“ARPA-E Director, Dr. Arun Majumdar announced 60 cutting-edge research projects worth a combined $156 million aimed at dramatically improving how the U.S. produces and uses energy. ARPA-E selections focus on accelerating innovations in clean technology while increasing America’s competitiveness in rare earth alternatives and breakthroughs in biofuels, thermal storage, grid controls, and solar power electronics. Prior to today, ARPA-E had awarded $365.7 million in funds to approximately 120 energy projects across seven program areas. This most recent round of selections adds another 60 projects and five program areas, for a total of $521.7 million in awards.”