DOE-Funded Research Wins 26 Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today announced that Department of Energy-funded researchers have won 26 of the 100 awards given this year by R&D Magazine for the most outstanding technology developments with commercial potential.Examples of their work include: a tough, sprayed-on metal coating with extreme wear and abrasion resistance; a heat pump water heater that uses one-third the electricity of a conventional water heater; a way to recharge lead-acid batteries that extends their life by 3-4 times; and a method for processing computer chips using supercritical carbon dioxide with the potential of saving the semiconductor manufacturing industry tens of millions of gallons of water per day.

"I'm proud of the award-winning work done at DOE national laboratories and facilities," said Secretary Abraham. "These accomplishments clearly demonstrate the value of government-funded research to our nation."

The researchers winning the R&D 100 Awards work at 13 of the department's laboratories and facilities across the country. Additionally, one company whose research was funded by the department will also receive an award. Eleven of the awards are joint awards with companies or universities. Descriptions of the technologies are available on the Office of Science web site and R&D Magazine. The winning technologies were selected by an independent panel of some 70 experts and the editors of R&D Magazine. The awards will be presented at a ceremony tonight at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. The DOE laboratories and facilities whose researchers are receiving awards are:

Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne Ill.
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Kansas City Plant, Kansas City, Mo.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M. and Livermore, Calif.
Savannah River Technology Corp., Aiken, S.C.

Media Contact: Jeff Sherwood, 202/586-5806
Number: R-01-169