In This Issue
Featured Articles
- Better Plants Welcomes New Partners from Diverse Sectors
- Better Plants Challenge Partners Share Energy-Saving Solutions
- Harbec Receives 2014 Environmental Excellence Award from New York State
AMO and Industry News
- Heat Exchange Materials Research Advances
- Accomplishments Highlighted at Critical Materials Institute Annual Peer Review
- Benefits of Combined Heat and Power Underscored in the News
- CHP Installation Database: Revised and Available Online
- Updated Energy Management Systems eGuide Released
- 2015 Better Buildings Summit: Four Reasons to Register
Welcome Message
- Next-Generation Electric Machines: Megawatt Class Motors are the focus of a new funding opportunity recently announced by AMO. We want to help accelerate the deployment and adoption of high-speed industrial motors and drives using advanced power electronics (such as wide bandgap semiconductors).
- What ideas do you have to revolutionize the field of advanced manufacturing? The Office is formulating plans for an Advanced Manufacturing Incubator activity. We want to encourage the business community to propose fundamental applied R&D projects that could lead to significant energy, environmental, and economic gains. In particular, the Incubator could provide incentives for small and medium-sized manufacturers to pursue emerging high-risk, high-impact technologies. Stay tuned.
- AMO hosted an Industry Day workshop on Feb. 25 to explain the proposed Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute on Smart Manufacturing. A Notice of Intent about this funding opportunity was issued in December. Smart Manufacturing can integrate manufacturing intelligence in real time across an entire production operation, while minimizing energy, material use, and costs. This area has been identified by private-sector and university leaders as one of the highest-priority areas in need of federal investment. A funding opportunity will likely be forthcoming soon.
- Nine R&D projects have been successfully negotiated and awarded, and the kick-off meetings were held, launching a new set of advanced manufacturing projects. These projects will foster development of innovative advanced manufacturing process and materials technologies and transition scientific knowledge into clean energy manufacturing capabilities.
Advanced manufacturing is our name! Thanks for reading.
Best regards,
Isaac Chan – R&D Program Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Office
Featured Articles
Better Plants Welcomes New Partners from Diverse Sectors
Seven organizations from diverse industries recently joined the Better Plants Program and Challenge, signaling their commitment to energy management and improved energy performance. Joining Better Plants establishes the new Partners as leaders in industrial energy efficiency with a specific pledge to reduce energy intensity by 25% over 10 years. The Better Plants Challenge is a higher-level leadership club of organizations that agree to openly share their energy performance data and key energy-saving best practices.
Three of the new Partners—BD, Lennox International, and Lineage Logistics—are manufacturers. Four Partners—Encina Wastewater Authority, the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority—join Better Plants as part of a programmatic expansion to engage water and wastewater treatment authorities.
New Better Plants Challenge Partners
New Better Plants Partners
Better Plants is a national initiative that works with industry to set and meet ambitious energy-saving targets. For more information on the program, contact Andre de Fontaine.
Better Plants Challenge Partners Share Energy-Saving Solutions
As part of the Challenge, Partners share their innovative energy efficiency solutions with the public online. This encourages other organizations to emulate or replicate these successful energy-saving strategies. Recently, three Better Plants Challenge Partners—Ford Motor Company, General Mills, and 3M—worked with DOE to publish detailed “implementation models” and “showcase projects.” Implementation models document initiatives or mechanisms that Partners have implemented at the corporate level to overcome persistent barriers to energy efficiency, while showcase projects are near-term demonstrations of significant energy savings at an individual Partner’s facility.
New implementation models:
New showcase project:
For more information, contact Andre de Fontaine.
Harbec Receives 2014 Environmental Excellence Award from New York State
“Harbec Inc. is a custom injection molding and precision component part manufacturer that has transformed from an energy-dependent business losing ground competitively to a profitable innovator producing carbon-conscious components with verifiable carbon reductions,” NYSDEC’s press release observes. “They are one of only 14 world-wide manufacturers to achieve a platinum-level certification under Department of Energy's Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program. Harbec has reduced energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 50 percent which translates into an avoidance of almost 2,200 tons of CO2 emissions.”
For more information, contact Andre de Fontaine.
AMO and Industry News
Heat Exchange Materials Research Advances
MIT researchers are more than halfway to the project’s ultimate thermal conductivity goal. In addition, the research team is in discussions with companies and students at the MIT Sloan School of Management to explore different applications for polyethylene films. For example, the team created a smartphone case using laminated polyethylene films, demonstrating the material’s potentially broad range of uses. For more information, contact Bob Gemmer.
Accomplishments Highlighted at Critical Materials Institute Annual Peer Review
CMI will begin its third year of operation in July and will host its annual progress meeting at Idaho National Laboratory in August. This year, CMI began enrolling corporations and organizations into its Affiliates Program and drafted a new materials criticality assessment for clean energy. Other accomplishments include producing 20 invention disclosures, 4 patent applications, and 28 publications. For more information, contact Mark Shuart.
Benefits of Combined Heat and Power Underscored in the News
AMO’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Deployment Program works with industry, end-users, policymakers, and other stakeholders to demystify CHP. Interest in CHP is growing as an efficient option to provide electricity, space conditioning (heating and cooling), and process thermal uses in commercial and industrial settings. Recently, the CHP Deployment Program has experienced a flurry of success in several arenas, in conjunction with its partners:
- Recent CHP Reports Making the News
- Did you know that industry has the potential to capture and convert to electricity more than 14GW of heat that is being wasted in factories, plants and buildings across the United States? DOE funded ICF International Inc., through Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to conduct the “Waste Heat to Power Market Assessment” report. Find out where these opportunities are and if you can turn your waste into power.
- Did you know that a local jurisdiction, such a city, could potentially reduce primary energy consumption by 30%–50%? DOE and its colleagues at the International District Energy Association contributed to the recently released United Nations Environment Programme Report “District Energy in Cities.” The report indicates that district energy systems, which pipe steam and hot or cold water from a central location to buildings throughout a city, have the potential to reduce primary energy consumption by 30%–50% compared to buildings that use their own boilers or air conditioners. It also provides a critical set of information to cities as they develop action plans to meet sustainability, energy, and climate goals. It includes profiles of 45 local jurisdictions around the world, including St. Paul, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; and Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States.
- CHP in State Budgets
- Over the last few months, DOE’s Mid-Atlantic CHP Technical Assistance Partnership has worked closely with Pennsylvania stakeholders to discuss CHP opportunities in the Commonwealth. Currently, the Pennsylvania General Assembly is considering the Governor’s state budget proposal for 2015–2016, which includes $30 million in competitive grants to businesses that employ new CHP technologies to produce heat and power on-site from gas, biomass, coal, waste heat, oil, or a combination of fuel sources. An important component of installed costs for CHP can be connecting to a natural gas line, so the proposed budget also includes a natural gas distribution line fund. With $25 million in matching grants to business parks and manufacturers to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines, the fund enhances the availability of low-cost natural gas to Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector, establishing a significant competitive advantage in production costs and boosting the Commonwealth’s ability to attract new enterprises.
Building on this interest, the DOE CHP Deployment Program team is hosting a CHP meet up at the Better Buildings Summit in Washington, DC, on May 27. The team will discuss DOE resources to better understand and take advantage of CHP opportunities. For more information, contact Claudia Tighe.
CHP Installation Database: Revised and Available Online
DOE launched an upgraded website for the CHP Installation Database that offers information on current CHP installations across the United States. The new site makes navigation easier for users and allows for more frequent updates of the data. Upgrades include the following:
- An update for recent CHP installations
- The ability to search for specific CHP systems or groups of systems
- The option to sort and filter data by categories such as application (building/facility) or fuel type
- A data download function that allows users to download a list of the currently operating CHP systems included in the database as well as summary tables of the data; to download the data, a user must register with the website
- A link allows users to alert DOE about operating CHP systems that are not listed in the database and updates to current listings
CHP is an efficient and clean approach to generating on-site electric power and useful thermal energy from a single fuel source. The new website will help inform anyone interested in the technology. For more information regarding CHP, contact Claudia Tighe.
Updated Energy Management Systems eGuide Released
AMO Energy Management Systems eGuide has been updated. The eGuide is a tool that helps company facilities implement and manage robust energy management systems to achieve continuous improvement in energy efficiency. The new eGuide includes plant facilities from all industry sectors. In addition, users who log in through AMO’s Energy Resource Center can now track their progress through each step as they complete assigned tasks. Each step provides them with tangible results and concrete plans for action. The easy-to-use tool contains material organized for beginners through experts:
- Level 1—Foundational Energy Management will help any organization implement a basic energy management program
- Level 2—ISO 50001 Energy Management helps an organization implement an ISo 50001-2011 standard-based energy management system
- Level 3—Superior Energy Performance® (SEP™) Program provides guidance on the additional requirements (beyond ISO 50001) necessary to achieve certification under SEP, including third-party measurement and verification of energy performance improvement
For more information on the eGuide, contact Paul Scheihing.
2015 Better Buildings Summit: Four Reasons to Register
- Network—The 2014 Summit attracted more than 600 participants from leading companies such as Wal-Mart, Ford, Best Buy, and General Mills; major cities such as Atlanta, Cleveland, and Seattle; and states such as Maryland and New York. DOE’s goal is to bring more than 800 stakeholders together this year.
- Learn—The 2015 Summit agenda includes dozens of presentations and workshops on a wide variety of key energy efficiency topics led by DOE and outside experts. There is a full day of content specific to the industrial sector as well as several cross-sector sessions relevant to manufacturers.
- Celebrate—This year’s Summit will recognize Better Plants Partners for their energy efficiency achievements.
- Look into the Future—AMO will hold its peer review concurrently with the Summit, providing participants with a unique opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge manufacturing-related R&D projects.
Register for the Summit today! For more information, contact Andre de Fontaine.
<h4><span style="color: rgb(89, 127, 43);">Partners Featured in this Issue</span></h4><p>BD; Encina Wastewater Authority; Ford Motor Company; General Mills; Harbec, Inc.; Lineage Logistics; Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; 3M; and Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority</p><p> </p><h4>Events</h4><p><strong>Next-Generation Electric Machines Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Webinar</strong><br />April 1 | Online<br />Up to $20 million is now available to develop a new generation of energy-efficient, high-power-density, high-speed-integrated medium-voltage drive systems for a wide variety of critical energy applications. AMO plans to select four to six projects and will host an informational webinar on this FOA.<br /><a href="node/1032861">More</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Pennsylvania Strategic Energy Management Showcase</strong><br />April 7 | State College, PA<br />The Showcase is an opportunity for industrial manufacturers to learn how the Better Plants, ISO 50001, and Superior Energy Performance programs work, including the tools and resources they offer. Participants will also learn about energy management success stories from Pennsylvania industrial plants and how to use regression analysis to better model and measure energy performance, among other topics.<br /><a href="http://penntap.psu.edu/services/energy/pa-sem-showcase/">More</a></p><p… Fibers and Their Composites Symposium/Workshop</strong><br />April 16-17 | Oak Ridge, TN<br />The American Carbon Society is hosting a symposium and workshop at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to promote the science and technology of carbon fibers and their composites to students and early career scientists and engineers. The event will include lectures by leading experts in manufacturing, research presentations, and a poster session and reception.<br /><a href="http://www.americancarbonsociety.org/sites/default/files/April2015a.pdf… Buildings Summit</strong><br />May 27-29 | Washington, D.C.<br />The Better Buildings Summit is a national meeting where leading organizations across key sectors showcase solutions to cut energy intensity in their buildings and plants over the next ten years. This Summit is designed so partners and stakeholders can exchange best practices, highlight demonstrated market solutions, and discuss future opportunities for greater energy efficiency in America's homes and buildings.<br /><a href="http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/betterbuildings/summit/">More</a>… Trainings</strong><br />INPLTs are three-day training sessions focused on cross-cutting energy systems. Trainings are hosted by Better Plants Partners and are open to other companies unless noted otherwise. Contact <a href="mailto:William.Orthwein@ee.doe.gov">Bill Orthwein</a> for information on how to participate. Space is limited.</p><p>April 8-9 | Shaw Industries Group (Steam) | Dalton, GA</p><p>May 11-14 | Intertape Polymer Group (Multisystem – Process Heat and Compressed Air) | Danville, VA</p><p>May 12-14 | Weyerhaeuser (Fans) | Heaters, WV</p><p> </p><h4>About AMO Programs</h4><p>AMO partners with industry, small businesses, universities, and other stakeholders to identify and invest in emerging technologies with the potential to create high-quality domestic manufacturing jobs and enhance the global competitiveness of the United States. There are three main areas:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Facilities</strong><br />AMO Facilities are collaborative communities that provide participants with affordable access to physical and virtual tools and enable demonstration in targeted technical areas of manufacturing.<br /><a href="/node/727391">More</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Research & Development Projects</strong><br />R&D projects at AMO explore novel energy-efficient, next-generation materials and innovative process technologies for both specific industry sectors and a wider range of manufacturing industries.<br /><a href="/node/727731">More</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Technical Assistance</strong><br />Industrial Technical Assistance supports the deployment of manufacturing technologies and practices, including strategic energy management and combined heat and power, across American industry to increase productivity and reduce water and energy use.<br /><a href="/node/907776">More</a></p>