Solar Energy Research Opportunities

at NSF

Scialog Solar Energy Conversion Conference

Biosphere 2

October 11-14, 2011

Tom Peterson

Assistant Director Engineering Directorate

National Science Foundation

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Scialog Solar Energy Conversion

Conference 2010

Scialog 2010 was the first of three Workshops co-

funded by NSF & Research Corporation

At least two NSF SOLAR Award Grantees received

Supplements by partnering with Res Corp PIs

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NSF Solar Energy – Related

Research Program

Examples

(not all-inclusive)

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CHE-DMR-DMS Solar Energy

Initiative (SOLAR) Program Solicitation: NSF 10-613

PI Limit: Proposals must include three or more co-PIs, of whom one

must be a researcher in chemistry, a second in materials, and a third

in mathematical sciences, in areas supported by the NSF Divisions of

Chemistry, Materials Research, and Mathematical Sciences,

respectively.

Any potential fourth or fifth co-PI can be a researcher in any

relevant area of science, including specifically those supported by the

NSF Divisions of Engineering.

SYNERGY of three disciplines TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL

FY 2012 - There will be no SOLAR Solicitation

ENG can play!

5 Awards were made in FY 2011

UV-vis, 0.2 V(b) UV-vis, 0.2 V(b)

CHE-DMR-DMS

Solar Energy Initiative (SOLAR)

Luminescent Solar

Concentrators

Kelly, UC Merced

Ultrabroad spectral

bandwidth excitonic thin-

film solar cells

Forrest, Univ of Mich

Integrated electro-

photonic development

of polymer solar cells

Samulski, UNC

“Tuned" electrocatalytic

nanostructures for H2

generation

Bard, UT

Austin

Sustainable PV

materials

Law, UC-Irvine

Optical hyperdoping….

Black Silicon

Mazur, Harvard

Solar materials Simulations

Van Voorhis/MIT

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Interagency Collaboration News

SunShot - Just Awarded

• SunShot Initiative $145M for Advanced Solar Technologies

• Next Generation Photovoltaics II ((23 Projects/$22.2M)

• F-PACE (Foundational Program to Advance PV Cell

Efficiency)

• DOE/SETP & NSF/ECCS (18 Projects/$38.5M)

• Extreme Balance of System Hardware Cost Reduction (9

Projects - $42M)

• Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (8 Projects/$25.9M)

• Reducing Market Barriers (7 Projects/$13.6M)

• SunShot Incubator (4 Projects/$5.8M)

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More Opportunities

for

Solar Research

in

FY2012

CAREER - Faculty Early Career Development

Program (solicitation)

REU - Research Experience for Undergraduates; Sites

and Supplements (solicitation)

GOALI - Grant Opportunities for Academic Liason

with Industry (unsolicited)

EAGER - EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory

Research - Replaces SGER (invited)

Traditional NSF –Wide Core Programs

Individual Investigator Award (IIA) Programs

The Challenge of Sustainability

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It is more than just

climate change or

energy, or disaster

response, or …

Economy Environment

Society

The interactions between natural and social systems, and how those

interactions affect the challenge of… meeting the needs of the

present and future generations while substantially reducing poverty

and conserving the planet’s life support systems

What is

Sustainability?

It is research at the

nexus of societal

needs and

behavior,

environmental

impact, and

economic

demands

Sustainability

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SEES and the NSF Mission

(Science, Engineering & Education for Sustainability)

NSF’s mission is to support the progress of science (education); to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.

NSF has the capability to address the full depth and breadth of research and education for sustainable development.

economics environment

energy

education

opportunity

Social behavior Climate change biodiversity

Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 11-022)

Research Coordination Networks–SEES track (NSF 11-531)

SEES submission encouraged in Dynamics of Coupled Natural & Human Systems (NSF 10-612)

New: Sustainability Research Networks (NSF 11-574)

New: SEES Fellows (NSF 11-575)

New: Sustainable Energy Pathways (NSF 11-590)

Exclusive SEES focus in Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) solicitation (NSF 11-564)

Climate-related competitions continue

SEES Summit planned for March 2012

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FY 2011 and 2012 Activities

SEES Proposal Requirements for

All Solicitations

Multidisciplinary by design

• Proposals fundable by core program of directorates not suitable.

• Integration of multi-disciplinary parts is important

Interdisciplinary education & training, e.g.

• Integration multi-disciplinary education into core curriculum

• Novel mechanisms to enhance cross-disciplinary interaction &

understanding

• Creation of infrastructure required for multidisciplinary research

• Enhancing public’s understanding of sustainable energy future

Beyond science and technology

• Consideration of societal, economic, and environmental aspects

required

• Proposals require only consideration, not in-depth treatment of all

aspects

• Depth of treatment depends on proposal scope

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Sustainable Energy Pathways (SEP)

10/18/2011 NSF CISE SEES Webinar

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Amount

Awards

Requirements

Restrictions

$34M for 15 -20 awards

Up to $500K/year

Up to 4 years

Smaller awards also welcome

At least 3 PIs (one lead, 2 co-PIs)

Represents 2 or more disciplines

Max 3 proposals per organization

Max 1 proposal per PI

Sustainable Energy Harvesting, Conversion,

and Storage

• Energy harvesting and conversion

• Energy storage solutions

• Critical elements and materials

• Nature inspired processes

• Reducing carbon intensity

Energy Transmission, Distribution, Efficiency,

and Use

• Transmission and distribution

• Energy efficiency and management

To develop efficient pathways towards sustainable

energy, from starting points to ending points, via a

systems approach in the priority areas of

NSF 11-590

Due February 1, 2012

Science, Engineering, and Education

for Sustainability (SEES)

New solicitation:

Steps for Preparing a Sustainable Energy Pathway (SEP) Proposal

Define core energy-related fundamental science/engineering

problem to be addressed

Identify scientific and engineering challenges (defines energy system

in terms of resource/technology)

Environmental Societal Economic

Step

1

Step

2

Step 3: Describe how the

sustainability factors

(environmental, economic,

societal) affect these

scientific/engineering challenges

Step 4: Describe how the team

will address the scientific/engineering

challenges informed by the

sustainability factors, including

educational aspects with respect to

student /post doc training and public

outreach (i.e. this will define the

energy system in terms of

sustainability– this will be a

Sustainable Energy Pathway).

Sustainable Energy Pathway

(defines the energy system in

terms of sustainability within the

context of the scientific &

engineering, as well as education

challenges)

Science &

Engineering

Factors

SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS

General Topic Areas

Sustainable Energy Resource Characterization, Harvesting,

Conversion, Storage, and Impacts

Energy Harvesting and Conversion from Renewable

Resources

Energy Storage Solutions

Critical Elements & Materials for Sustainable Energy

Nature-Inspired Process for Sustainable Energy Solutions

Reducing Carbon Intensity from Energy Conversion, and

Use

Energy Transmission, Distribution, Efficiency, and Use

Transmission and Distribution

Energy Efficiency and Management

SEP Requirements and Review Criteria

10/18/2011 NSF CISE SEES Webinar 17

The extent to which the proposal articulates SEP vision

• Embraces the overarching theme of sustainability,

• Develops and integrates scientific knowledge & technological innovation with environmental, societal, & economic aspects.

Synergistic engagement of multiple disciplines

As reflected in the research plan, expertise/roles of PIs, and the project management plan

Integration of education & workforce development in research

As reflected in the potential effectiveness and impact in educating students and promoting public understanding of sustainable energy

In Summary

NSF-RCSA interaction in Solar Energy research is positively perceived

New opportunities for Solar Energy Research are in the NSF-wide SEES Initiative

Interdisciplinary collaboration is key.

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Acknowledgements:

George Maracas ENG/ECCS/EPT; Linda Sapochak MPS/DMR/SSMC

SEES Team

Two New Initiatives

Innovation Corps (I-Corps)

Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI)

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University research is key, often driven by

industrial needs.

Faculty are involved along the innovation

continuum, working with industry at all

stages.

A focus on translational research

smoothes the handoff of technology from

universities to industry—resulting in rapid,

efficient innovation.

Characteristics of the

Innovation Ecosystem

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NSF Programs for

Translational Research Science and Technology Centers (STC)

Engineering Research Centers (ERC)

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC)

Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT)

Emerging Frontiers of Research and Innovation (EFRI)

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)

Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC)

Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)

Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR)

The Innovation Corps (I-Corps)

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Other ENG programs

University

Small Business

Investors

Industry

ENG

ove

rall

NSF

ove

rall

GO

ALI

I /U

CR

C

PFI

ERC

STTR

SBIR

STC

Re

sou

rce

s In

vest

ed

Discovery Development Commercialization

Foundations

NSF Innovation Investments

AIR

Translational Research

22 Directorate for Engineering

University

Small Business

Investors

Industry

ENG

ove

rall

NSF

ove

rall

GO

ALI

I /U

CR

C

PFI

ERC

The “Ditch of Death”

SBIR

STC

Re

sou

rce

s In

vest

ed

Discovery Development Commercialization

Foundations

NSF Innovation Investments

AIR

Translational Research

23 Directorate for Engineering

STTR

I-Corps in A Nutshell Transcending the “Ditch of Death”: a public-private

partnership to support the translation of NSF research into the development of technologies, products and processes

Increasing Network Opportunities: aims to help create a national network scientists, engineers, innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs building on existing NSF grantee events

Supporting NSF Strategy: I-Corps will enhance our nation’s economic competitiveness by “reaching out to a range of communities that play complementary roles in the innovation process and are essential to ensuring the impact of NSF Investments.” *

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*From “Empowering the Nation through Discovery

and Innovation” NSF Strategic Plan, April 2011

I-Corps Projects are Team-

Based Team Composition:

• Entrepreneurial Lead: Post-doc or Student to move it forward

• I-Corps Mentor: Domain-relevant volunteer guide

• PI: Researcher with current or previous award

Program Outcomes

• Functioning network of Mentors/Advisors

• Scientist and Engineers trained as Entrepreneurs

• Increased impact of NSF-funded basic research

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Credit: © 2011 JupiterImages Corp.

•30 Hours of Curriculum

•$50,000 per award

• F&A $5,000 maximum

• 25 awards in FY2011

• 100 awards in FY2012

Science Across Virtual

Institutes (SAVI) Facilitate collaboration among scientists,

engineers and educators across the globe

Spur innovation, enable discovery, and help solve society's most vexing problems.

Early pilots VIs:

• Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (VI-MSS) with India

• Physics of Living Systems Student Research Network (PoLS SRN) with Israel and others

• Wireless Innovation (WiFiUS) with Finland

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