The National Science Foundation announced Jan. 29 that the LSU-led consortium Future Use of Energy in Louisiana had secured a monumental $160 million grant. The funding, awarded through the NSF Engines program, marks the largest and most competitive award ever granted by the agency.
The FUEL team aims to spearhead a clean energy transition for the state, addressing critical areas such as carbon capture, hydrogen utilization, sustainable manufacturing and water management.
The grant opportunity is a direct result of the ‘Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022,’ which allocated $8.8 billion from federal funds to the U.S. National Science Foundation. The majority of these funds are earmarked for research programs and equipment.
The NSF Engines program contributed $160 million, while an additional $67.5 million was pledged by Louisiana Economic Development, emphasizing the significance of this collaboration between academia, industry and government.
“This NSF grant represents an unparalleled opportunity to educate and retain skilled workers and to expand our future energy economy,” said LSU Vice President of Research and Economic Development Robert Twilley.
FUEL’s loaded roster of partners includes the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Greater New Orleans Inc., Shell, ExxonMobil and Baker Hughes. This extensive network, comprising over 65 organizations, will work collaboratively with LSU to improve Louisiana industries.
Andrew Maas, LSU’s associate vice president of innovation and ecosystem development, played a central role in orchestrating this unprecedented effort. Maas highlighted the meticulous review process by NSF, involving 13 experts from various fields, ensuring the project’s alignment with well-defined milestones.
The $160 million grant will be allocated over ten years, focusing on three main initiatives: use-inspired research and development, workforce development and technology commercialization. Maas explained that the allocation isn’t evenly distributed yearly, but the overall impact aims to foster cutting-edge research, workforce initiatives and technology commercialization.
FUEL’s comprehensive approach addresses Louisiana’s current status as the global leader in carbon dioxide emissions per capita, mainly attributed to the hydrocarbon industry. FUEL aims to mitigate this by advancing research in carbon capture, hydrogen utilization and sustainable manufacturing, while also contributing to the state’s workforce development.
“When you look at economic development or job creation, in any location across the country, there’s almost always a component of job creation that comes from technology-based jobs,” Maas said. This initiative, therefore, not only advances scientific endeavors but also hopes to be a catalyst for economic growth, emphasizing the role of technology-based jobs in shaping the employment landscape, particularly within the energy sector.
“Leading the FUEL team and being selected for this transformational grant affirms what we already knew – that LSU is one of the nation’s premier research universities, poised to change the lives of the people of Louisiana and the world,” said LSU President William F. Tate IV in the initial announcement of the award.
Louisiana’s economic landscape, heavily reliant on the energy sector, makes FUEL a critical player in shaping the state’s future. The collaboration extends beyond LSU, with partners including Tulane University, Xavier University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette actively contributing to this transformative effort. Each institution brings its expertise, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to address the challenges of energy transition.
LSU’s successful securing of the $160 million NSF grant for the FUEL initiative represents a transformative milestone in the state’s clean energy transition.
