DOE launches RFI on Renewable Propane Production Technologies and Uses

In Washington, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on Renewable Propane Production Technologies and Uses to better understand the supply chains for production and uses of renewable propane and other renewable gaseous intermediates. Specifically, this RFI (DE-FOA-0003389) seeks input from industry and other stakeholders who produce, or are considering producing, renewable propane on the potential to increase its viability to pursue new production pathways to sustainable aviation fuels and other high-impact products.

In the U.S., propane consumption averages approximately one million barrels per day and accounts for approximately 1% of total energy consumption. Propane is primarily used for residential and commercial heating, for industrial purposes, including chemical and plastics manufacturing, and for agricultural applications. Traditionally originating as a natural gas processing byproduct or crude oil refining byproduct, recently, renewable propane has become a new byproduct or product in the biofuels sector where production utilizes municipal waste, agricultural residue, forest resources and fats, oils, and greases.

This RFI also aims to collect information on the costs and benefits to a refinery that hydroprocesses biogenic fats, oils, and greases by utilizing renewable propane produced in situ as process energy compared to the separation recovery of renewable propane for sale externally in the propane market.