Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Note the cost-share requirements noted in the Award Information section below.

Program Summary

In support of these Administration priorities, the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) focuses on developing technologies that convert domestic lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., agricultural residues, forestry residues, dedicated energy crops) and waste resources (e.g., municipal solid wastes, animal manure, biosolids) into affordable low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts that significantly reduce carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis as compared to equivalent petroleum-based products.

This FOA supports high-impact technology RD&D to accelerate the bioeconomy and, in particular, the production of low-carbon fuels for the aviation, marine, rail, and long-haul trucking industries. BETO is focusing on applied RD&D to improve the performance and reduce cost of biofuel production technologies and scale-up production systems in partnership with industry. By reducing cost and technical risk, BETO can help pave the way for industry to deploy commercial-scale integrated biorefineries and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as the aviation industry. Additionally, this FOA will strengthen current first generation (Gen-1) corn ethanol production facilities by reducing their overall carbon footprint. Under the current BETO vision, these biomass feedstocks will be developed for use in the production of sustainable aviation fuel through a variety of conversion technologies. BETO is focused on developing and demonstrating technologies that are capable of producing low-carbon, cost-effective biofuels and co-products by 2030, as well as biofuel production pathways that can deliver at least 70% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum. BETO further aims to support the demonstration of 4-5 fully integrated biorefineries, thereby increasing the number of proven pathways to produce sustainable aviation fuels, as well as sustainable marine, long-haul trucking, and rail fuels, by 2030.

Topic Areas

  • 1a (not limited): Pre-Pilot Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefinery Technologies
  • 1b (not limited): Pre-Pilot Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries: Use of Carbon Dioxide from Ambient Air in Algal Systems
  • 2a: Pilot Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries: Preliminary Design and Phased Construction
  • 2b: Pilot Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries: Final Design and Construction
  • 3a: Demonstration Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries: Preliminary Design and Phased Construction
  • 3b: Demonstration Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries: Final Design and Construction
  • 4a (not limited): Gen-1 Corn Ethanol Emission Reduction: Feasibility Study
  • 4b (not limited): Gen-1 Corn Ethanol Emission Reduction: Pre-Pilot

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST June 13, 2022

DOE Concept Paper Deadline: July 8, 2022

DOE Application Deadline: September 9, 2022

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Project Summary (3 pages maximum): For Subtopic Areas 2a, 2b, 3a or 3b only, provide details on the proposed technology, including its basic operating principles and how it is unique and innovative; the proposed technology鈥檚 target level of performance (applicants should provide technical data or other support to show how the proposed target could be met); the current state-of-the-art in the relevant field and application, including key shortcomings, limitations, and challenges; how the proposed technology will overcome the shortcomings, limitations, and challenges in the relevant field and application; the potential impact that the proposed project would have on the relevant field and application; the key technical risks/issues associated with the proposed technology development plan; and the impact that EERE funding would have on the proposed project.
  • Lead PI Curriculum Vitae
  • Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

See the solicitation for full eligibility details.

Limited Submission Guidelines

  • Subtopic Areas 1a, 1b, 4a, and 4b: An entity may submit more than one Concept Paper and Full Application to this FOA, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project and provided that an eligible Concept Paper was submitted for each Full Application.
  • Subtopic Areas 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b: An entity may only submit one Concept Paper and one Full Application to this FOA. The Concept Paper and Full Application must address no more than one topic area identified in Section I.B. of the FOA.

Award Information

EERE anticipates making approximately 4 to 20 awards under this FOA. EERE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $500,000 and $100,000,000.

Subtopic Areas 1a, 1b, 4a, and 4b: The cost share must be at least 20% of the total allowable costs for research and development projects.

Subtopic Areas 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b: The cost share must be at least 50% of the total allowable costs for demonstration projects.