NPC FTF Study – Technology White Papers, Scope and Approach
Objective:
To provide an overview of disruptive technologies that are not in the scope of the sub groups.
The white papers will be 10-15 pages long and include:
- A technical overview of the technology and why it would be disruptive
- An overview of the research being done and who is doing this
- A description of the key challenges/pinchpoints
- Outlook for the technology, including a timeline for the R&D and development
Approach:
PhD students write the paper, a sponsoring professor has oversight, and external reviewers (ideally
the L1s) will also review. The student will receive a small sum from NPC ($3000 or $4000) and ideally
also receive academic credit for the paper.
Where it makes sense the white paper will be part of a sub group chapter (eg. photobacteria in
biofuels or free piston engines in engines/platform).
Scope so far:
1.
Artificial Photosynthesis (student: Victoria Gunderson, Northwestern. Faculty advisor: Mike
Wasielewski)
a. High-Throughput Combinatorial Approach to Catalyst Screening
b. Molecular Level Understanding of Accumulative Electron Transfer
c. Pendant Base Incorporation in Molecular Catalysts for Hydrogen Production
d. “Self-healing” Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst
e. Singlet Fission
2. Photobacteria (student: Padma Masengdon, Texas A&M. Faculty Advisor: Dirk Hays). Note:
this section has a strong link with the biofuels sub group and will end up as sections in the
biofuels chapter. It is important to look at what is in the biofuels sub group as part of their
supply chain analysis and these white papers will supplement. Current scope:
a. Fatty acid production using bacteria
b. Microbial fuel cells
3. Macro algae and cyanobacteria – carbohydrate pathway (student: Julie Roth. Faculty
advisor: Dirk Hays)
Note: this came about because of the algae scope that is being covered in the biofuels sub
group. The biofuels sub group is covering photosynthetic micro algae with the objective of
getting to an algal oil. There is a little overlap with the cyanobacteria and the fatty acid
production using bacteria but Dirk Hays advises both and Julie and Padma are studying
together).
4.
CO2 to fuel.
5. Batteries beyond lithium ion.
6. Free piston engines
7. Advanced levitation. This suggestion came out of a call we had with Pat Davis at the DoE.
Any feedback on this topic or suggestions would be very much appreciated
NPC FTF Study – Technology White Papers, Scope and Approach
8. HCNG (student: Peter Thompson, UC Berkeley. Advisor: Westport's Dr. Sandeep Munshi).
We also wanted to ask Rob Dibble to be a faculty advisor but he has not been responsive).
This was a joint request by the Natural Gas and Hydrogen teams
9. Separations (being done by Jose Bravo, Shell’s Chief Scientist for Separations).
Others under consideration - came up on Dec 3
 LNG Vehicle safety
 Congestion technology
 Home refuelling
 hydrogen planes
Technology Scope in Sub Groups (the scope will NOT be white papers but be covered in the
technology pinchpoint analysis done in the context of the supply chains- we have noted the
relevant white papers)
Engines/Platforms
Direct injection
variable valves
mild hybridisation
light-weighting
low rolling resistance
aerodynamic improvements
flex fuel hardening
downsizing and turbo-charging
advanced transmissions
diesel
strong hybridisation
HCCI
diesel after treatment (emissions control)
stratified charge lean burn
White papers
Free piston engines
Smart vehicles to avoid congestion
Biofuels
Feedstock
Pretreatment technologies
Enzymes
Biochemical/biotechnology fuel types
Ethanol (as above)
Butanol (ABE and/or variation of the traditional ABE to produce n-butanol)
Isobutanol (assume the is the GM yeast process being developed by Butamax and Gevo)
Isoprenoids (Amyris and others)
Thermal-Chemistry fuel types
Pyrolysis oil
Mixed alcohols (Several platforms for mixed alcohols based on current catalytic technology
Hydrocarbons (aqueous phase reforming- Virent- and other work going on in universities)
Biodiesel
Green diesel (Hydrotreated Renewable Diesel or NEXtBTL)
Hydrothermal liquefaction— (PNNL and in Europe)
BtL/CBtL – (not be covered in detail by the biofuel group)
Hybrid processes like mixture of microbes and gasification (e.g. Coskata, Ineos)
NPC FTF Study – Technology White Papers, Scope and Approach
Photosynthetic microalgae- open pond
Photosynthetic microalgae- bioreactor
White papers
Separations
Photobacteria
Macro algae/cyanobacteria
Natural Gas
Refuelling infrastructure
LDV and HDV (particularly performance / reliability / durability)
 Spark Ignition, Compression Ignition (fumigated gas and directed injected gas)
Cryogenic pumps for fuel dispensing and on board fuel supply
Energy Efficiency: HCCI, turbocharging, etc.
CNG, LNG, Bio Methane fuel sources
Tanks (change shape, new materials, etc.) Includes venting & onboard storage
White papers
HCNG
LNG safety (TBD)
Electric
Battery – Li ion
L1/L2/L3 Charging
EVSE
Grid integration
Communications
Electric motors/power electronics (link w/ engines/platforms)
White papers
Batteries beyond li ion
Distributed Charging and Storage
Vehicle to Grid
Integration with renewables
Hydrogen
Vehicles
 Fuel Cell System
 Power Electronics
 Onboard Reforming
 Onboard Storage
 Hydrogen ICE
Infrastructure
 Centralized Production
o Renewable
o Non-renewable
 Distributed Production
o Renewable
o Non-renewable
 Home Fueling (may or may not be a white paper)
o Renewable Production
NPC FTF Study – Technology White Papers, Scope and Approach
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o Non-renewable Production
o Compression
o Storage
o Dispensing
Compression
Storage
Pre-cooling
Dispensing
Distribution
o Trucking, Rail, Pipelines
White papers
HCNG
On-board reforming (TBD)
Plug-In FCVs to be addressed by Electricity Subgroup (TBD)
2-wheelers, air, marine and rail hydrogen efforts (TBD)
Airplanes (TBD)