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ATP
FOCUSED PROGRAM: Premium Power
Potential for U.S. Economic Benefit. Power just isnt the same anymore. While the familiar model of large, centralized electric power generating plants supplying users throughout a wide geographic area is not obsolete, there is burgeoning demand for what might be called boutique powersmall, localized, high-quality, tailored power sources. This is largely an outgrowth of the global revolution in telecommunications and information technologies: portable, wireless electronics in notebook computers and cellular telephones; growing networks of satellite-based communications systems; communications and information networks in remote or underdeveloped regions of the world. All of these fuel the demand for new power sources; sources that are small, modular, distributed, and above all, high-quality. Premium power. The premium power technologies include such things as photovoltaic solar arrays, integrated fuel cell systems, advanced batteries, ultracapacitors, and flywheels. Key applications for these technologies include:
Premium power sources also offer potentially important environmental benefits, relative tofor example, coal-fired power plants, reducing emissions of particulates and air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Because electrochemical fuel cells are two to three times more energy efficient than present day combustion technologies, for example, total air emissions from fuel cell power systems are several orders of magnitude less polluting than today's utilities and vehicles. The potential for economic benefit from innovative premium power solutions is immense:
Technology Challenge and Industry Commitment. The Premium Power program focuses on developing the materials, device structures, processing, and systems integration needed for high-performance, cost-effective, reliable distributed power systems especially needed by portable electronics, telecommunications, and quality power sensitive industries. Several recent research developments in electric power technologies are radical innovations that create a window of opportunity. These include:
The goal of the Premium Power focused program is to create more efficient systems for producing, storing, and delivering power for applications without a central generating station and a large-scale power grid. Business goals include:
This program was developed based on more than 50 white papers and detailed discussions with most of the major U.S. rechargeable battery companies; photovoltaic manufacturers; technology developers of fuel cells, ultracapacitors, and flywheels; end-users of these technologies in the telecommunications, portable electronics, and quality power industries; and trade associations, universities, environmental organizations, and other government agencies. It also reflects concerns expressed in technology roadmaps and policy statements of industry groups such as the National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI), the Quality Power Alliance, and the Council on Competitiveness. Significance of ATP Funding. The U.S. electronics industry is a world leader in communications and information technology. These technologies are one of the nations greatest assets, comprising 60 percent of the incremental GDP and 48 percent of exports. But while U.S. investment in longer term R&D for premium power technologies is in decline, foreign competitors have organized large, focused efforts between government and industry to develop advanced batteries, photovoltaic power modules, and fuel cells. In addition, vertically integrated foreign consumer electronics giants enjoy significant leverage because they have a captive in-house market for their advanced batteries. Judicious focused partnerships with the U.S. private and public sectors that Premium Power aims to catalyze can help ensure that the investments made are positioned to have high leverage and can capitalize on the strong basic R&D leadership position that resides at U.S. universities, national labs, and research-oriented companies. Beyond the technical advances that it will spur in developing next generation technology, this program is expected to encourage greater cooperation and teamwork between electronics and telecommunication companies and the power providers, leading to much shorter cycle times for developing new power systems that are fine-tuned to the target applications. While the Premium Power program complements existing efforts at the Energy Department and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, it differs significantly in its emphasis on power technologies for portable electronics and satellite and terrestrial broadband telecommunications and on small distributed power systems rather than replacement technologies for centralized fossil-fuel power-generation plants. Additional Information. For information about eligibility, how to apply, and cost-sharing requirements, contact the Advanced Technology Program: (800)-ATP-FUND (800-287-3863) For
technical information, contact: Date created: January 1999 |
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ATP
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