Nonprofit research institute RTI International announced that it has been selected to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop new technologies that help expand renewable power.
The funding is part of the Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS) program, which aims to harness renewable energy sources like wind and solar to produce liquids for sustainable fuels or chemicals.
“The energy transition will require all sectors to work together to design unique solutions,” said Sameer Parvathikar, Ph.D., director, renewable energy and energy storage at RTI. “We are looking forward to demonstrating novel advances in technology and engineering for e-methanol production. Deploying these technologies will reduce barriers for renewables deployment and industrial use.”
In partnership with Casale, SA, RTI will demonstrate a next-generation e-methanol production process using renewable energy from wind and solar, along with captured carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This will be done on a scale relevant to real-world engineering. The process includes advanced, affordable catalysts, a new type of reactor that can handle variable energy input, patented strategies for managing and optimizing operations, and a global tool for optimizing plant design to ensure the production of e-methanol is economically feasible.
“Casale is excited to be a part of the project,” stated Michal Bialkowski, Ph.D., head of Casale’s research and development. “We view it as a chance to showcase our dedication to delivering a versatile e-methanol process that incorporates cutting-edge loop control and innovative internal designs.”
Photo of RTI International
Press release https://shorturl.at/kakEu
