GREENWELLS 3234 CP FOA.pdf

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

AR-311-02.23

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY – ENERGY (ARPA-E)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

GRID-FREE RENEWABLE ENERGY ENABLING NEW WAYS TO

ECONOMICAL LIQUIDS AND LONG-TERM STORAGE

(GREENWELLS)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Funding Opportunity No. DE-FOA-0003234

CFDA Number 81.135

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Issue Date: December 12, 2023 First Deadline for Questions to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov: 5 PM ET, January 16, 2024

Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 9:30 AM ET, January 25, 2024 Second Deadline for Questions to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov: 5 PM ET, TBD

Submission Deadline for Full Applications: 9:30 AM ET, TBD

Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments: 5 PM ET, TBD Expected Date for Selection Notifications: August 2024

Total Amount to Be Awarded Approximately $38 million, subject to the availability of appropriated funds to be shared between FOAs DE-FOA- 0003234 and DE-FOA-0003235.

Anticipated Awards ARPA-E may issue one, multiple, or no awards under this FOA. The Federal share of awards may vary between $1 million and $5 million.

• For eligibility criteria, see Section III.A of the FOA.

• For cost share requirements under this FOA, see Section III.B of the FOA.

• To apply to this FOA, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using ARPA- E eXCHANGE, see Section IV.H.1 of the FOA.

• Applicants are responsible for meeting each submission deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadline.

• For detailed guidance on compliance and responsiveness criteria, see Sections III.C.1 through III.C.4 of the FOA.

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST ......................................................................................................................... - 1 -

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... - 2 -

A. AGENCY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... - 2 -

B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................ - 3 -

C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................................................... - 5 -

D. TECHNICAL APPROACHES OF INTEREST .................................................................................................................. - 6 -

E. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS..................................................................................................................... - 7 -

F. DETAILED TECHNICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... - 10 -

II. AWARD INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................. - 19 -

A. AWARD OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................................................... - 19 -

B. RENEWAL AWARDS.......................................................................................................................................... - 19 -

C. ARPA-E FUNDING AGREEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... - 20 -

1. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... - 20 -

2. FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH FFRDCS/DOE LABS, GOGOS, AND FEDERAL INSTRUMENTALITIES ........................... - 20 -

3. OTHER TRANSACTIONS AUTHORITY ............................................................................................................... - 21 -

D. STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................................................... - 22 -

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. - 23 -

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ....................................................................................................................................... - 23 -

1. INDIVIDUALS .............................................................................................................................................. - 23 -

2. DOMESTIC ENTITIES .................................................................................................................................... - 23 -

3. FOREIGN ENTITIES ....................................................................................................................................... - 23 -

4. CONSORTIUM ENTITIES ................................................................................................................................ - 24 -

B. COST SHARING ................................................................................................................................................ - 24 -

1. BASE COST SHARE REQUIREMENT.................................................................................................................. - 24 -

2. INCREASED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT.......................................................................................................... - 25 -

3. REDUCED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT............................................................................................................ - 25 -

4. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY ................................................................................................................................. - 26 -

5. COST SHARE ALLOCATION ............................................................................................................................ - 26 -

6. COST SHARE TYPES AND ALLOWABILITY .......................................................................................................... - 26 -

7. COST SHARE CONTRIBUTIONS BY FFRDCS AND GOGOS ................................................................................... - 27 -

8. COST SHARE VERIFICATION ........................................................................................................................... - 28 -

C. OTHER ........................................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

1. COMPLIANT CRITERIA .................................................................................................................................. - 28 -

2. RESPONSIVENESS CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................... - 29 -

3. SUBMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT OF INTEREST .................................................................................................. - 30 -

4. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS ..................................................................................................... - 30 -

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION...................................................................................... - 31 -

A. APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... - 31 -

1. REGISTRATION IN ARPA-E eXCHANGE ........................................................................................................ - 31 -

2. CONCEPT PAPERS........................................................................................................................................ - 31 -

3. FULL APPLICATIONS..................................................................................................................................... - 31 -http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

4. REPLY TO REVIEWER COMMENTS .................................................................................................................. - 32 -

5. PRE-SELECTION CLARIFICATIONS AND “DOWN-SELECT” PROCESS ....................................................................... - 32 -

6. SELECTION FOR AWARD NEGOTIATIONS.......................................................................................................... - 32 -

B. APPLICATION FORMS ....................................................................................................................................... - 33 -

C. CONTENT AND FORM OF CONCEPT PAPERS .......................................................................................................... - 33 -

1. CONCEPT PAPER ......................................................................................................................................... - 34 -

A. CONCEPT SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... - 34 -

B. INNOVATION AND IMPACT............................................................................................................................ - 34 -

C. PROPOSED WORK ....................................................................................................................................... - 34 -

D. TEAM ORGANIZATION AND CAPABILITIES ........................................................................................................ - 35 -

E. APPENDIX 1: PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM (1-PAGE MAXIMUM) ............................................................................ - 35 -

F. APPENDIX 2: MATERIAL BALANCE (1-PAGE MAXIMUM).................................................................................... - 35 -

D. CONTENT AND FORM OF FULL APPLICATIONS ....................................................................................................... - 35 -

E. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW .......................................................................................................................... - 35 -

F. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS ................................................................................................................................... - 35 -

1. ALLOWABLE COSTS ..................................................................................................................................... - 35 -

2. PRE-AWARD COSTS..................................................................................................................................... - 36 -

3. PATENT COSTS ........................................................................................................................................... - 36 -

4. CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... - 36 -

5. FOREIGN TRAVEL ........................................................................................................................................ - 36 -

6. PERFORMANCE OF WORK IN THE UNITED STATES ............................................................................................. - 37 -

7. PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................... - 37 -

8. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND OUTREACH ....................................................................................................... - 37 -

9. LOBBYING .................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -

10. CONFERENCE SPENDING ............................................................................................................................... - 39 -

11. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS........................................................................................ - 39 -

12. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT .................. - 40 -

13. BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ............................................................... - 40 -

14. REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL PERSONNEL ..................................................................................................... - 40 -

G. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................. - 41 -

1. USE OF ARPA-E eXCHANGE...................................................................................................................... - 41 -

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ........................................................................................................... - 43 -

A. CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................................ - 43 -

1. CRITERIA FOR CONCEPT PAPERS .................................................................................................................... - 43 -

2. CRITERIA FOR FULL APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................. - 44 -

3. CRITERIA FOR REPLIES TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ............................................................................................. - 44 -

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS ...................................................................................................................... - 44 -

1. PROGRAM POLICY FACTORS ......................................................................................................................... - 44 -

2. ARPA-E REVIEWERS ................................................................................................................................... - 45 -

3. ARPA-E SUPPORT CONTRACTORS ................................................................................................................. - 45 -

C. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND AWARD DATES ............................................................................................. - 46 -

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION............................................................................................... - 47 -

A. AWARD NOTICES ............................................................................................................................................. - 47 -

1. REJECTED SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................................................................... - 47 -http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

2. CONCEPT PAPER NOTIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................... - 47 -

3. FULL APPLICATION NOTIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................ - 47 -

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS...................................................................................... - 47 -

1. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SAM, FSRS, AND FEDCONNECT REGISTRATIONS ................................................ - 48 -

2. NATIONAL POLICY ASSURANCES .................................................................................................................... - 49 -

3. PROOF OF COST SHARE COMMITMENT AND ALLOWABILITY ............................................................................... - 49 -

4. COST SHARE PAYMENTS............................................................................................................................... - 49 -

5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE..................................................................................................... - 50 -

6. TECHNOLOGY-TO-MARKET PLAN................................................................................................................... - 50 -

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DATA MANAGEMENT PLANS .............................................................................. - 50 -

8. U.S. COMPETITIVENESS ............................................................................................................................... - 51 -

9. CORPORATE FELONY CONVICTIONS AND FEDERAL TAX LIABILITY ......................................................................... - 52 -

10. APPLICANT RISK ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................... - 53 -

11. RECIPIENT INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE MATTERS ........................................................................................ - 53 -

12. NONDISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS REPRESENTATIONS ........................................................... - 54 -

13. INTERIM CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ................................................................... - 55 -

14. COMMERCIALIZATION PLAN AND SOFTWARE REPORTING .................................................................................. - 55 -

15. FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE ........................................................................................................................ - 55 -

C. REPORTING..................................................................................................................................................... - 56 -

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS .................................................................................................................................... - 57 -

A. COMMUNICATIONS WITH ARPA-E..................................................................................................................... - 57 -

B. DEBRIEFINGS................................................................................................................................................... - 58 -

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... - 59 -

A. TITLE TO SUBJECT INVENTIONS ........................................................................................................................... - 59 -

B. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN SUBJECT INVENTIONS .................................................................................................... - 59 -

1. GOVERNMENT USE LICENSE.......................................................................................................................... - 60 -

2. MARCH-IN RIGHTS...................................................................................................................................... - 60 -

C. RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA .............................................................................................................................. - 60 -

D. PROTECTED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION........................................................................................... - 61 -

E. FOAS AND FOA MODIFICATIONS ...................................................................................................................... - 61 -

F. OBLIGATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS .......................................................................................................................... - 62 -

G. REQUIREMENT FOR FULL AND COMPLETE DISCLOSURE .......................................................................................... - 62 -

H. RETENTION OF SUBMISSIONS............................................................................................................................. - 62 -

I. MARKING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION......................................................................................................... - 62 -

J. EXPORT CONTROL INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... - 63 -

K. COMPLIANCE AUDIT REQUIREMENT.................................................................................................................... - 63 -

IX. GLOSSARY........................................................................................................................................................ - 64 -http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 1 -

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST

For an overview of the application process, see Section IV.A of the FOA.

For guidance regarding requisite application forms, see Section IV.B of the FOA.

For guidance regarding the content and form of Concept Papers, Full Applications, and Replies to Reviewer Comments, see Sections IV.C, IV.D, and IV.E of the FOA.

SUBMISSION COMPONENTS

OPTIONAL/

MANDATORY

FOA

SECTION

DEADLINE

Concept Paper

• Each Applicant must submit a Concept Paper in Adobe PDF format by the stated deadline. The Concept Paper must not exceed six (6) total pages in length including graphics, figures, and/or tables, and must include the following:

o Concept Summary o Innovation and Impact o Proposed Work o Team Organization and Capabilities o Two Appendices, each not to exceed one (1) page:

o Appendix 1: Process Flow Diagram o Appendix 2: Material Balance

Mandatory IV.C

9:30 AM ET,

January 25, Full Application

[TO BE INSERTED BY FOA MODIFICATION IN MARCH 2024]

Mandatory IV.D

9:30 AM ET,

TBD

Reply to Reviewer Comments

[TO BE INSERTED BY FOA MODIFICATION IN MARCH 2024]

Optional IV.E 5 PM ET, TBD http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 2 -

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. AGENCY OVERVIEW

The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111- 358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260):

“(A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that—

(i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources;

(ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases;

(iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors;

(iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and

(v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and

(B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.”

ARPA-E issues this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16538. The FOA and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this FOA are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910.

ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/.

ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established “learning curves” where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves.

ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology.

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov http://arpa-e.energy.gov/

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 3 -

ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace . The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive – that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale.

ARPA-E funds applied research and development. The Office of Management and Budget defines “applied research” as an “original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge…directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective” and defines

“experimental development” as “creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes.”1 Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as “experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts”)2 should contact the DOE’s Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R&D for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity).

B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS) program is targeted at producing sustainable carbon-containing liquids from renewable energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) by developing dynamically operable reactor systems that can take advantage of cheap, intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar.

To meet current climate goals, dramatic increases in renewable energy deployment are required. Yet construction of renewables (particularly wind and solar) is hampered by

1 OMB Circular A-11 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf), Section 84,

pg. 3.

2 OMB Circular A-11 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf), Section 84,

pg. 3.

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov http://science.energy.gov/ http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/ http://www.eere.energy.gov/ https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 4 -challenges in interconnection to the electric grid. Wait times for wind and solar projects from interconnection request to operation now approach four years.3 A method to use renewable energy without grid interconnection can accelerate renewable deployment. This method could provide cost-effective energy carriers for long- and medium-term energy storage and potentially moderate imbalances of supply and demand in a high renewable penetration scenario.

Simultaneously, transportation sectors, like aviation, marine, and heavy-duty vehicles, require technological solutions to lower their emissions. Alternative fuels and power trains are being developed for these difficult-to-decarbonize sectors with no clear economic winner. Low-carbon fuels can be a drop-in replacement, but are currently expensive, around $10 per gallon (gal) for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from power-to-liquids (PtL) from a concentrated

CO2 source.4 Costs can be reduced by minimizing high capital expenditure (CAPEX) units like hydrogen (H2) storage and by using cheaper electricity sources like wind and solar power with no connection to the grid. Projects that are independent from the grid can achieve lower overall costs and minimize project timelines and uncertainty, but this renewables-to-liquids (RtL) approach must grapple with the intermittency of wind and solar.

The primary objective of the GREENWELLS program is the development of chemical reactors and supporting units that economically store at least 50% of incoming intermittent electrical energy in carbon-containing liquids. To achieve attractive economics, ARPA-E expects that chemical reactors will need to be dynamically operable to optimize the entire system of renewable energy production, electrolysis capital, and energy storage. Thermal, electrochemical, plasmonic, photonic, biological, and other technical process approaches are expected to potentially address this problem. The integration of these novel and known processes (e.g., oligomerization, water separation) in a dynamic system will be needed.

If successful, the GREENWELLS program will provide low-cost carbon-containing liquids that (i) enable the transportation and storage of renewable energy, (ii) are suitable as-is or with upgrading for use in the difficult-to-decarbonize sectors, and (iii) will speed the development of new renewable energy projects by alleviating requirements for connection to an electric grid. With these goals, this program contributes to the ARPA-E statutory goals of “improv[ing] the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy,” “reduc[ing] energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases,” and “reduc[ing] imports of energy from foreign sources,” as seen in Section I.A of the FOA.

3 Rand, J. “Record Amounts of Zero-Carbon Electricity Generation and Storage Now Seeking Grid Interconnection ,” Electricity Markets and Policy Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, (2022) 4 Raksha, T. et. al., “Power-to-Liquids as Renewable Fuel Option for Aviation: A Review” Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 90, 127-140 (2018) http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov https://emp.lbl.gov/news/record-amounts-zero-carbon-electricity

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 5 -

Figure 1. Black box diagram of system inputs and outputs for the reactor systems in GREENWELLS. Based on data from Iowa State University’s Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).5

C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

ARPA-E expects projects funded through the GREENWELLS FOA to focus on the development of reactor systems—including the necessary catalysts, manufacturing methods, and balance of plant—to efficiently convert CO2 and an intermittent feedstock of electricity or H2 to carbon-containing liquids. The inputs and outputs (Figure 1) for reactor systems in this program are:

Inputs: ARPA-E envisions systems that would operate at the site of stranded renewable energy

(i.e., wind, solar, or hybrid). Systems would use the intermittent electricity source, CO2 either delivered or captured on site, and H2O either delivered or available on site. Applicants may assume:

• Electricity at $25 per megawatt-hour (MWh) following the profile in Figure 2. Applicants may propose an alternative geographic location in the United States and use the wind and solar profile from that location.

• H2 at $2 per kilogram (kg) for high purity at 30 bar. Applicants may assume that electricity is instantaneously converted to H2 following their electricity profile (i.e., Figure 2 or a specific geographic location) with 65% system energy efficiency for the electrolysis plant (set by DOE 2026 proton exchange membrane (PEM) targets).6 The use of H2 and water electrolysis, however, are not required.

• Delivered CO2 at $100 per tonne (t) for high purity at 30 bar. Process intensification with direct air capture (DAC) is in scope.

Applicants may also use different parameters than the above, if appropriately justified. During the Period of Performance, as technoeconomic analyses (TEA) and tech-to-market (T2M) plans are developed, updated values should be substituted.

5 Iowa State University Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) 6 U.S. Department of Energy, “Technical Targets for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis,” Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. Technical Targets for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis | Department of Energy http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-OpenFOA@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/ASOS/ https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/technical-targets-proton-exchange-membrane-electrolysis#:~:text=This%20table%20summarizes%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Energy,H2%20by%202026%20and%20%241%2Fkg%20H2%20by%202031.

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 6 -

Figure 2. Representative electricity profile based on data from Iowa State University’s ASOS.5 The data is also provided on ARPA-E eXCHANGE in an Excel document.

Outputs: The final product may be any carbon-containing liquid or liquid mixture at ambient temperature and less than 20 bar. If appropriate, Applicants may include information on how that product would be upgraded offsite. ARPA-E may preference submissions that produce liquids of higher economic value (e.g., SAF).

Given the high costs of H2 storage, particularly if a consistent H2 output is required year-round, Applicants are required to propose a synthesis plant that is dynamically operable to minimize the H2 storage or other energy storage CAPEX. This design must account for the dynamic nature of streams through the entire process, including, for example, separations and recycle streams.

Otherwise, ARPA-E is not placing restrictions on the system design between input and final liquid product. Conversion of the inputs to liquids may occur by first electrolyzing water to produce H2 and hydrogenating CO2, through a direct reduction of CO2, or via another route.

D. TECHNICAL APPROACHES OF INTEREST

ARPA-E expects that a range of different reactor types (including thermal, electrochemical, plasmonic, photonic, biological, and other technical process approaches) may be applied to meet the technical performance targets described in Section I.E. The GREENWELLS program does not require submissions to align themselves to a technical category.

Technical approaches of interest to this program include, but are not limited to, combinations of the following research areas:

• Dynamic Reactor Design. There has been recent interest in the development of reactors that are able to rapidly ramp to follow the intermittent availability of renewable energy.

Process-intensified reactor systems that are of interest to ARPA-E in this program include:

o Novel reactor designs that enable fast and efficient heat transfer such as microchannel reactors;

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 7 -o Reactors that are capable of rapid heating through electrically driven processes, such as induction heating via magnetic nanoparticles or resistively heated reactors with directly integrated catalysts;

o Reactors that utilize non-thermal approaches to drive chemical transformations, such as:

▪ Plasma-driven reactions with or without catalysts

▪ Photocatalytic or plasmonic methods

▪ Electrocatalytic methods o Biological reactor systems that can operate with intermittent energy availability;

o Methods for handling dynamic streams in separations and recycling; and o Controls for managing a dynamic system.

• Novel Catalyst Development and Optimization. Current catalyst approaches to CO2 reduction are generally optimized for steady-state operation of commercialized processes such as Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis and Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS). A focus on developing and optimizing catalysts for operation and stability under dynamic conditions will be critical. Areas for catalyst development may include:

o Novel reaction pathways o Product distribution optimization o Stability and durability optimization under dynamic conditions o High-throughput screening

• Manufacturing of Modular Reaction Systems. The small scale of typical renewable installations (compared to industrial-scale refining and chemical plants) coupled with the distributed nature of such resources means that many small RtL plants will be needed at numerous locations. Design for mass production and modularity (minimizing installation costs), even at the expense of efficiency, may lead to a lower overall cost.

• Transient Modelling and Process Optimization. Understanding how dynamic streams impact overall performance through the creation of digital twins or other simulations may speed up development timelines. The optimization of equipment sizing will also be needed to minimize cost.

ARPA-E anticipates that many submissions will comprise more than one of these areas. For example, Applicants may propose co-optimization of catalysts and reactors or Applicants may use known catalysts and reactor types and emphasize manufacturability.

E. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS

The targets that systems must meet are described in Table 1. Applicants must include a table of metrics (included in submission template) with their expected performance in their submission as well as information supporting how each target is achievable.

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 8 -

Table 1. Program Metrics.

ID Metric Name Target Description and Rationale

M1 Electricity-to- Liquid Efficiency

>50% This metric includes the overall system efficiency: renewable electricity to liquid lower heating value (LHV). Where possible, include energy efficiencies for subsystems (e.g., if going through H2, include H2-to-liquid efficiency). Electricity used for carbon capture is excluded from this metric.

M2 Multi-pass Carbon Yield for Liquids

>70% High carbon yield is required to achieve attractive economics particularly if expensive CO2 is used, as may be the case for DAC-derived CO2. A process flow diagram (PFD) and material balance are required supporting information for this metric. The full system, including separations and recycling, necessary to achieve this target must be included in the TEA.

M3 Steady State Yield Loss After Dynamic Operation

<2% Systems must run following the 72 hours (h) electricity availability profile from renewable sources in Figure 2 or a U.S. renewable profile approved by ARPA-E. Steady-state operation periods before and after dynamic operation will be used to assess yield loss on a megajoule (MJ) Liquid LHV basis.

M4 Dormancy 3 days After 3 days of no electricity, plant can restart and achieve M1 efficiency and M2 yield within an hour. Any storage necessary to achieve this target must be included in the TEA.

In addition to describing how the systems can meet the targets in Table 1, ARPA-E is also requiring Applicants to answer the questions in Table 2. For these questions, no specific target is required, but the answers are intended to provide sufficient granular technical information to make informed selection decisions.

ARPA-E prefers that these questions are answered in a table. However, if some questions require longer answers than are easily included in a table, they may be answered in the body of the submission with the appropriate ID cited to indicate the answer.

Table 2. Required Short Answer Questions.

ID Question

Q1 How does your technology work and how does it compare to alternative established and emerging technologies?

Q2 What is (are) your core innovation(s)?

Q3 What is your expected minimum selling price for liquids? ($/MJ Liquid LHV)

Q4 What is your product slate?

Q5 Describe your current testing to date.

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 9 -

Q6 What is the water balance of the system?

Q7 What ramp rate is achievable for the system? (% nameplate capacity/h)

Q8 What is the lowest stable state of the system? (% nameplate capacity)

Q9 What are the operating conditions in the Q8 reference state (e.g., product slate, power efficiency, C atom efficiency)?

Q10 How long does it take to return to 100% capacity from the Q8 reference state?

Q11* What is your approach to flexible operation?

Q12 What is the range of reactor conditions expected (e.g., temperature, pressure, space velocity)?

Q13 If applicable, describe what is currently known about the catalyst and its performance.

Q14 If applicable, at what scale has the catalyst been produced?

Q15 How is your reactor design suited for mass production?

*Answers should describe the overall system optimization strategy. For example, teams may choose to ramp instantaneously and operate either “on” or “off” or teams may minimize ramp rate using a H 2 storage buffer.

The required deliverables at the end of the Period of Performance of this program are shown in Table 3. ARPA-E expects that work plans will include regular (at a minimum annual) milestones on progress toward each of these deliverables. A work plan is not required at the Concept Paper stage of the application process.

Table 3. Required Final Deliverables.

ID Description

D1 30 MJ Liquid LHV per day (d) production delivered with intermittent energy profile achieving the targets of Table 1

D2* TEA for a total system at 100-megawatt electricity capacity facility (MWe) scale

D3 Carbon Intensity (CI) for liquid produced at 100 MWe scale, measured in gram CO2 equivalents per megajoule (gCO2e/MJ)

D4 Description of supply chain to manufacture system

*TEA should be developed with scenarios assuming no government incentives. However, scenarios including government incentives may be included if appropriate for the business case.

In the Concept Paper, one additional page is permitted for each of (1) a Process Flow Diagram

(PFD) and (2) material balance (see Section IV.C). Ensure that text is legible in the diagram, including consistent labeling of streams and units between the documents. ARPA-E understands that simplification may be required for the PFD to fit on one page. In the Full Application, a PFD, heat and material balance, preliminary TEA, and T2M strategy discussion will be required.

Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line); see FOA Sec. VII.A.

Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with FOA name and number in subject line).

- 10 -

F. DETAILED TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

This section provides background and context of RtL generally and ARPA-E’s interest in RtL systems specifically, as well as technical context relevant for potential Applicants to the GREENWELLS program.

1. GENERAL BACKGROUND ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INTERCONNECTION

To meet decarbonization goals, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a need for deployment of about 48,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar and wind renewable energy by 2050. The current Energy Information Administration (EIA) global projection shows that actual global deployment will be about 17,000 TWh, or 31,000 TWh short of the IEA goal (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Projected generation of electricity from solar and wind power from IEA (2021) Net Zero by 2050 Scenario

(dashed green) and U.S. EIA Net Generation Renewables, Reference Case Scenario (solid blue).7,8

In the United States, the average time to deploy new projects from an interconnection request to plant operation has nearly doubled in the last decade from 2.1 to 3.7 years. From 2000-2016, 72% of requests for interconnection of new projects to the grid were withdrawn.3 Given these challenges and the extent of deployment needed for net zero by 2050, technologies that can spur the deployment of renewables are critical.

Fortunately, the need to deploy large amounts of solar and wind coincide with a decrease in the costs of these technologies. The National Renewable Energy Lab’s Annual Technology Baseline predicts 2050 levelized cost of electricity for utility-scale solar at $18.482/MWh and land-based wind at $18.768/MWh (both for the moderate technology development scenario).9 By…