The Department of Energy announced on May 7, 2026, that it is awarding $52 million in funding to 20 projects across 15 states. The Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation selected the initiatives to support energy-intensive sectors including chemicals, refining, iron and steel, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and cement and concrete. The funding aims to enhance the competitiveness of American industry and reduce reliance on imports in trade-exposed markets.
What it means
The awards target specific technological improvements designed to lower energy consumption and production costs in heavy industry. Worcester Polytechnic Institute and partners will develop laser-based heating and drying technology for the food and pulp/paper sectors, which the project team says could save up to 40% of energy in food production and 20% in paper applications. Wilson Engineering Technologies, Inc. and partners are developing a low-cost industrial poultry rendering process that operates twice as fast and at half the cost of traditional methods.
In materials processing, Oregon State University and partners aim to enhance concrete quality by using lithium industry byproducts as supplementary cementitious materials. The University of Maryland will develop a polymer composite heat exchanger for energy recovery in industries such as data centers. Missouri University of Science and Technology and partners will build an AI-powered platform for domestic cement supply chain blending strategies. Ammobia, Inc. and partners will develop single-pass ammonia synthesis technology with the potential to reduce energy costs for ammonia separation and purification by up to 60%. Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson said investing in American innovation and energy technology is key to the nation’s success. She stated that the Trump Administration is committed to supporting efforts that advance next-generation technologies, strengthen the nation’s energy security, and position American industries at the forefront of the global marketplace.
Key facts
- $52 million total funding announced
- 20 projects selected across 15 states
- Sectors include chemicals, refining, iron and steel, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and cement and concrete
- Laser heating/drying tech could save up to 40% energy in food production and 20% in paper applications
- New poultry rendering process is twice as fast and half the cost of traditional methods
- Ammonia synthesis tech could reduce separation and purification energy costs by up to 60%
- Funding issued by DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation
Source: Department of Energy news release (energy.gov)