Dominion Energy Innovation Center Receives DOE’s MAKE-IT Prize for Pioneering Metal Fuels Manufacturing Strategy
Article originally posted on Dominion Energy Innovation Centre website
Ashland, VA – The Dominion Energy Innovation Center (DEIC) is excited to announce its recent honor as a recipient of the Department of Energy’s Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize in the Strategies Track. This recognition comes as a result of DEIC’s groundbreaking proposal, the Metal Fuels Alliance, aimed at revolutionizing aluminum recycling and green alumina manufacturing; propelling industrial decarbonization across Virginia’s I-64 Innovation Corridor.
The MAKE IT Prize, established by the Office of Technology Transitions in collaboration with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, seeks to catalyze the domestic manufacturing of critical clean energy technology components. With a prize pool of approximately $30 million divided across two tracks, Facilities and Strategies, the MAKE IT Prize encourages the development of shovel-ready manufacturing facilities and strategies that promise vibrant manufacturing activities and economic opportunities in communities nationwide.
The Metal Fuels Alliance, spearheaded by the Dominion Energy Innovation Center in partnership with GH Power and a network of community allies, focuses on advancing the manufacture of green alumina. This initiative envisions a zero-waste metals supply chain and aims to deploy cutting-edge metal fuels and recycling technologies for deep industrial decarbonization. By innovating alumina production, accelerating the transition to green energy, and asserting Virginia’s leadership in clean energy technology manufacturing, the alliance is set to make significant strides towards a sustainable future.
Braden Croy, Program Director at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, expressed his enthusiasm for the award: “We are deeply honored to receive the MAKE IT Prize. This acknowledgment not only underscores our commitment to clean energy innovation but also propels us forward in our mission to make Virginia a leader of industrial decarbonization and clean energy manufacturing.”
Green alumina, produced through the Metal Fuels Alliance, plays a pivotal role in the clean energy sector. It serves as a critical material in the manufacturing of high-powered lithium-ion batteries, advanced semiconductors, and LED lighting. The use of green alumina in these technologies not only enhances their efficiency and performance but also contributes significantly to the reduction of carbon emissions in the energy sector. This further exemplifies DEIC’s commitment to fostering innovations that support a cleaner, more sustainable future.
GH Power’s CEO and founder, Dave White, conveyed his appreciation for this recognition, “The MAKE IT Prize highlights our company’s technological advancements in converting end-of-life metals into green energy carriers to support decarbonizing heavy industry and powering a sustainable future.” GH Power has completed a pilot reactor plant in Hamilton, Ontario and plans to scale their technology in a meaningful way in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The exploration of metal fuels technology that integrate well with existing industrial and labor communities in the region will help support the Commonwealth’s accelerating energy transition.
The Dominion Energy Innovation Center, a public-private partnership, has been at the forefront of supporting clean energy initiatives through programs such as SPARK Virginia, DEIC Accelerate, and the DEIC Greentech Network. With over 2,000 member-innovators and 32 DEIC Accelerate alumni companies that have raised over $278 million in capital, DEIC is nurturing a thriving community dedicated to driving clean energy solutions.
The MAKE IT Prize will further bolster DEIC’s efforts to create a robust regional supply chain for reactor plant components and green alumina offtake, leveraging local resources and markets. This initiative not only promises to enhance Virginia’s clean energy landscape but also to generate economic growth and job opportunities, aligning with the Department of Energy’s goals for a sustainable and equitable energy transition.
For more information about the Dominion Energy Innovation Center and the Metal Fuels Alliance, please visit https://dominnovation.com/