The Iowa Energy Center Board awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants to six projects through the IEC grant program. The competitive funding opportunity allows eligible applicants to pursue projects that align with one of the key focus areas of the Iowa Energy Plan and provide a benefit to Iowa ratepayers. An IEC Board committee reviewed and scored applications based on alignment with the Iowa Energy Plan, the ratepayer benefit, project goals, programmatic capabilities and collaboration efforts, among other criteria. Listed below are the organizations that received grant awards.

• Iowa State University received $201,916 for a low-cost, bio-inspired hydroelectric system for using untapped riverine hydropower in Iowa.
• The University of Iowa received $315,133 for the development of functionalized nanocomposite membranes for the selective, high-capacity recovery of critical materials for a clean energy transition.
• The University of Northern Iowa received $176,358 for a resilient Iowa communities rural support project.
• Iowa State University received $300,000 for a 3D bioprinting of microbial biofilms for gas pipeline corrosion prevention project.
• Iowa State University received $300,000 for a modernization of protection and stability techniques for 100% clean electricity project.
• Iowa State University received $290,000 for an artificial intelligence-guided lignin valorization to make bio-based batteries through interfacial engineering for waste-to-wealth conversion project.

For more information about the IEC grant program, click here.