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DOE awards $27.5M to 16 water infrastructure projects

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million to 16 water infrastructure projects. Modern technology has the potential to reduce energy use in aging water infrastructure, particularly in wastewater treatment, which demands up to 2% of domestic electricity use each year. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $27.5

Water 186
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Rice, Minnesota scientists use predictive modeling to identify optimized zeolites to aid ethanol, petroleum production

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Scientists at Rice University and the University of Minnesota have identified , through a large-scale, multi-step computational screening process, promising zeolite structures for two energy-related applications: the purification of ?ethanol Deem is co-author of the new study led by University of Minnesota chemist Ilja Siepmann.

Minnesota 150
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New ORNL tool to assess global freshwater stress suggests that population growth could be a bigger factor in water availability than increasing temperatures

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Our tool provides a simple method to integrate disparate climate and population data sources and develop preliminary per capita water availability projections at a global scale. At that time, it was unusual to integrate population, climate and water data into one model. —Esther Parish, lead author. —Esther Parish.

Water 236
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DOE releasing $20M in funding to ARPA-E awardees; NEXTCAR and REFUEL projects

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REFUEL projects will use water, molecules from the air, and electricity from renewable sources to produce high-energy liquid fuels for transportation and other uses. High-Efficiency Ammonia Production from Water and Nitrogen – $1,500,000. University of Minnesota: Small Scale Ammonia Synthesis Using Stranded Wind Energy – $2,900,000.

Wichita 170
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DOE awards Donald Danforth Plant Science Center $16M to enhance energy sorghum

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Building on earlier research using the model grass, green foxtail ( Setaria viridis ), this project will identify new genes and pathways that contribute to photosynthesis and enhanced water use efficiency. It is among the most efficient crops in conversion of solar energy and use of water, making it an ideal crop to target for improvement.

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Study Finds Regional Variations in Irrigation Practices Can Push Corn Ethanol Water Requirements 3x Higher Than Earlier Estimates; Need to Account for Regional Specifics in Mandates

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The foreground bar height indicates the EWe of each state, with the portion of ground and surface water indicated by color. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have estimated state-level field-to-pump water requirements of corn ethanol production across the US. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. Chiu et al.

Water 170
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Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

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Most nuclear plants around the world today are large light-water reactors, with capacities well over a gigawatt—quite a bit more than typical coal plants. Large reactors need consistent and prolific water sources to cool themselves, something not every old coal plant can provide. Either option will be an uphill battle.

Coal 145