The memorandum of understanding enables the two institutions to secure new research funding.
The potential areas of focus are solar hybrid fuels, solar thermochemical fuels, concentrating solar technologies, photovoltaics, electric grid modernization and algae-based biofuels. Sandia and ASU also seek international applications of these technologies and anticipate that other institutions from around the nation and world will eventually become a part of the partnership.
Gary Dirks, Director of LightWorks and the Global Institute of Sustainability at ASU, said, “As the largest university in the nation and the largest of the national laboratories, we have high expectations for our future efforts under this partnership.”
ASU is the largest university in the nation per enrollment.
Sandia’s photovoltaic research facilities include the Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Lab, the Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory and the Department of Energy’s unique National Solar Thermal Test Facility.
The partnership takes effect immediately and will be overseen by a steering committee with representatives from both institutions.
Sandia National Laboratories is operated and managed by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Sandia Corporation operates Sandia National Laboratories as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and supports numerous federal, state, and local government agencies, companies, and organizations.