The funding from the Department of Energy (DoE) will be matched by the grantees to support US$75m in total US research that will focus on advancing technologies for building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.

The Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) will be located in existing facilities in both the USA and China and will include an additional US$75m in Chinese funding.

“Cooperation between China and the United States on clean energy is crucial to confronting the global climate crisis and presents an important opportunity to create American jobs and build US leadership in a growing global industry,” says Secretary Chu.

“By jointly developing new technologies and learning from China’s experiences, we can create new export opportunities for American companies and ensure that we remain on the cutting edge of innovation. This partnership will also be a foundation for broader partnerships with China on cutting carbon pollution.”

President Obama and President Hu Jintao formally announced the establishment of the CERC during the President’s trip to Beijing last November. At the time, Secretary Chu joined with Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and Chinese National Energy Administrator Zhang Guobao to sign the protocol launching the centre.