ARRA OPP # 26: DOE Investment in Bio-Fuels Research

U.S. Department of Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) has just announced that it will provide up to $85 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) for the development of algae-based biofuels and advanced, infrastructure-compatible biofuels.  The goal of the proposed program is to discover new methods to expedite the development and commercialization of advanced biofuels.
 

• DOE anticipates funding two to three partnerships in the targeted research areas.
• Universities; non-profit and for-profit private entities; state and local governments; Indian Tribes and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations or Groups; and DOE/NNSA National Laboratory Contractors are eligible to apply.
• For the Algal Biofuels Consortium/Consortia initiative, DOE has identified three broad technical areas of interest for proposals – Feedstock Supply, Strain Development and Cultivation; Feedstock Logistics, Harvesting and Extraction; and Conversion/Production, Accumulation of Intermediate and Synthesis of Fuels and Co-products.
• For the Advanced Infrastructure Compatible Biofuels Consortium, DOE seeks proposals to develop new and innovative approaches for the conversion of biomass to advanced biofuels that are compatible with infrastructure.  DOE is looking for advanced biofuels other than cellulosic ethanol, with particular focus on bio-based hydrocarbon fuels such as green gasoline and green diesel, which could be transported using existing fueling infrastructure.  DOE seeks technologies that can be advanced to the state of Process Development Unit (PDU) scale testing by the end of year three of the project.
• DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this solicitation.  One to two awards of $25 to $50 million each are anticipated for the Algal Biofuels Consortium/Consortia initiative.  DOE anticipates making one award at up to $35 million for an Advanced Infrastructure Compatible Biofuels Consortium.  Projects are expected to be three years in duration.
• DOE requests a minimum cost share of 20 percent of the total project cost from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.  The Secretary of Energy may use his statutory authority to reduce the cost share to as low as 10 percent, and he may waive the cost-share requirement for Indian Tribes or Tribal Energy Development Resource Organizations or Groups.
• A letter of intent is not required.  Applications are due September 14, 2009.  DOE anticipates notifying successful applicants by the end of November 2009 and making awards by the end of January 2010.

As with other Recovery Act funding opportunities, significant reporting and transparency requirements are associated with funding under this solicitation.

To access a synopsis of the algal and advanced biofuels funding opportunity, please see: here.
 
The full solicitation can be accessed at FedConnect.net as funding opportunity DE-FOA-0000123.

For Instructions on the Use of IIPS visit this web page, IIPS Instructions. http://www.sc.doe.gov/grants/iips-Instructions.html

All applications should be in a single PDF file.

Full Funding Opportunity