Researchers will use a new $99 million contract to bring renewable energy discoveries from lab research into field use.

E2 Technologies LLC (E2T), a joint venture between the University of Dayton Research Institute and Concurrent Technologies Corporation in Johnstown, Pa., has been awarded a five-year Air Force Research Laboratory contract with a $99 million ceiling for research, testing and transition of new energy and environmental technologies to the Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies. The contract included an initial award of $1.5 million for evaluation, testing and installation of advanced renewable energy storage and management technologies at the Maui High Performance Computing Center.

The program is designed to help the Air Force improve its energy efficiency and independence by increasing its use of alternative and renewable energy resources, while simultaneously reducing its use of hazardous and toxic materials, said program manager Sukh Sidhu, who also leads the energy technologies and materials division at the Research Institute. Researchers will identify, evaluate and demonstrate the best materials, processes and systems for each program area, then work to transition the new technologies into practical application.

"This is beyond fundamental research," Sidhu said. "The function of this program is to put new technologies to use. You can have a lot of exciting research breakthroughs, but if they don’t work in the real world, they’re useless."

Sidhu said the E2T partnership was created to unite complementary strengths in energy and environmental engineering to better meet Air Force needs in those fields.

"Both organizations bring to the partnership a great deal of research expertise, capabilities and experience, not only in the types of energy and environmental technologies that will be addressed in this program, but also in understanding the requirements and needs of the Air Force and other branches of the Department of Defense," Sidhu said. "We're prepared to deliver any technology that will help the Air Force meet its energy and environmental mandates."

David Schario, vice president of capabilities with CTC, said the joint venture will also provide the Air Force with an efficient and cost-effective means of contracting for energy and environmental research and development.

"This partnership provides the Air Force with a single point of engagement, which will help streamline contracting activities and enable rapid response," Schario said. "The subject matter expertise and proven capabilities that both organizations bring to the table will allow E2T to provide the best possible solutions to our clients."

Through its partner organizations, CTC and the Research Institute, E2T has access to more than 50 chemists, biologists, engineers, physicists and materials scientists, each with at least five years experience in the program's technical areas, along with 300,000 square feet of laboratories and test facilities.