U.S. Department of Energy Issues Notice of Intent to Fund Research and Development to Advance Biofuels and Bioproducts

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December 23, 2024

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(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) today (December 16, 2024) announced their intent to issue funding to support high-impact research and development (R&D) projects in two priority areas: sustainable propane and renewable chemicals and algal system cultivation and preprocessing. The intended Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) funding opportunity would support R&D of domestic chemicals and fuels from biomass and waste resources to help secure domestic supply chains, support the growth of rural economies, and grow the nation’s competitiveness in biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry. The intended Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY) funding opportunity would support applied algal system R&D to improve the affordable production of biofuels and bioproducts.

Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals Funding Opportunity

The United States is the world’s second largest chemicals producer. The chemical sector is also critical to domestic manufacturing, with more than 96% of U.S. goods manufactured using products from the chemical sector, and to the U.S. workforce, with the chemical industry directly employing over half a million people. In addition, 4.2% of U.S. households and 7.8% of Midwest homes use propane or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as their primary heating fuel, with rural households using 80% of all domestic propane consumption. Producing chemicals and propane/LPG from domestic renewable feedstock resources could help fortify domestic supply chains, advance the sustainability of the industry by increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately, result in lower energy costs for householders.

The SPARC notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is expected to be released in January 2025, and could include up to $23 million in federal funding for the following topic areas:

Topic Area 1: Biobased Chemicals
Topic Area 2: Biobased Propane/LPG

Maximizing Algal System Yield Funding Opportunity

R&D on advanced algal systems presents an opportunity to sustainably expand biomass resource potential in the United States. Algae, an abundant and renewable biofuel source, have unique properties that can be converted to produce biofuels and bioproducts reducing net emissions from domestic transportation and industry. While algal systems can be highly productive, there are technical barriers that limit the expansion of algae as a domestic bioenergy feedstock. The MASY funding opportunity will address these challenges by focusing on algal system cultivation and preprocessing R&D to advance affordable and reliable development of innovative algae technologies that can support algae developers bring these new bioproducts to market. The potential MASY NOFO could include up to $10 million in federal funding and is expected to be released in January 2025.

The two planned funding opportunities support government-wide targets of DOE’s Clean Fuels and Products Shot™ and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. They also align with BETO’s strategic goals to produce fuels and chemicals from domestic biomass resources and to advance algal systems that will grow domestic energy supply chains, expand access to renewable feedstocks, and support the U.S. bioeconomy.

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Notice of Intent: Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals & Maximizing Algal System Yield (U.S. Department of Energy)

Excerpt from U.S. Department of Energy: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) today announced their intent to issue funding to support high-impact research and development (R&D) projects in two priority areas: sustainable propane and renewable chemicals and algal system cultivation and preprocessing. The intended Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) funding opportunity would support R&D of domestic chemicals and fuels from biomass and waste resources to help secure domestic supply chains, support the growth of rural economies, and grow the nation’s competitiveness in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry. The intended Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY) funding opportunity would support applied algal system R&D to improve the affordable production of biofuels and bioproducts.

Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals Funding Opportunity

The SPARC notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is expected to be released in January 2025, and could include up to $23 million in federal funding for the following topic areas:

Topic Area 1: Biobased Chemicals – This Topic Area will support development and adoption of new production methods for value-added chemicals from biomass. Chemical products produced in significant volume in the U.S. or globally from a variety of biomass and waste feedstocks are of interest. In addition to broad interest in biobased chemicals, the SPARC NOFO may have a specific area of interest for 3-hydroxypropionic acid produced from whole-kernel corn feedstock using existing fermentation infrastructure and technologies that combine biological and chemical processes.
Topic Area 2: Biobased Propane/LPG – Topic Area 2 seeks to develop new production pathways to produce sustainable liquefied propane and/or petroleum gases from a variety of biomass and waste resources including municipal waste, agricultural residues, forest resources and fats, oils, and grease. Gaseous conversion routes are also viewed as a promising approach to the production of propane and LPG. Topic Area 2 would therefore support development of pathways that can convert various gaseous intermediates including biogas, carbon dioxide, and syngas, into LPG. Many of these gaseous intermediates are readily available and can offer near term opportunities for technology development and deployment.

Maximizing Algal System Yield Funding Opportunity

R&D on advanced algal systems presents an opportunity to sustainably expand biomass resource potential in the United States. Algae, an abundant and renewable biofuel source, have unique properties that can be converted to produce biofuels and bioproducts reducing net emissions from domestic transportation and industry. While algal systems can be highly productive, there are technical barriers that limit the expansion of algae as a domestic bioenergy feedstock. The MASY funding opportunity will address these challenges by focusing on algal system cultivation and preprocessing R&D to advance affordable and reliable development of innovative algae technologies that can support algae developers in bringing these new bioproducts to market. The potential MASY NOFO could include up to $10 million in federal funding and is expected to be released in January 2025.

The two planned funding opportunities support government-wide targets of DOE’s Clean Fuels and Products Shot and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. They also align with BETO’s strategic goals to produce fuels and chemicals from domestic biomass resources and to advance algal systems that will grow domestic, resilient energy supply chains, expand access to renewable feedstocks, and support the U.S. bioeconomy.

BETO envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards for R&D activities for each of the SPARC and MASY NOFOs in the form of cooperative agreements, lasting approximately three years. View the NOI on EERE Exchange for more information on applicant eligibility and registration requirements. The full solicitation with additional information on applicant eligibility is also available on Grants.gov. Visit BETO’s funding announcement page for other upcoming funding opportunities.

Teaming Partner List

DOE expects to facilitate a Teaming Partner List should a SPARC and/or MASY NOFO be issued. There will be a single Teaming Partner List for both potential NOFOs, with a field to denote the specific NOFO and Topic Area. The Teaming Partner List is available on EERE Exchange under NOI DE-FOA-0003517 and will be updated periodically until the close of the Full Application period of the potential NOFOs to reflect new Teaming Partners who have provided their information.

By facilitating this Teaming Partner List, EERE does not endorse or otherwise evaluate the qualifications of the entities that self-identify themselves for placement on the Teaming Partner List. EERE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any respondents for the development of such information. READ MORE