The Ӱר is an integral part of a statewide effort that received the largest and most competitive grant ever awarded by the National Science Foundation Ӱר up to $160 million over the next 10 years. The statewide effort Ӱר Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, or FUEL Ӱר includes more than 50 public and private partners from across Louisiana.
The NSF Engines grant will support LouisianaӰרs energy industry, create jobs in the energy sector, develop innovative solutions to energy challenges and help train the worldӰרs energy workforce. The NSF announced the award at a press conference on Monday, Jan. 29, in Washington, D.C.
ӰרAs a partner in the FUEL consortium team, we look forward to contributing our expertise in the evolution of the energy economy across a range of technical areas,Ӱר said Dr. Jonathan Raush, principal investigator for UL Lafayette on the grant and associate professor of mechanical engineering. ӰרThis NSF Engines award will provide opportunities to expand and strengthen both Ӱר and industry collaborations, conduct use-inspired R&D, technology commercialization and workforce development. Project focus areas of the consortium, ranging from development of the industrial hydrogen economy to water management, energy efficiency, sustainable manufacturing and more are key growth areas for UL Lafayette. Working collaboratively, the execution of these programs will help move Louisiana to be the global research and development leader for solving energy-related challenges.Ӱר
The focus of the grant is energy transition and decarbonization of LouisianaӰרs industrial corridor. Louisiana is a world leader in energy expertise and solutions, with more than 250,000 people working in the energy, chemical and petrochemical industries. LouisianaӰרs geographic location and its existing infrastructure of plants, refineries and 50,000 miles of pipelines place the state at the epicenter of energy transition. This grant will position Louisiana to be the global research and development leader for the expanding energy industry into the future.
ӰרThis NSF Engines grant will help researchers from UL Lafayette work alongside all of our Ӱר partners and leverage over seven decades of work with the oil and gas industry,Ӱר said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development at UL Lafayette. ӰרOver the past 20 years, the Ӱר has diversified its energy-related research and academic programs to include biofuels, solar, CCS, blue and green hydrogen, EV and battery technologies as well as innovative energy materials resulting in significant economic development and technological successes. Our Ӱרall-of-the-aboveӰר energy management strategy derives from a deep commitment to ensuring the nationӰרs energy dominance and energy security.Ӱר
UL LafayetteӰרs Dr. Kumer Das, assistant vice president of Research and Innovation, Noah Bergeron, associate director for the Office of Innovation Management, and Dr. Barbara Marchetti, an instructor in the Department of Chemistry, are co-principal investigators for the grant.
The Ӱר currently has more than 55 faculty involved in energy-related research, development and outreach, and is working with more than 30 private companies. UL Lafayette is designated as the stateӰרs Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence and helped the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources secure $500 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding for grid resilience, establishing the Hubs for Energy Resilience Operations across the state.
In addition, UL Lafayette helped attract First Solar Ӱר the largest solar energy manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere Ӱר to Iberia Parish.
The company will locate its fifth U.S. manufacturing facility in New Iberia and make a $1.1 billion investment in Acadiana. UL Lafayette will provide training for First SolarӰרs workforce.
ӰרWe are pleased to serve as a partner in this collaborative effort to improve Louisiana,Ӱר said Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president. ӰרWorking together, we have a generational opportunity to transform our natural and human resources into new markets and outcomes.Ӱר
The state, through Louisiana Economic Development, will also contribute to the project and its projected broad economic impacts with an additional $67.5 million over the next decade. This will include funds to help higher education partners build a world-class team to convert research into practical and useful solutions.
FUEL partners include the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Greater New Orleans Inc., ExxonMobil, Shell and Baker Hughes.
The NSF considered more than 700 concepts before allowing 188 teams to submit grant proposals last year.