On Nov. 14, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an investment of $20.2 million (about Rs. 146 million) in 10 university and industry projects to advance the development of mixed algae for low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts.
Located in seven states, these selected projects will work on high-impact research and development (R&D) focused on decarbonizing domestic transportation and industry by converting algae (e.g., seaweed and other wet waste feedstocks) into low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and agricultural products.
DOE's investments are concentrated in two key areas:
1. Conversion of seaweed into low-carbon fuels and bioproducts will focus on laboratory-scale research and development on the conversion of seaweeds and mixtures of seaweeds with other wet wastes into renewable fuels and bioproducts, in order to make these readily available feedstocks accessible to new markets.
2. The conversion of algal biomass into low-carbon agricultural bioproducts will focus on near- or fully-integrated technologies that utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) emission streams from industrial facilities or power plants to grow algae as feedstock and create value-added bioproducts. Of particular interest is the conversion and processing of bioproducts for use in agriculture and animal feed.
Algal feedstocks represent an emerging resource that is critical for the development of biofuels and bioproducts. However, they are underutilized and difficult to convert due to their variability, unique chemical composition and storage instability. These research projects will help to overcome feedstock conversion challenges and support the establishment of biomass supply chains, ultimately improving the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to algae and enabling more sustainable aviation fuels.
This initiative is being conducted by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Office (FECM). The funding aligns with several national priorities, including the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, the Executive Order Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation, and the Clean Fuels and Products Program.
