Update on the Energy Innovation Hub:

Fuels from Sunlight

Eric A. RohlfingDirector; BES Chemical Sciences, Geosciences,

and Biosciences DivisionBESAC 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

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We’ve wanted to copy Nature for a long time!

1st ERDA Solar Photochemistry Research ConferenceMay 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 usingmodel systems which mimic natural photosynthetic systems in light gatheringand charge separation.

Artificial Photosynthesis: A Long Standing BES Interest

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Jim Barber, Imperial College, UK

Gary Brudvig, Yale Univ.

Chris Moser, Univ. of Pennsylvania

Graham Fleming, UC Berkeley/LBNL

Maria Ghirardi, NREL

Marilyn Gunner, City College of NY

Wolfgang Junge, Univ. Osnabruck, Germany

David Kramer, Washington State Univ.

Robert Blankenship, Washington University (Co Chair)

David Tiede, Argonne National Laboratory (Co-Chair)

BES Council on Chemical and Biochemical Sciences Workshop on the Efficiency of Photosynthesis

May 23, 24, - 2009 Albuquerque, NM

Tasio Meilis, UC Berkeley

Tom Moore, Arizona St. Univ.

Dan Nocera, MIT

Art Nozik, NREL

Don Ort, Univ. of Illiniois

William Parson, Univ. of Washington

Roger Prince, Exxon

Richard Sayre, Danforth Plant Science Center

Can biologists studying natural photosynthetic systems talk to physical scientists doing PV research? Yes, and usefully!

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Efficiency of photosynthesis conversion to biomass:

4.6% - 6.0% calculated2.4% - 3.7% actual field PS

What is the solar energy conversion efficiency of natural photosynthesis compared to photovoltaic cells?

From Don Ort, USDA-ARS

light

light

Natural Photosynthesis: Focus on the Thylakoid Membrane

Matrix for reaction centers I & II, the electron transfer chain, and catalytic redox sites

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2H2O O2 + 4H+

e- fuels

e-

fs

ps - ns

ms - ms

ms - ms

Artificial Photosynthesis: Working Definition

The “Z” scheme of photosynthesis is depicted in overlay on the structure

light

light

- Photon capture and energy transfer - fs- Charge separation and electron transport – ps-ns- Catalysis and fuel formation – ms-ms

solar microcatalytic energy conversion

ener

gy

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Fuels from Sunlight: Critical Issues in Research

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

Charge separation and transport

How do we avoid recombination of photo-generated charge carriers?

-Need to overcome geminate recombination in organic systems

-Need to design transport to reduce non-geminate recombination in all systems

Photocatalysis

How do we produce fuels with the energy provided by visible light absorption?

-Need hetero/homo -geneous catalytic systems for water splitting

-Need to couple light absorption to catalytic processes for C-C bond formation

fs ps-ns ms-ms

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fuel storage

electrolyzer

PV cell

balance of system

current

gas

H2 compression

fuel storage

fuel storage

Prospects for Solar Fuels Production

Ultimate goal:

solar microcatalytic energy conversion

What we can do today:

liquid

gas

High capital costs

Low capital costs

compression

$12/kg H2 @ $3/pW PV(BRN on SEU 2005)

Chemists do not yet know how to photoproduce O2, H2, reduce CO2, or oxidize H2O on the scale we need.

We do not know how to produce fuels in a cost effective manner.

Two Limits

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fuel storage

electrolyzer

PV cell

balance of system

current

gas

H2 compression

solar microcatalytic energy conversion

fuel storage

fuel storage

micro-nano catalysts homo/het

H2

CH4

micro-nano solar charge separation

fuel storage

electrolyzer

PV cell

balance of system

current

gas

H2 compression

new catalysts for fuel generation

highly efficient zero cost

dark

liquid

gas

Solar Fuels Production

Context is the research between these extremes-each red arrow represents an area of basic research

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fuel storage

electrolyzer

PV cell

balance of system

current

gas

H2 compression

fuel storage

fuel storage

micro-nano catalysts homo/het

H2

CH4

micro-nano solar charge separation

fuel storage

electrolyzer

PV cell

balance of system

current

gas

H2 compression

new catalysts for fuel generation

highly efficient zero cost

dark

liquid

gasseparations

catalysis

Photochemistry, biosciences, materials

EFRC areas of focusWhat we can do today Ultimate goal

solar microcatalytic energy conversion

Landscape for Solar Fuels – BES Research

BES Program Research

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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• 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-of-concept prototyping.

Energy Innovation Hub – Fuels from Sunlight

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For information on DOE Energy Innovation Hubs see: http://www.hubs.energy.gov/

We are here!

Ap

pli

edM

arke

t

Landscape for Solar Fuels Production: From Basic Research to Market

Solar fuels technology currently resides at the basic research level.

Sol

ar t

o H

ydro

gen

dar

k ca

taly

sis

sepa

ratio

ns

Use

-In

spir

ed

$12/gal gas equiv

13N

ano-

bio

pho

toca

taly

sis

What we can do today:

Ligh

t Abs

orpt

ion,

C

harg

e se

para

tion

&

tran

spor

t

Ap

pli

edM

arke

t

Landscape for Solar Fuels Production: From Basic Research to Market

The Hub will drive solar fuels R&D toward marketable systems.

Use

-In

spir

ed

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What we want to do tomorrow:

Fuels from Sunlight Hub:

To develop integrated solar fuel systems

To create the scientific and technical infrastructure for a solar fuels industry

Twofold Integration: Across

components Across basic &

applied R&D

• 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.

Energy Innovation Hubs - Coordination

15http://www.hubs.energy.gov/

Energy Innovation Hubs Website

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Overview of Hub program

How to apply, including links to FOAs

Description of research areas

Q & A – some examples to follow

The Other Two Hubs

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• 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.

• 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.

Energy Innovation Hubs – Q&A

18For more Q&A see: http://www.hubs.energy.gov/

• 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.

Fuels from Sunlight Hub – Process Update

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