CCEMC announces $50M fund to support research to support cleaner fossil fuel production and processing
Closing Date: Initial submissions due September 27, 2013
EDMONTON – The CCEMC is offering up to a total of $50 million in funding for projects that can reduce emissions from fossil fuel production and processing. Initial submissions are due by September 27.
For this Expression of Interest, the CCEMC will consider innovative projects at all stages of development. Projects must be completed within three years of initiating work. While the project can occur anywhere, the technology must be applicable for use in Alberta. Successful projects will be announced in the summer of 2014.
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View PDF of media release: CCEMC-1842 Media Release.May 14-2
CCEMC announces $35M Grand Challenge
Response date: July 15, 2013
NineSigma, representing the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation, invites proposals for technologies that will convert carbon dioxide arising from greenhouse gases (GHGs) into valuable carbon-based products. The goal of this $35 million multi-stage event is to significantly reduce GHG emissions by fostering the development of technologies that create new carbon-based, value-added products and markets.
This is a multi-stage event, with opportunities for additional funding to each successive stage. In the first stage, proposals will be considered for CAD$500,000 innovation seed grants. Additionally, CCEMC and its venture partners will provide up to CAD$25 million to fund the development of promising technologies with breakthrough potential.
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DOE Funding Opportunity: Advanced Gasification Technologies Development and Gasification Scoping Studies for Innovative Initiatives
Closing Date: April 22, 2013
Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility”
Additional Information on Eligibility: All types of entities, including DOE National Laboratory Contractors, are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.
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Details: Gasification is used to convert a solid feedstock, such as coal, petcoke or biomass, into a gaseous form, referred to as syngas, which is composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO). With gasification-based technologies, pollutants can be easily captured and then disposed of or converted to useful products. In the Department of Energy’s vision for clean power using gasification, steam is added to syngas in a water-gas shift (WGS) reactor to convert the CO to carbon dioxide (CO2) and to produce additional hydrogen. The hydrogen and CO2 are separated, the hydrogen is combusted to make power and the CO2 is captured and sent to storage, converted to useful product, or used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
The Gasification Systems Technology Area takes full advantage of the flexibility inherent in gasification. For instance, technologies designed to clean syngas to chemical production standards also clean syngas for power production (i.e., integrated gasification combined cycle [IGCC]), often with significantly lower contaminant levels than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criteria for power plant emissions. Technologies that lower the cost of producing high-hydrogen syngas for fuels or chemical production will also reduce the carbon footprint of IGCC. Advanced technologies being developed under the Gasification Systems Technology Area will provide a more efficient and economical platform for the capture and utilization of CO2. In addition to efficiently producing electric power, a wide range of liquids and/or high-value chemicals and fuels (especially diesel and gasoline) can be produced from cleaned, high-hydrogen syngas, thereby providing flexibility capable of capitalizing on a range of dynamic changes to either domestic energy markets or global economic conditions. Continued advances in gasification-based technology will enable the conversion of our Nation’s abundant coal reserves into energy resources (power and liquid fuels) needed to support the national economy with unprecedented environmental performance.
NSERC Guidelines
NSERC offers answers to questions about international opportunities for Canadian researchers.
For Professors:
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/International-Internationale/ProfFAQ-ProfFAQ_eng.asp
For Students;
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/International-Internationale/Students-Etudiantes_eng.asp
2013 EU Calls for Proposals
The EU announced its new round of Call for Proposals for 2013. ERA-Can has a site where it has listed those 2013 FP7 Calls Targeted to Canadians http://www.era-can.ca/en/Calls-For-Proposals_41. The following is a summary of those calls of particular interest to the CMC-NCE network:
1. Energy Link to call: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-ENERGY-2013-IRP – download file: Work Programme 2013 – Energy
Call ENERGY.2013.5.1.1 Scale-up of advanced high-efficiency capture processes (carbon storage) – see page 29 of Work Programme 2013
The objective is the scaling-up of advanced capture technologies that have shown considerable potential for reduction of the energy penalty and a significant overall improvement of cost-efficiency of the whole capture process. Projects can address innovative
capture technologies (such as for example solid sorbents, cryogenics and membranes). They should define operating conditions and provide proof of the reliability and cost-effectiveness of these concepts through pilot testing, and aim for an ambitious scale-up as compared to the state-of-the-art. The proposal should state a clearly defined target for the reduction of the energy penalty and the relative incremental operating costs of the capture process, and should assess the environmental impact of the technology at plant scale.
Call ENERGY. 2013.5.1.2 New generation high-efficiency capture processes – see page 29 of Work Progamme 2013
The objective is to support the development of high-potential novel technologies or processes for post- and/or pre-combustion CO2 capture. Research should follow new paths leading to highly innovative technologies and materials for CO2 capture applications with the potential for real breakthroughs. This could include systems based on solids or liquids or a combination of these such as enzyme based systems, bio mimicking systems or advanced solid sorbents and membranes. Environmentally benign technologies should be pursued and their environmental impact addressed in the project also in view of future scaling up. Projects shall provide “proof of concept” through prototype testing. Any research that constitutes a technology demonstration at large scale or a combination of CCS technologies proven at pre-demonstration pilot scale will not be considered for funding.
Call ENERGY. 2013.5.2.1 Mitigation and remediation of leakage from geological storage – see page 30 of Work Programme 2013
Geological storage of CO2 must ensure the safety, reliability and controllability of the storage process, as well as address concerns about leakage of CO2 – with human health and/or environmental impacts. Safe, long-term geological storage – both
onshore and offshore – therefore brings the need for sophisticated methods for the detection, characterisation, mitigation and remediation of leakage from CO2 storage sites and complexes, as well as for sound approaches to safety assessment.
Call ENERGY.2013.6.1.1: Combined Underground Coal Gasification and CO2 Capture and Storage – see page 32 of Work Programme 2013
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) holds potential for reduced CO2 emissions per unit of gasified coal, for reduced impact from mining operations, and for using the site for CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS). Projects should have a predominant research component, addressing both the environmental and engineering aspects. Emphasis should be on the integrated design, engineering and operation of UCG with reactor zone carbon sequestration, and on the coupled simulation of geomechanical and hydrological effects, including groundwater contamination and surface subsidence.
2. Nanotechnology, materials and production (NMP) Link to call: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-NMP-2013-LARGE-7 – download file: Work Programme 2013 – Nanosciences, Naotechnologies, Materials etc.
Call NMP.2013.2.3-2: Rational design of functional materials: networking and sharing of best practices – see page 37 of Work Prgamme 2013
The proposed coordination action(s) should network stakeholders allowing them to benefit from sharing knowledge in the emerging field of multi-scale computational design of functional materials, the so-called materials by design. To accelerate progress and increase impact, the proposals should include activities to promote a deeper understanding between the different communities (atomic, molecular, meso-/macroscale, academia and industry) which may use very different tools/methods and have different expectations and requirements. This Coordination and Support Action can take into account the importance of relevant computational methods and software developments at the international level, thus the inclusion of international aspects and involvement of international stakeholder’s networks.
3. Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Link to call: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-SSH-2013-1 – download file: Work Programme 2013 – Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities
Call SSH.2013.4.3-2: Transatlantic Social Sciences and Humanities Platform – see page 40 of the Work Programme 2013
The Transatlantic Social Sciences and Humanities Platform should:
- step up international cooperation between research programmes through the networking of those programmes and closer coordination of activities;
- enhance the networking of on-going research projects run by both the EU and those partner countries that are addressed by this call in the area of social sciences and humanities;
- strengthen the production, use and communication of research activities and findings in areas of relevance for all partners involved.
This call is addressed in particular to programme “managers”, such as research councils or funding agencies, or other national or regional organisations that implement research programmes in the areas of social sciences and humanities in the EU Member States, Associated Countries, Canada, the USA, Mexico and Brazil.