U.S. Department of Energy: $20.2 million in projects to advance development of mixed algae for biofuels and bioproducts

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced $20.2 million in funding for 10 university and industry projects to advance mixed algae development for low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. Located in seven states, these selected projects will address high-impact research and development (R&D) focused on converting algae, such as seaweeds and other wet waste feedstocks, to low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and agricultural products that can decarbonize domestic transportation and industry.

These types of feedstocks represent an emerging resource and are critical to the development of biofuels and bioproducts. However, they are underutilized and difficult to convert due to their variability, unique chemical make-up, and storage instability. These research projects will help overcome feedstock conversion challenges and support building biomass supply chains, and ultimately, improve carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion to algae and enable greater volumes of sustainable aviation fuel.

"These innovative projects will be essential to building a secure supply chain of biomass resources that can change how we fuel our industries with cleaner, net-zero emission options," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "It's an honor to see our federal energy offices investing together in projects that address the climate crisis, create well-paying jobs, and accelerate our nation's clean energy bioeconomy."

"By transforming carbon emissions captured from industrial operations and power plants into agricultural products, carbon conversion plays a critical role in the transition to a net-zero economy," said Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. "Today's investments will help demonstrate carbon conversion technologies that yield products that target hard to decarbonize sectors of our economy while also providing significant greenhouse gas and environmental benefits over incumbent products."

With this funding, DOE is also helping to meet the government-wide targets of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy, and the Clean Fuels & Products Shot™. Aligning with BETO's and FECM's strategic program goals, the selected projects will address bioenergy needs through two topic areas:

• Conversion of seaweeds to low carbon fuels and bioproducts will focus on laboratory scale R&D on conversion of seaweeds and seaweed blends with other wet wastes to renewable fuels and bioproducts to enable these readily available feedstocks to access new markets.
  
• Conversion of algal biomass for low carbon agricultural bioproducts will focus on near or completely integrated technologies that utilize CO2 emissions streams from industrial facilities or power plants to grow algae for source material and create value-added bioproducts. Of particular interest is the conversion and processing of bioproducts for use in agriculture and animal feed.