Up to $19 million in federal funding is being made available for the advancement of technologies that utilize waste carbon to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and produce reliable feedstocks for biotechnologies.
Up to $19 million has become available through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s (FECM’s) Carbon Utilization Program. The prime objective is to support advancing technologies that utilize waste carbon to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and produce reliable feedstocks for biotechnologies.
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA), entitled “Carbon Utilization Technology: Improving Efficient Systems for Algae,” specifically aims to increase the capability of algal systems to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) and put it to productive use. Capturing this waste carbon allows for algae to be cultivated into a variety of biofuels and bioproducts. The deployment of algal technologies in these projects will help lower algal system cost, while decreasing GHG emissions. Additionally, projects funded under this program will contribute to BETO’s goal of producing at least 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuels by 2030.
“This opportunity is an example of the Energy Department’s offices working together on a holistic approach to GHG management and reduction,” said Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for EERE. “Algae provides not only an exceptional carbon sink, but a versatile material which offers solutions to sustainability challenges from fuel to plastics.”
The FOA has two topic areas:
1. Carbon utilization efficiency from biomass- or atmospheric-based sources of CO₂
2. Algae-based technology to utilize anthropogenic CO₂ from utility and industrial sources
Concept papers are due by March 18, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Full applications are due by May 27, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For questions, email: FY22CarbonUtilizationFOA@ee.doe.gov. To learn more, view the full FOA on Exchange.
This opportunity follows the recent announcement of the new AlgaePrize competition from BETO, a competition that encourages students to pursue innovative ideas for the development, design, and invention of technologies within the commercial algae value chain. More information about the competition can be found on BETO’s website.
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