FOA La La La La: DOE decks your halls with new Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose Grown Energy Crops program

In Washington, the  US Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office announced its notice of intent (NOI) to issue a funding opportunity announcement that will drive the research and development of low-carbon, purpose-grown energy crops leading to the deployment of clean energy technologies. The planned Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops funding opportunity will support the development of a domestic supply chain of alternative sources of carbon that is critical to decarbonizing the U.S. transportation and industrial sectors, as well as related sectors of the economy such as the agriculture and power sector.

The backstory

By demonstrating the long-term yield and sustainability of purpose-grown energy crops that advance feedstock development and production of biofuels and bioproducts, this funding aligns with both the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and the 2050 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production targets of the SAF Grand Challenge. Potential funded projects would also support the Clean Fuels and Products Shot™, the seventh in DOE’s Energy Earthshot™ portfolio, which is focused on decarbonizing the fuel and chemical industry to advance cost-effective technologies with a minimum of 85% lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Funding details

The potential funding is expected to include a Topic Area focused on funding R&D studies that will enable mobilization of low-carbon intensity, purpose-grown energy crops across varied agronomic and geographic landscapes through the generation of data and research findings to accelerate feedstock supply chain development. Potential subtopic areas that were identified through the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap and the Deploying Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel workshop would focus on the bioenergy potential of the following subtopic areas:

• Subtopic Area 1a: Algae (e.g. microalgae, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria)
• Subtopic Area 1b: Herbaceous Crops (e.g. switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, sweet sorghum, and high-biomass sorghum)
• Subtopic Area 1c: Intermediate Crops (e.g. carinata, pennycress, and camelina), and
• Subtopic Area 1d: Short-Rotation Woody Crops (e.g. hybrid poplar and shrub willow)

The research activities funded through this funding opportunity support and advance DOE’s investment in the production of biofuels and bioproducts; innovation and growth in the agricultural and transportation industries; and the development and mobilization of bioenergy technologies. It also addresses the Biden Harris administration’s goals to “deliver an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050.”

This potential FOA is expected to be announced in January 2024 and could include up to $29 million in federal funding to achieve the above outcomes. DOE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards for R&D activities in the form of cooperative agreements lasting approximately four and 10 years.

Visit EERE Exchange and Grants.gov to view the NOI for more information on applicant eligibility and registration requirements. Visit BETO’s funding announcement page for more information on other funding opportunities.

Regional Biomass Resource Hub Initiative

Applicants selected for funding will become members of the Regional Biomass Resource Hub (RBRH) Initiative, working together with DOE’s established Regional Biomass Resource Hub Initiative Coordinator, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), to coordinate experimental plans, report data, and collectively achieve the FOA objectives. Selected projects will be mapped to a RBRH based on the proposed feedstock(s) and region(s) included in their application where awardees will share information between projects to inform DOE on potential future regional and national biomass supplies.

Teaming Partner List

BETO will be compiling a Teaming Partner List for this FOA to encourage collaboration and facilitate the formation of project teams. The list allows organizations wishing to apply for funding to explore partnering with other prospective applicants. Partnerships can provide additional expertise and resources to successfully meet FOA goals. Please include the following information in your partner list submission: