The winners of annual University Coal Research Competition were announced by secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham last week as part of the Clear Skies Initiative.

DOE’s 2004 University Coal Research (UCR) Program projects cover a wide range of research areas, including developing new systems and capabilities to improve performance and reduce the costs of existing advanced power systems; developing materials to detect fossil fuel gases under high pressures and temperatures; finding new carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen separation technologies; and designing new turbine combustors with improved stability and emissions.

Seven innovative concepts are entering their first phase of research, while four concepts are continuing research from last year. Of the four in Phase II, research will be focused on improving the overall efficiency of producing hydrogen, removing mercury by improving barrier filters, and improving the conditions under which solid oxide fuel cells operate.

Projects under the grants are divided into three areas. The Core Program focuses on applied research in the Office of Fossil Energy and is geared toward exploratory research that benefits the FutureGen Initiative.

The Phase I Program (Innovative Concepts) is targeted toward ideas that may lead to future breakthroughs and the Phase II Program (Innovative Concepts) provides funds for projects supported last year with Phase I funding.

Details of individual projects can be found at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2004/tl_ucr_awards_04.html