United States – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hand out more than $61 million for technologies and processes that produce low-cost, low-carbon biofuels.
Biofuels are made up of renewable resources and can power heavy-duty vehicles that are difficult to electrify with current technologies, including airplanes and ships, to help accelerate America’s path to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Biofuels from biomass
Biofuels are produced by converting biomass—made up of recently-living organic materials like crop waste, food waste, and algae—and other waste resources into a liquid fuel, which can serve as a low-carbon equivalent to fossil-based fuels such as gasoline, jet, and diesel fuel.
Topic areas for the “Bioenergy Technologies Office Scale-Up and Conversion” funding opportunity include high-impact biotechnology research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to bolster the body of scientific and engineering knowledge needed to produce low-carbon biofuels at lower cost.
This investment will accelerate the deployment of bioenergy technologies and mobilize public clean energy investment in the biofuels, chemical, and agricultural industries, which can lead to new good-paying jobs across the bioenergy supply chain and increased investment in rural economies.
DOE’s BETO
DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is focused on developing technologies that convert domestic biomass and other waste resources into low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. This research has led to cost reductions of the processes by approximately 45% to date. BETO is turning its attention to reducing risk of commercialization by partnering with industry to demonstrate technologies at large scale.
The application process will include two phases: a concept paper and a full application. Concept papers are due on April 30, 2021, and full applications are due on June 21, 2021.
