DOE Announces $30 Million for Next Generation Biofuels Research

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C., USA, announced this week that it is accepting applications—for up to $30 million in total funding—for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels. The biofuels could replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to the vehicle or fueling infrastructure. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) provides up to $30 million over the next three to four years to support as many as five projects.

The projects will focus on optimizing and integrating process steps that convert biomass into biofuels and bioproducts that will eventually be used to support hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. These process improvements could include pretreatment methods that alter the biomass to improve the yield of sugars in subsequent process steps, less costly and more efficient enzymes that produce sugars, and fermentation organisms and catalysts that convert the sugars into fuel and chemical intermediates. Successful applicants will demonstrate the research potential to improve the economics and efficiency of their proposed process.

A complete description of the FOA solicitation, eligibility requirements, and application instructions can be found on the FedConnect Web site that lists public opportunities. Applications must be submitted by no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 7, 2011.