Amendment 000001-DE-FOA-0003274 - MACRO - Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity.docx

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

MACRO: Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0003274 FOA Type: Mod 000001 Assistance Listing Number: 81.087 & 81.089

· Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5:00 p.m. ET on the due date listed above to be eligible to submit a Full Application.

· The webinar registration page will be found at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/bioenergy-technologies-office-funding-opportunities

· To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE eXCHANGE at https://eere-eXCHANGE.energy.gov, EERE’s online application portal.

· Applicants must designate primary and backup points-of-contact in EERE eXCHANGE with whom DOE will communicate to conduct award negotiations. If an application is selected for award negotiations, it is not a commitment to issue an award. It is imperative that the applicant/selectee be responsive during award negotiations and meet negotiation deadlines. Failure to do so may result in cancelation of further award negotiations and rescission of the selection.

· Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) - Each applicant (unless the applicant is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110) is required to: (1) register in the SAM at https://www.sam.gov before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid UEI number in the application; and (3) maintain an active SAM registration with current information when the applicant has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, DOE will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

NOTE: Due to the high number of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process they should use the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will address service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity.

Questions about this FOA? Email MacroFOA@ee.doe.gov Problems with EERE Exchange? Email EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov Include FOA name and number in subject line.

Modifications All modifications to the FOA are HIGHLIGHTED in the body of the FOA.

Table of Contents

Questions about this FOA? Email MacroFOA@ee.doe.gov Problems with EERE Exchange? Email EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov Include FOA name and number in subject line.

iv

Funding Opportunity Description

Background and Context

Background and Purpose

Building a clean and equitable energy economy and addressing the climate crisis is a top priority of the Biden Administration. This FOA will advance the Biden Administration’s goals to achieve carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and 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,”[footnoteRef:2] to the benefit of all Americans. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering, catalyzing clean energy jobs through research, development, demonstration, and deployment, and ensuring environmental justice and inclusion of underserved communities. This FOA is funded by two DOE offices: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s (FECM) Carbon Conversion Program. [2: Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” January 27, 2021.]

BETO’s primary focus is on developing technologies that convert domestic biomass and/or waste resources to affordable biofuels and bioproducts that significantly reduce carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis as compared to equivalent petroleum-based products. These bioenergy technologies can enable a transition to a clean energy economy, create high-quality jobs, support rural economies, and spur innovation in renewable energy and chemicals production. The activities funded by BETO through this funding opportunity will mobilize public clean energy investment by addressing research and development (R&D) challenges in the conversion of various seaweeds and blends of seaweeds (with wet waste feedstocks such as waste microalgae) to low-carbon fuels and chemicals. These activities can also help develop solutions for communities that are affected by harmful algal blooms to reduce the costs associated with managing these wastes.

The priority of FECM’s Carbon Conversion Program is to develop multiple pathways by which captured and concentrated carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted into economically viable and environmentally sustainable products. Within FECM’s Carbon Conversion Program and for purposes of this FOA, the term “anthropogenic CO2” is defined as CO2 that has been created or concentrated through human technology, including Direct Air Capture (DAC). The near-term objective of this program’s R&D is to accelerate deployment of carbon management technologies through the conversion of CO2 into value-added products. The program includes catalytic, mineralization and bio-mediated pathways to convert and use CO2. Algae leverages biological uptake pathways and vast human experience with agriculture. It allows complex carbon molecules to be formed from inexpensive energy sources such as solar photons and waste heat and is enabled with mostly already commercialized equipment. The activities funded by the FECM Carbon Conversion Program through this FOA will demonstrate the economical and environmentally sustainable manufacturing of products through the biological uptake of CO2 via algal systems.

One goal of FECM’s Carbon Conversion Program is to develop economically viable adoption of biomass cultivation practices using anthropogenic CO2 that would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere. Under this FOA, applications are sought that use anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in the cultivation process and then convert macro and/or micro algae into low carbon products. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions may include fossil derived emissions from point sources or emissions captured and concentrated through technology such as DAC. Conversion for agricultural products such as animal feed are of particular interest. Applications are encouraged to focus on optimization of the technologies and processes for the conversion of cultivated algae biomass to products and to clearly describe the end use of the products.

Algae is a promising type of renewable biomass-based feedstock with the potential to contribute to BETO’s and FECM’s missions and help meet the aggressive clean energy goals being pursued by DOE. For purposes of this FOA, “algae” includes microalgae, cyanobacteria, and macroalgae (also referred to as seaweed). All types of algae may be of interest to this FOA, subject to the topic-specific requirements described in each Topic Area. For more specific information concerning algae types of interest, please see Section I.B.i and Section I.B.ii below.

To better understand the potential for offshore farmed seaweeds to contribute to DOE’s clean energy goals, BETO recently funded the first full US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) analysis for seaweed biomass potential. BETO hosted a stakeholder engagement session on February 28, 2023, to present preliminary findings from the analysis and gather feedback from experts across the seaweed industry and expects to release the full analysis in the spring of 2024. The analysis includes a marine area screening analysis, macroalgae biomass growth model, and associated technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and finds that the technical potential, subject to reasonable constraints, is significant and could match or exceed the biomass potential from terrestrial sources. This potential for seaweed to contribute to the bioeconomy underscores the need for targeted investments to support the development of the seaweed industry—from farming technologies through marketable products.

Technology Space and Strategic Goals This FOA seeks applications to address R&D challenges in utilizing algae to produce biofuels and bioproducts.

The two topic areas in this FOA provide distinct technology opportunities within the algae utilization space. Topic Area 1 is specifically focused on utilizing readily available algae, including offshore farmed seaweeds, seaweed wastes (e.g., from nutrient extraction processes), and blends of seaweed with other waste algae (e.g., algae produced during wastewater treatment or harmful algal blooms that present disposal issues) or blends of seaweed with other wet wastes (e.g. sludge from wastewater treatment) for conversion to low-carbon fuels and bioproducts such as commodity chemicals. Topic Area 2 is specifically focused on utilizing direct industrial CO2 emissions in algal systems to produce biomass feedstocks that can be processed or converted to value-added products, defined as when the value of an end product is increased compared to the value of feedstocks by processing and inclusion of additional qualities or functions (excluding fuel products). The use of algae to produce biofuels (Topic Area 1 only) and bioproducts (Topic Areas 1 and 2) can reduce the carbon intensity of transportation, industry, and communities, and offers a pathway for CO2 utilization from industrial sources. If the challenges identified below in each Topic Area description can be overcome, the use of algae feedstocks can offer 50% or greater reductions in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) versus petroleum baselines.

Overall, this FOA specifically seeks to address gaps in conversion technology approaches for various algal and wet waste feedstocks to increase their utilization. Developing successful conversion technologies can further improve the economics and carbon utilization efficiencies to products, resulting in additional market opportunities for further algae biomass cultivation and carbon dioxide utilization. These technologies may also provide solutions for communities to lower costs and the environmental impacts of waste management.

More detailed technical descriptions of the specific Topic Areas and specific areas not of interest are provided in Sections I.B. and I.C. below.

Teaming Partner List DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this FOA. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on EERE eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists. To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Topic Areas This FOA contains two topic areas, each of which is funded separately by BETO and FECM in response to specific language in each office’s respective Congressional appropriations and in accordance with each office’s strategic program plans.

Topic Area 1: Conversion of Seaweeds to Low-Carbon Fuels and Bioproducts, is funded through BETO’s Conversion R&D subprogram, which supports R&D in technologies for converting biomass feedstocks into chemicals and chemical intermediates as well as strategic liquid transportation fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Topic Area 2: Conversion of Algal Biomass for Low-Carbon Agricultural Bioproducts, is funded through FECM’s Carbon Conversion Program, which invests in R&D of technologies that convert captured CO2 into economically valuable products such as chemicals, fuels, building materials, plastics, and bioproducts.

Topic Area 1, funded by BETO, aims to address gaps in storage, mobilization, and conversion of readily available algae, including offshore farmed seaweeds, seaweed wastes (e.g., from nutrient extraction processes), and blends of seaweed with other waste algae (e.g., algae produced during wastewater treatment or harmful algal blooms that present disposal issues) or blends of seaweed with other wet wastes (e.g. sludge from wastewater treatment) to low-carbon fuels and bioproducts to enable these readily available feedstocks to access new markets. If successful, these efforts will enable market expansion, address community waste management challenges, and reduce GHG reductions. Applications are sought that will develop laboratory or bench scale technologies and/or processes for utilizing these feedstocks for conversion to bioproducts and/or fuels with significant potential to reduce GHG emissions. Applications will be required to demonstrate through life cycle analysis (LCA) that the utilization of these feedstocks to generate bioproducts at commercial scale has the potential of at least 50% GHG reductions compared to conventional products and/or fuels.

Topic Area 2, funded by FECM, aims to utilize carbon dioxide emissions streams from utilities or industrial sources to grow algae for source material and create value-added bioproducts (exclusive of fuels). Applications are sought that utilize anthropogenic (e.g., fossil fuel derived) carbon dioxide emissions, including concentrated CO2 supplied from DAC technologies, in the cultivation process and then convert macro- and/or micro-algae into low-carbon agricultural applications or bioproducts such as animal feed. Applications are encouraged to focus on optimization of the technologies and processes for the conversion of cultivated algae biomass to bioproducts and clearly describe the end use bioproducts targeted. Applications will be required to show a reduction in CO2 emissions through LCA and demonstrate that the targeted bioproducts provide benefits compared to current, commercially available products. Applications proposing animal feed as bioproducts must describe requirements for necessary testing or demonstrations of the resulting product. Developing successful conversion technologies can further improve the economics and carbon utilization efficiencies of these bioproducts, resulting in additional market share that encourages further algae biomass cultivation and carbon dioxide utilization.

For Topic Area 1, the required beginning Technology Readiness Level (TRL – see Appendix E) is 3 and the target state is 4 by the end of the project. For Topic Area 2, the required beginning TRL is 4 and the target state is 5 by the end of the project. All work under DOE funding agreements must be performed in the United States. See Section IV.I.iii. and Appendix C.

1. Topic Area 1: Conversion of Seaweeds to Low-Carbon Fuels and Bioproducts

Topic Area 1 aligns with the goals of BETO’s Conversion R&D program to decarbonize the U.S. economy by developing efficient and economical biological and chemical technologies to convert renewable carbon resources into bioenergy and renewable chemicals and materials. It also supports BETO’s efforts to develop place-based strategies for waste management, environmental remediation, and other beneficial uses of renewable carbon resources. Using readily available feedstocks, conversion technologies can produce intermediates such as sugar and lignin from low-temperature deconstruction, and bio-oil and gaseous intermediates from high-temperature deconstruction. These intermediates can be recombined using a variety of biological and catalytic techniques to produce biofuels and renewable chemicals and bioproducts.

Seaweeds are becoming readily available in the U.S. and have unique advantages as a renewable biomass feedstock. When cultivated offshore in the open ocean, seaweeds require little to no inputs, and many seaweeds can achieve substantially faster growth rates than terrestrial energy crops. In addition, offshore seaweed farming does not compete with traditional land-based crops and therefore does not contribute to land use changes or otherwise negatively impact existing agricultural markets. Seaweeds contain little to no cellulose and lignin. This may present an advantage for seaweeds, as the relatively higher composition in terrestrial biomass tends to increase the cost and process complexity in the deconstruction and conversion of terrestrial biomass to bioproducts.

However, seaweeds contain a variety of unique sugars and polysaccharides that present distinct challenges and opportunities as a feedstock. Seaweed composition is species-dependent and can vary substantially with growth phase, season, and geography for the same species. As such seaweed conversion technologies must be flexible with respect to compositional variability to be economical. In addition, the high moisture, salt, and mineral content of seaweeds can be problematic for existing mechanical or chemical pretreatments, as well as thermochemical, biological, and biochemical conversion technologies. Therefore, new effective low-cost and energy-efficient conversion approaches are needed. Opportunities related to the unique chemical compositions of seaweeds may include performance advantaged chemicals and bioproducts such as thickeners, stabilizers, and emulsifiers. There may be potential for improved conversion performance through blending with other wet waste feedstocks with seaweeds such as to reduce ash content or salinity or to improve throughput. The blending of other wet wastes with readily available seaweeds may help address community waste disposal issues or improve overall process economics. Applications to Topic Area 1 should clearly describe advantages in blending scenarios.

The objective of Topic Area 1 is to develop laboratory or bench scale (i.e., TRL 3-4) technologies that address gaps in storage, mobilization, and conversion of these highly advantaged algal feedstocks to low-carbon bioproducts to improve their utilization. Overcoming challenges associated with these unique but readily available feedstocks will help build supply chains and develop market pull. In turn, the expanded algal resource potential could enable greater volumes of biofuels in the future.

Successful applications will describe the conversion approach and product(s) intended for study. Applications must provide detailed feedstock characterization data and the current state of the art approach to convert those feedstocks to the desired bioproducts. Where data gaps exist in feedstock characterization, the application should describe approaches to be taken during the project to mitigate or resolve these issues. The ultimate market size for the targeted product(s) and the ultimate GHG reduction potential in terms of tons of CO2 reduced per year assuming future commercial success must be discussed. It is recognized that each feedstock and conversion process will have unique requirements and challenges to overcome.

Applications must describe in detail:

· What you are trying to achieve. Specify the targeted yield and process efficiency needed to move to the next stage of development;

· How it is done today, including the limits of current practice;

· What is novel and innovative in the proposed approach;

· Key indicators that can be tracked during the project that demonstrate the proposed approach is progressing successfully; and

· Assuming success, how the improved process will affect the techno-economic analysis, including metrics such as process capital expenditures (capex) and/or operational expenditures (opex), reliability, and energy efficiency.

Topic Area 1 Specific Areas of Interest Specific areas of interest for Topic Area 1 include, but are not limited to:

· Preservation and storage approaches for harvested seaweed that can be applied at scale. Priority areas such as low cost, low energy requirements and minimized biomass loss during long-term storage are of interest. Note that cultivation and harvesting activities are not within the scope of Topic Area 1 and should not be included in applications to Topic Area 1. Procurement of feedstocks appropriate for the scale of conversion focused R&D activities is allowable and should be sufficiently described to understand impacts to TEA and LCA.

· Accurate, precise, and rapid seaweed composition analysis. Approaches that reliably quantify the overall ash, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents as well as the specific fractions of the sugars and carbohydrates present in the feedstock.

· Microbial strain development for the effective utilization of minimally processed seaweeds (such as for long-term storage) or a seaweed waste stream from an existing industry (e.g., nutrient extraction). Blending of the two types is also acceptable with appropriate discussion on reasoning. Approaches can include engineering of industrially relevant, genetically tractable microorganisms to utilize most or all sugars in the feedstock and to be tolerant to high salt levels in minimally processed seaweeds. Alternatively, halophilic microorganisms with native ability to utilize seaweeds can be engineered to make platform chemicals (e.g., ethanol). Single-organism approaches as well as engineered microbial consortia are of interest.

· Optimization of enzymatic degradation of seaweed to fermentable sugars and/or other molecules of interest. Approaches can include discovery and characterization of new enzymes. Enzymatic degradation may be paired with chemical pretreatments.

· Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) using readily available seaweeds, or blends of seaweeds with seaweed wastes (e.g., from nutrient extraction processes), or blends of seaweed with other waste algae (e.g., algae produced during wastewater treatment or harmful algal blooms that present disposal issues) or blends of seaweed with other wet wastes (e.g. sludge from wastewater treatment)

· Other thermochemical or hybrid conversion approaches that can overcome challenges with wet feedstocks.

The metrics below are the minimum end-of-project targets required by FOA Topic Area 1.

Topic Area 1 Key Performance Parameters:

Topic Area 1 Requirements:

Applications to Topic Area 1 must:

1) Propose laboratory or bench scale conversion focused R&D using a readily available macroalgae feedstock harvested, gathered, or collected such as offshore farmed seaweed, seaweed waste streams from existing industrial applications, or blends of seaweed with other waste algae (e.g., algae produced during wastewater treatment or harmful algal blooms that present disposal issues), or blends of seaweed with other wet wastes (e.g. sludge from wastewater treatment) to improve downstream performance and/or economics.

2) Propose conversion technologies that could produce significant bioproduct lifecycle GHG reduction potentials as compared to incumbent products and having the potential for significant GHG reductions if full market potential is reached in future commercialization.

3) Propose to follow the verification requirements as described in Appendix G, including proposing an initial budget period (BP) that consists solely of participating in an initial verification conducted by DOE’s verification team prior to commencement of technical scope of proposal in subsequent BPs.

4) Conduct TEA and LCA analysis using key performance parameters identified in the application and informed by the technology developments made during the project showing the potential of the technology to meet the Topic Area 1 and FOA objectives.

1. Topic Area 2: Conversion of Algal Biomass for Low-Carbon Agricultural Bioproducts

FECM’s Topic Area 2 goal is to utilize carbon dioxide emissions streams from utilities or industrial sources to grow macro- or micro-algae for source material and create value-added bioproducts (excluding fuels). Applications are sought that use anthropogenic (e.g., fossil fuel or DAC derived) carbon dioxide emissions to be used in the algae cultivation process and then convert those macro- and/or micro algae into low-carbon agricultural applications or bioproducts such as animal feed. Bioproducts must demonstrate lifecycle emissions that are at least 10%, and preferably 25%, less than an equivalent incumbent product. Applications are encouraged to focus on optimization of the technologies and processes for the conversion of cultivated algae biomass to bioproducts and clearly describe the end use bioproducts targeted. Applications are required to show a reduction in CO2 emissions through life cycle analysis and must demonstrate that the targeted bioproducts provide benefits compared to current, commercially available products. Applications proposing animal feed as bioproducts should describe requirements for necessary testing or demonstrations of the resulting product. Awards made under Topic Area 2 will validate a near prototypical (i.e., a near or completely integrated system demonstration), or prototypical system in a relevant environment (i.e., TRL 4 to 5 R&D activities), estimate the technology cost, and demonstrate that the carbon lifecycle of the bioproducts offer a path toward environmental and economic sustainability.

Topic Area 2 aligns with the FECM carbon conversion portfolio. Algal systems are a critical utilization pathway in FECM’s mission due to algae’s rapid growth, tolerance to various conditions, and the formation of high-energy carbon compounds. The versatility and scope of market end uses of algal feedstocks make the algae pathway for CO2 conversion attractive for scale-up and commercialization; thus, increasing the impact of this approach to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate climate change. For Topic Area 2, there is particular interest in end uses for bioproducts in agricultural applications. This includes the potential use of both micro- and macro-algae as feed inputs with potential co-benefits for reducing methane emissions from ruminants.[footnoteRef:3] [3: Micro- and Macro-Algae Combination as a Novel Alternative Ruminant Feed with Methane-Mitigation Potential - PMC (nih.gov)]

Applications to Topic Area 2 must include four primary activities:

1) Describe quantification and optimization method of carbon dioxide uptake and conversion efficiency;

2) Identify target bioproducts and subsequent characterization to validate their usability and benefit;

3) Identify processes for conversion of algal biomass into end bioproducts; and

4) Full analysis of environmental and economic impact through LCA and TEA.

Topic Area 2 seeks applications that utilize carbon dioxide emissions streams from utilities or industrial sources 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. Targeted emission streams may include combustion exhaust gas produced from thermal conversion. Potential streams to be considered may also include emissions from cement manufacturing, natural gas facilities, iron and steel production, and solid fuel (coal-fired or biomass) power plants. The acceptable sources of CO2 for the proposed system can be ranked with explanations and benefits applicable to the specific process and algae strain, and with consideration as to why a particular algae strain is well suited for agricultural or feed applications. Thus, the integrated testing with a CO2 source may be a continuous real emission stream or a synthetic representative of the selected emissions stream(s).

R&D concepts must address CO2 capture, conditioning, transport, and transfer to the algae medium to maximize CO2 uptake and minimize the cost of CO2 delivery. Applications must describe the intended end-use bioproducts and applications which the process could support.

Other potential co-benefits and negative impacts should be identified. Applications must consider a novel carbon delivery that improves carbon transfer or increases residence time, i.e., carbonate mechanisms, bubble-free CO2, or improved systems design. Real-time and accurate verification methods are also required for Topic Area 2. Projects must also address key technical barriers regarding process chemistry and system operations, including:

For Topic Area 2, bioproducts for agricultural applications and animal feed are the desired primary end-products. The algae biomass for end-use purposes can be grown in various ways, including but not limited to open raceway ponds, photobioreactors, or hybrid systems. For Topic Area 2, the pond and/or reactor volume must be at least 1000 L, and the duration of testing must be two 30-day campaigns without negatively affecting algae biomass productivity or nitrogen utilization efficiency. Applicants must detail an optimized process for converting algae to bioproducts, and the algae-production technology must be verified via proof of performance in relevant environments. Applications should not propose R&D for novel carbon capture technologies. Relevant testing environments reduce technology uncertainties and support subsequent industry-led scale-up activities. Intended results must show how cultivation, harvesting, and conversion to bioproducts would result in a profitable and sustainable industrial application supporting the bioeconomy. Considering the final product, supported R&D must produce sufficient algae to create and characterize the final product.

Applications Specifically Not of Interest The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered (See Section III.D. of the FOA):

Topic Area 1 and Topic Area 2

· Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Sections I.A. and I.B. of the FOA.

· Applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles (e.g., violates the laws of thermodynamics).

· Applications that propose to work on biomass other than readily available algae biomass (e.g., lignocellulosic biomass) except when wet biomass-based wastes are used in blends with readily available algal biomass.

· Applications that propose to undertake construction or groundbreaking for new research facilities (installation of new experimental equipment is allowable).

Topic Area 1 only:

· Applications proposing algal cultivation or harvesting activities within the research plan.

· Applications proposing end uses related to food or animal feeds (the intent of Topic Area 1 is to focus on BETO priority areas including fuels and commodity chemicals).

Topic Area 2 only:

· Conversion of non-anthropogenic sources of CO2.

· Applications that propose biofuels as end products.

· Bioproducts with less than 10% GHG emissions reduction as compared to incumbent products.

· Applications that propose novel carbon capture R&D. No novel carbon capture R&D will be considered. R&D may address challenges that are specific to integrating the algae technology with existing carbon capture technology.

· Novel R&D in the technology areas listed below:

· CO2 compressor development

· CO2 transport and geological storage

· Co-firing of biomass

· Cultivation of terrestrial plants

· Technologies producing biofuels, ethanol, and biogas

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion It is the policy of the Biden Administration that:

[T]he Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity[footnoteRef:4] for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our government. Because advancing equity requires a systematic approach to embedding fairness in decision-making processes, executive departments, and agencies (agencies) must recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity. [4: The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.]

By advancing equity across the Federal Government, we can create opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved, which benefits everyone.[footnoteRef:5] [5: Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” (Jan. 20, 2021). ]

As part of this whole of government approach, this FOA seeks to encourage the participation of underserved communities[footnoteRef:6] and underrepresented groups. Applicants are highly encouraged to include individuals from groups historically underrepresented[footnoteRef:7],[footnoteRef:8] in STEM on their project teams. As part of the application, applicants are required to describe how diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives will be incorporated in the project. Specifically, applicants are required to submit a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan that describes the actions the applicant will take to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, support people from underrepresented groups in STEM, advance equity, and encourage the inclusion of individuals from these groups in the project; and the extent the project activities will be located in or benefit underserved communities. (See Section IV.D.). The plan should include at least one SMART (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-Related) milestone per budget period supported by metrics to measure the success of the proposed actions. This plan will be evaluated as part of the technical review process and incorporated into the award if selected. [6: The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list of in the definition of “equity.” E.O. 13985. For purposes of this FOA, as applicable to geographic communities, applicants can refer to economically distressed communities identified by the Internal Revenue Service as Qualified Opportunity Zones; communities identified as disadvantaged or underserved communities by their respective States; communities identified on the Index of Deep Disadvantage referenced at https://news.umich.edu/new-index-ranks-americas-100-most-disadvantaged-communities/, and communities that otherwise meet the definition of “underserved communities” stated above.] [7: According to the National Science Foundation’s 2019 report titled, “Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering”, women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minority groups—blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and American Indians or Alaska Natives—are vastly underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields that drive the energy sector. That is, their representation in STEM education and STEM employment is smaller than their representation in the U.S. population. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf19304/digest/about-this-report For example, in the U.S., Hispanics, African Americans and American Indians or Alaska Natives make up 24 percent of the overall workforce, yet only account for 9 percent of the country’s science and engineering workforce. DOE seeks to inspire underrepresented Americans to pursue careers in energy and support their advancement into leadership positions. https://www.energy.gov/articles/introducing-minorities-energy-initiative] [8: See also. Note that Congress recognized in section 305 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017, Public Law 114-329:

(1) [I]t is critical to our Nation’s economic leadership and global competitiveness that the United States educate, train, and retain more scientists, engineers, and computer scientists; (2) there is currently a disconnect between the availability of and growing demand for STEM-skilled workers; (3) historically, underrepresented populations are the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the United States; and (4) given the shifting demographic landscape, the United States should encourage full participation of individuals from underrepresented populations in STEM fields.

Further, Minority Serving Institutions[footnoteRef:9], Minority Business Enterprises, Minority Owned Businesses, Woman Owned Businesses, Veteran Owned Businesses, or entities located in an underserved community that meet the eligibility requirements (See Section III.) are encouraged to apply as the prime applicant or participate on an application as a proposed partner to the prime applicant. The Selection Official may consider the inclusion of these types of entities as part of the selection decision (See Section V.C.). [9: Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Other Minority Institutions as educational entities recognized by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR's Department of Education U.S. accredited postsecondary minorities’ institution list. See https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.]

Authorizing Statutes The programmatic authorizing statute is BETO: Energy Policy Act (EPAct) 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, § 931 as codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16231; EPAct 2005 § 932, as codified at 42 U.S.C § 16232. FECM: DOE Organization Act, Pub. L. 95-91; EPAct 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, §§ 963 and 1601.

Awards made under this announcement will fall under the purview of 2 CFR Part 200 as amended by 2 CFR Part 910.

Award Information

Award Overview

1. Estimated Funding EERE expects to make a total of approximately $8,800,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA (Topic Area 1), subject to the availability of appropriated funds. EERE anticipates making approximately 5-6 awards under this FOA. EERE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may be up to $1,500,000.

FECM expects to make a total of approximately $10,000,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA (Topic Area 2), subject to the availability of appropriated funds. FECM anticipates making approximately 3-4 awards under this FOA. Individual awards may be up to $3,000,000.

DOE may issue awards in one, multiple, or none of the following topic areas:

DOE may establish more than one budget period for each award and fund only the initial budget period(s). Funding for all budget periods, including the initial budget period, is not guaranteed.

1. Period of Performance

For Topic Area 1 EERE anticipates making awards that will run from 24 months up to 36 months in length, comprised of multiple budget periods. For Topic Area 1, there must be at least 3 budget periods, the first of which must be for the initial verification as described in Appendix G. For Topic Area 2, DOE anticipates making awards that will run up to 24 months in length, and there must be 2 budget periods. Project continuation between budget periods will be contingent upon several elements, including satisfactory performance and Go/No-Go decision review. At the Go/No-Go decision points, DOE will evaluate project performance, project schedule adherence, the extent milestone objectives are met, compliance with reporting requirements, and overall contribution to the program goals and objectives. As a result of this evaluation, DOE may, at its discretion, authorize the following actions: (1) continue to fund the project, contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program and the availability of future-year budget authority; (2) recommend redirection of work under the project; (3) place a hold on federal funding for the project, pending further supporting data or funding; or (4) discontinue funding the project because of insufficient progress, change in strategic direction, or lack of funding. For a complete list, see Section VI.B.xv.

1. New Applications Only DOE will accept only new applications under this FOA. DOE will not consider applications for renewals of existing DOE-funded awards through this FOA.

EERE and FECM Funding Agreements Through cooperative agreements, EERE and FECM (collectively DOE) provide financial and other support to projects that have the potential to realize the FOA objectives.