Funding-DOE -
MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels; April 15,
2016
Agency
Department
of Energy
Golden Field Office
Description
The
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (EERE) announces a notice of availability of funds for financial
assistance addressing the development of flexible biomass to hydrocarbon
biofuels conversion pathways that can be modified to produce advanced fuels
and/or products based on external factors, such as market demand. These
pathways could consist of a route to a platform chemical that could be
converted to products or fuels or a route that coproduces chemicals and fuels.
BETO has a goal of meeting the 2022 cost target of $3/gallon gasoline
equivalent (gge) for the production of renewable
hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. One approach BETO has taken
previously to achieve this goal is to focus on conversion pathways that produce
biofuels, with little or no emphasis on coproducing bioproducts.
As BETO increasingly focuses on hydrocarbon fuels, it is examining strategies
that capitalize on revenue from bioproducts as part
of cost-competitive biofuel production. A variety of technology pathways can be
used to produce renewable hydrocarbon biofuels, but many of them require the
production of value-added chemicals and products in the near-term to achieve an
attractive rate of return on cost-competitive fuels. Value-added chemicals and
products can also incentivize the de-risking of “front end” processes (from
feedstock logistics through to deconstruction) which are also necessary for
fuel production. It is important to note that while bioproducts
are seen as a valuable strategy for enabling fuels, the BETO is not interested
in pursuing R&D solely on bioproducts without a
fuels component. The intent of this FOA, therefore, is to identify R&D
projects that develop biomass to hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that
can produce variable amounts of fuels and products based on external factors,
such as market demand. These pathways could consist of a route to a platform
chemical that could be converted to products or fuels or a route that
coproduces chemicals and fuels. Successful applications will include a clear
justification for producing the target molecule(s) from biomass, a compelling
narrative explaining how the target product(s) will enable biofuels, and
supporting techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis. The full Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE eXCHANGE
website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
To apply to this FOA, Applicants must register with and submit application
materials through EERE Exchange at https://eere-Exchange.energy.gov, EERE’s online application
portal. Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the
announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of applications
is found in the full FOA posted on the EERE eXCHANGE
website.
Announcement
Number:
DE-FOA-0001433
Closing
Date:
Apr
15, 2016
Link
to Full Announcement
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281419
Contact
Information
Laura
J. Gonzalez