The Iowa Power Fund Board, run through the Office of Energy Independence, has approved funding for six contracts totaling $5.87 million. The projects are hoped to leverage $6.27 million in private sector investments to the state.

Details of the contracts are as follows:

Clean Gasification Platform for Renewable Power — Iowa State University in Ames was awarded $2.37 million to improve the performance of ethanol plants, utilizing clean biomass gasificiation for power generation and ethanol production. The project also addresses the core development needs of the grain ethanol industry to reduce natural gas consumption and transition to cellulosic ethanol production. There is $922,112 in matching funds for this award.

Efficient, Low-cost Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion — ISU was also awarded $1.69 million to develop more efficient, cost-effective thin film solar cells for solar-electric energy conversion by improving materials and by using novel device structures. There is $463,500 in matching funds for this award.

Mobile Solid Biomass Briquette Plant — RENEW Energy Systems of Osage was awarded $250,000 to build a mobile biomass briquetter, which will be used to densify solid biomass on-site for industrial and commercial heat and power generation. By briquetting biomass on-site, this project will reduce the transportation and carbon cost of feedstock transfer. There is $299,500 in matching funds for this award.

Development of Less Expensive Dye Sensitized Solar Cells — University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls was awarded $78, 681 to develop dye sensitized solar cells. Technology developments in this area of research will allow for more commercially-viable, solar-powered consumer devices. There is $18,600 in matching funds for this award.

Novel Hydrogen Storage Materials for Fuel Cell Application — UNI was also awarded $400,000 to create an economically competitive hydrogen fuel cell that would revolutionize the energy storage industry. Development of a high density storage matrix for hydrogen is the critical step to making fuel cells competitive on the commercial market. There is $65,000 in matching funds for this award.

Amana Renewable Energy Project – Amana Farms, Inc. in Amana was awarded $1.08 million to utilize emerging technologies to create environmental benefits by turning crop, livestock and industrial waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion. Amana Farms will build an educational facility, which will be used to host seminars and explain this under-utilized technology to members of the general public. There is $3.57 million in matching funds for this award.

The Iowa Power Fund Board consists of 18 members — seven voting members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, four state agency directors, and seven ex-officio members. The fund itself was created as a tool for the Office of Energy Independence to promote a move away from dependence on foreign energy sources.

Entities conducting business, research, or programs in Iowa that accelerate the move toward energy indpendence or increase the demand for or educate the populus about such technological approaches are eligible for fund appropriations.