"Computation and supercomputing are critical to solving some of our greatest scientific challenges", stated Secretary Chu. "This year's INCITE awards reflect the enormous growth in demand for complex modelling and simulation capabilities, which are essential to improving our economic prosperity and global competitiveness."

The 69 projects selected, based on peer review and computational readiness evaluations of their potential to advance scientific discovery, were awarded time at DOE's Leadership Computing Facilities at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Projects receiving INCITE awards utilize complex simulations to accelerate discoveries in ground-breaking technologies such as lithium air batteries and nano solar cells. The awards also include projects designed to close the nuclear fuel cycle, develop advanced propulsion systems, improve DNA sequencing and explore phenomena on the tiny scale of nanostructured superconductors.

Other new and returning projects feature research in:

• Energy, including advanced systems for fusion energy and nuclear power, and improving combustion to increase efficiency and reduce emissions to develop safe and renewable energy solutions
• Environment, highlighting research into carbon sequestration, developing better insight of natural phenomena like earthquakes and hurricanes, and developing near-zero-emissions combustion devices
• Climate change, featuring projects to improve climate models, understand global warming, study the effects of turbulence in oceans, and simulate clouds on a global scale
• Biology, including understanding protein membranes to improve drug discovery, diagnostics and better treatment of diseases.