Overview

In December 2016, the Department of Energy announced the establishment of the 10th Manufacturing USA Institute, Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID). Led by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), RAPID is focused on the development of breakthrough technologies and processes that will boost energy productivity and efficiency and decrease environmental impacts, especially related to chemical manufacturing.

The University of Delaware was quickly tapped to lead major research projects for RAPID, and our research continues to play an important role in the effort to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030. The Delaware Energy Institute leads UD’s RAPID projects, focusing on catalysis and reactors, and is also involved in other dimensions of RAPID’s research and development agendas led by other universities.

Since its inception, RAPID has built strong partnerships with over 130 corporate partners, academic institutions, national and government laboratories and non-governmental organizations across the United States. Together, our work brings us significantly closer to the goal of process development and manufacturing operations that increase yield, reduce energy use and waste generation, and minimize capital and operating costs.