The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing $118 million in 17 projects to boost domestic production of sustainable biofuels, the agency announced recently.
Universities and private companies are conducting the programs chosen for funding, according to the DOE's Jan. 26 announcement. The projects were selected to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of biofuels and bioproducts by promoting biorefinery growth, "from pre-pilot to demonstration, to create sustainable fuels that reduce emissions associated with fossil fuels."
"Funding for this opportunity supports President Biden’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," the DOE states in the announcement.
Evergy-dense biofuels are made from domestic feedstocks and advanced refining technologies, the DOE states, and are used for low-carbon fuels that can lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The projects receiving funding support the DOE's objective to reach a 70% or greater reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 with cost-competitive biofuels, according to the announcement. They also achieve goals for renewable fuels set in the first National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and support the U.S. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge.
“Biofuels are a versatile tool because they have the immediate potential to power our ships, trains, airlines and heavy-duty vehicles—a huge contributor to total carbon emissions—with a significantly reduced carbon footprint,” DOE Sec. Jennifer M. Granholm said in the announcement.
The projects will receive funding from $500,000 to $80 million, with $2 million on average, according to the DOE. Selections are administered by the DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and are subject to further eligibility review and final award negotiations, the DOE reports.
Pre-pilot, pilot, and demonstration projects with the potential to produce millions of gallons of low-carbon fuel yearly are among those selected for funding. Project investments in biofuel technologies could create good-paying jobs in under-served and rural areas in the nine states where the projects are located, according to the DOE.
"DOE investments are helping to build out a domestic bioenergy supply chain that increases America’s energy independence, creates jobs, and accelerates the adoption of cleaner fuels for our transportation needs,” Granholm said in the announcement.
