatalytic
energy conversion
$12/kg H2 @ $3/pW PV
(BRN on SEU 2005)
PV
cell
balance
of system
High capital
costs
Low capital
costs
current
liquid
fuel
storage
electrolyzer
gas
fuel
storage
H2
compression
We do not know
how to produce
fuels in a cost
effective manner.
Chemists do not yet know
how to photoproduce O2,
H2, reduce CO2, or oxidize
H2O on the scale we need.
gas
fuel
storage
compression
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Solar Fuels Production
Context is the research between these extremes
solar microcatalytic
energy conversion
-each red arrow represents an area of basic research
PV
highly efficient
zero cost
PV
cell
cell
balance
of system
balance
of system
current
electrolyzer
gas
micro-nano
solar charge
separation
liquid
current
electrolyzer
new catalysts for
fuel generation gas
fuel
storage
fuel
storage
H2 compression
H2 compression
fuel
storage
micro-nano
catalysts
homo/het
dark
gas
H2
CH4
fuel
storage
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Landscape for Solar Fuels – BES Research
What we can do today
EFRC areas of focus
Ultimate goal
solar microcatalytic
energy conversion
Photochemistry, biosciences, materials
PV
highly efficient
zero cost
PV
cell
cell
balance
of system
balance
of system
current
micro-nano
solar charge
separation
liquid
current
catalysis
electrolyzer
gas
electrolyzer
new catalysts for
fuel generation gas
fuel
storage
fuel
storage
H2 compression
H2 compression
micro-nano
catalysts
homo/het
H2
BES Program
Research
fuel
storage
dark
separations
gas
CH4
fuel
storage
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Energy Innovation Hub – Fuels from Sunlight
Part of a significant new DOE initiative - one of three Hubs funded at
$22M each in the FY 2010 appropriation.
Key Dates:
•
•
•
•
•
December 22, 2009: Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued
January 29, 2010: Letters of intent due (but not required)
March 29, 2010: Full applications due
We are here!
June, 2010: Award announcement
August , 2010: Award initiation
The objective of the Fuels from Sunlight Hub is to develop an effective
solar energy to chemical fuel conversion system. The system should
operate at an overall efficiency and produce fuel of sufficient energy
content to enable transition from bench-top discovery to proof-ofconcept prototyping.
For information on DOE Energy Innovation Hubs see: http://www.hubs.energy.gov/
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What we can do today:
$12/gal
gas equiv
separations
Nano- bio photocatalysis
dark catalysis
Solar fuels technology currently
resides at the basic research level.
Light Absorption,
Charge separation &
transport
Solar to Hydrogen
Use-Inspired
Applied
Market
Landscape for Solar Fuels Production:
From Basic Research to Market
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What we want to do
tomorrow:
Applied
Market
Landscape for Solar Fuels Production:
From Basic Research to Market
The Hub will drive solar fuels R&D
toward marketable systems.
Use-Inspired
Fuels from Sunlight Hub:
 To develop integrated solar
fuel systems
Twofold
Integration:
 Across
components
 Across basic &
applied R&D
 To create the scientific and
technical infrastructure for a
solar fuels industry
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Energy Innovation Hubs - Coordination
• Three Hubs funded at $22M each in the FY 2010 appropriation:
Fuels from Sunlight (SC/BES)
Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors (NE)
Energy Regional Innovation Cluster or E-RIC (EERE) – includes the
Energy Efficient Buildings Design Hub
• Hub Working Group (SC/BES, NE, EERE) coordinates Hub
activities and makes recommendations to DOE senior
management:
• Three separate FOAs from a common template.
• Hub cost sharing plan, waiver and reductions per EPAct 2005.
• Eligibility allowed for non-DOE FFRDCs (NIST, JPL, etc.) and
foreign institutions as partners, not leads.
• Developed Hubs website and coordinates updates.
• Coordination of Hub merit review process.
http://www.hubs.energy.gov/
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Energy Innovation Hubs Website
Overview of Hub
program
How to apply, including
links to FOAs
Description of research
areas
Q & A – some examples
to follow
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The Other Two Hubs
• Modeling and Simulation of Nuclear Reactors (NE):
FOA issued January 20, 2010; Full applications due March 8, 2010.
The mission focus of the NE Hub is to apply existing modeling and simulation
capabilities to create a user environment that allows engineers to create a
simulation of a currently operating reactor that will act as a "virtual model" of that
reactor. The Hub will also obtain data from that reactor to be used to validate the
"virtual model."
• Energy Efficient Buildings Design (EERE):
Central “hub” of E-RIC, which includes funding from Commerce/Economic
Development (up to $5M/yr), Commerce/NIST via supplements to existing
MEP awards ($500k/yr), and Small Business Administration ($300k/yr).
Dept. of Labor, Dept. of Education, and NSF also commit to supporting
collaborations.
FOA issued on February 8, 2010; full applications due on May 5, 2010.
This pilot initiative will spur regional economic growth while developing innovative
energy efficient building technologies, designs, and systems.
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Energy Innovation Hubs – Q&A
•
•
What kind of infrastructure support will be provided for the Hubs?
Up to $10M in the first year for start-up, including building leasing or rennovation and
equipment, but no new construction.
The Secretary stated that each Hub would be “ideally under one roof." How will
this concept influence the Hub selection process?
R&D integration is critical for a successful Hub. Key elements for successful
management include:
A clear lead institution with strong scientific leadership and central location for the Hub.
If geographically distributed, a clear commitment to the use of state-of-the-art technology and
frequent virtual meetings to enable meaningful long distance collaboration.
A clear organization and management plan for achieving the collaborative and synergistic
goals of a Hub and “infusing” a culture of empowered central research management.
•
•
How will the Hubs be selected, reviewed, and managed?
Using procedures now well established in DOE, and particularly SC, for other large
FOAs (BRCs, EFRCs, ...).
How will industry participate in Hubs?
Closely and in several ways, with the clear understanding that industrial involvement
is vital to technology transfer and ultimate commercialization.
For more Q&A see: http://www.hubs.energy.gov/
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Fuels from Sunlight Hub – Process Update
• Letters of Intent (LOIs) were due on Friday, January 29.
•
•
•
•
LOIs were not required, but were strongly encouraged.
LOIs used only for organizing and expediting the merit review of the full
applications.
Details regarding the LOIs (how many?, what institutions?, etc.) are “procurement
sensitive” and cannot be made public.
The LOI response was very positive.
• We anticipate a lively competition with strong applications – full
applications are due on March 29.
• As for the EFRC competition, finding unconflicted peer reviewers will
be a challenge.
• We welcome suggestions or volunteerism from BESAC regarding peer
reviewers. We are interested in reviewers with the appropriate
technical expertise and those familiar with management of a large,
integrated R&D effort.
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