• Biomimetics – This program pursues biological methods and systems found in nature to design advanced engineering systems and modern technology to reduce and mitigate emissions and effluents from advanced coal power systems. Biomimetics investigates enzymes, bacteria, algae, and biomimetic sensors, including self-organizing sensors to detect trace gas emissions, to monitor off stream water purity and/or convert undesirable emissions (CO2, SOx, NOx, H2S, etc.) to useful products. Biosensors and process intensification technologies will be analyzed with a focus on developing those concepts which offer economic and environmental benefits.
• Coal Utilization Science (CUS) – The CUS element is a crosscutting research and development effort whose goal is to expand the basic understanding of the underlying chemical and physical processes involved in using coal. A fundamental knowledge of these processes will also help overcome the barriers to coal utilization. Sensors & Controls Innovations research centers on novel sensors and advanced process controls, which are key enabling technologies for advanced near zero emission power systems. Advanced Research is leading the effort to develop sensing and control technologies and methods to achieve seamless, integrated, automated, optimized, and intelligent power systems. The work also has a strong modeling simulation and visualization component that enables advanced process control development and compliments the efforts under Computational Energy Science.
• Computational Energy Science (CES) – The CES element provides research to simulate the complex processes occurring inside a coal gasifier, or across an entire power plant. This incredible tool is made possible by today’s supercomputers and advanced simulation software, helping scientists and engineers to better understand the fundamental steps in a complex process so they can optimize the design of the equipment needed to run simulation and computational resources. This research will speed the development and reduce the cost associated with advanced power systems design and performance modeling.
• High Performance Materials – Research in this area cuts across many scientific and technological disciplines to address materials requirements for all fossil energy systems, including innovative advanced power systems. The goal is to bridge the gap between basic and applied research, often by pursuing "breakthrough" concepts to develop materials with unique thermal, chemical, and mechanical capabilities for advanced power generation technologies such as coal gasification, heat engines and combustions systems.
• University Research (UCR & HBCU-OMI) – The Advanced Research element oversees two educational efforts: University Coal Research (UCR) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions (HBCU-OMI). The emphasis of these programs is to maintain America's status as a world leader in coal research, and to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The Advanced Research Program is an integral part of and supports the Office of Fossil Energy’s initiatives to develop the pollution-free energy plant of the future.

The Department’s concept for the ultimate class of fossil fueled energy plants will be fuel flexible, highly efficient, cost competitive, and virtually emission free (including greenhouse gas emissions when carbon sequestration is integrated into the energy system).

Though not meant to be an exhaustive list of the research topics supported by the Advanced Research program, some areas of emphasis include:

• Advanced materials research, such as high temperature alloys and refractories and materials for ultrasupercritical systems;
• Advanced carbon products, including nano-structural materials;
• Advanced sensors, controls and instrumentation;
• Advanced coal combustion and gasification sciences;
• Advanced combustion systems for hydrogen-based turbines;
• Fundamental studies of carbon capture and storage; and
• Computer-based advanced modeling and virtual simulations of new technologies.