RECOVER CP+FA NOFO - Mod 1.pdf

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

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

AR-311-10.24

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY – ENERGY (ARPA-E)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

REALIZE ENERGY-RICH COMPOUND OPPORTUNITIES

VALORIZING EXTRACTION FROM REFUSE WATERS (RECOVER)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. DE-FOA-0003510 Assistance Listing Number 81.135

Mod. No. Date Description of Modifications*

01 12/9/24 • Clarified the selectivity definition in Section I.E Technical Performance Metrics.

*All modifications to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are highlighted in yellow in the body of the NOFO.

NOFOs are posted on ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/), Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/), and FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/). Any modifications to the NOFO are also posted to these websites. You can receive an e-mail when a modification is posted by registering with FedConnect as an interested party for this NOFO. It is recommended that you register as soon as possible after release of the NOFO to ensure that you receive timely notice of any modifications or other announcements.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 2 -

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BASIC INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................... - 5 -

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... - 7 -

A. AGENCY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... - 7 - B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................................ - 9 -

1. BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION ................................................................................................................... - 9 -

2. CURRENT TECHNOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. - 14 -

3. TECHNICAL NEEDS ..................................................................................................................................... - 17 -

C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................ - 20 - D. TECHNICAL CATEGORIES OF INTEREST ............................................................................................................. - 21 -

1. TECHNICAL CATEGORIES ............................................................................................................................. - 21 -

2. PROGRAM TECHNICAL SCOPE ...................................................................................................................... - 23 -

E. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS .................................................................................................................. - 23 - F. TECHNOLOGY-TO-MARKET ............................................................................................................................... - 26 - G. STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................... - 27 - H. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS .............................................................................................................................. - 28 -

1. ALLOWABLE COSTS .................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

2. PRE-AWARD COSTS ................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

3. PATENT COSTS .......................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

4. CONSTRUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

5. FOREIGN TRAVEL ....................................................................................................................................... - 29 -

6. PERFORMANCE OF WORK IN THE UNITED STATES............................................................................................ - 29 -

7. PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT .................................................................................................................. - 29 -

8. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND OUTREACH ...................................................................................................... - 29 -

9. LOBBYING ................................................................................................................................................ - 30 -

10. CONFERENCE SPENDING ............................................................................................................................. - 30 -

11. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS....................................................................................... - 30 -

12. BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS .............................................................. - 31 -

13. REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL PERSONNEL .................................................................................................... - 32 -

14. PARTICIPANTS, COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS, AND CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT ................................... - 32 -

II. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................... - 33 -

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ....................................................................................................................................... - 33 -

1. INDIVIDUALS ............................................................................................................................................. - 33 -

2. DOMESTIC ENTITIES ................................................................................................................................... - 33 -

3. CONSORTIA .............................................................................................................................................. - 34 -

4. FOREIGN NATIONAL PARTICIPATION FROM COUNTRIES OF CONCERN ................................................................. - 34 -

5. FOREIGN PARTICIPATION CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................... - 35 -

B. COMPLIANCE AND RESPONSIVENESS ................................................................................................................... - 35 - C. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS ..................................................................................................... - 35 - D. COST SHARING ........................................................................................................................................... - 36 -

1. BASE COST SHARE REQUIREMENT ................................................................................................................ - 36 -

2. INCREASED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT ........................................................................................................ - 36 -

3. REDUCED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT .......................................................................................................... - 36 -

4. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................................................... - 37 -https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 3 -

5. COST SHARE ALLOCATION ........................................................................................................................... - 37 -

6. COST SHARE TYPES AND ALLOWABILITY ........................................................................................................ - 38 -

7. COST SHARE CONTRIBUTIONS BY FFRDCS AND GOGOS .................................................................................. - 39 -

8. COST SHARE VERIFICATION ......................................................................................................................... - 39 -

III. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT .............................................................................................. - 40 -

A. GENERAL APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................ - 40 -

1. MARKING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................... - 40 -

2. EXPORT CONTROL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. - 40 -

B. CONCEPT PAPERS ............................................................................................................................................ - 41 -

1. FIRST COMPONENT: CONCEPT PAPER............................................................................................................ - 41 -

2. SECOND COMPONENT: SUMMARY SLIDE ....................................................................................................... - 41 -

C. FULL APPLICATIONS .................................................................................................................................... - 42 -

1. FIRST COMPONENT: TECHNICAL VOLUME ...................................................................................................... - 42 -

2. SECOND COMPONENT: SF-424 ................................................................................................................... - 42 -

3. THIRD COMPONENT: BUDGET JUSTIFICATION WORKBOOK/SF-424A ................................................................ - 43 -

4. FOURTH COMPONENT: SUMMARY FOR PUBLIC RELEASE .................................................................................. - 44 -

5. FIFTH COMPONENT: SUMMARY SLIDE ........................................................................................................... - 44 -

6. SIXTH COMPONENT: BUSINESS ASSURANCES & DISCLOSURES FORM .................................................................. - 44 -

D. REPLIES TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................ - 44 -

IV. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES ................................................................................... - 46 -

A. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SAM REGISTRATION ........................................................................................... - 46 - B. USE OF ARPA-E EXCHANGE .......................................................................................................................... - 47 - C. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES ......................................................................................... - 48 - D. COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................................................................. - 48 - E. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW ......................................................................................................................... - 49 -

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ..................................................................................................... - 50 -

A. RESPONSIVENESS ............................................................................................................................................ - 50 -

1. TECHNICAL RESPONSIVENESS REVIEW ........................................................................................................... - 50 -

2. SUBMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT OF INTEREST ................................................................................................. - 51 -

B. REVIEW CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................................ - 51 -

1. CRITERIA FOR CONCEPT PAPERS ................................................................................................................... - 51 -

2. CRITERIA FOR FULL APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................ - 52 -

3. CRITERIA FOR REPLIES TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ............................................................................................ - 53 -

C. PROGRAM POLICY FACTORS ......................................................................................................................... - 53 - D. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS ................................................................................................................. - 54 -

1. CONCEPT PAPERS ...................................................................................................................................... - 54 -

2. FULL APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................................... - 54 -

3. REPLY TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................. - 55 -

4. PRE-SELECTION CLARIFICATIONS AND “DOWN-SELECT” PROCESS ...................................................................... - 55 -

5. SELECTION FOR AWARD NEGOTIATIONS ........................................................................................................ - 55 -

E. ARPA-E REVIEWERS ....................................................................................................................................... - 56 - F. ARPA-E SUPPORT CONTRACTORS ..................................................................................................................... - 56 - G. RISK REVIEW.............................................................................................................................................. - 56 -https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 4 -

VI. AWARD NOTICES AND AWARD TYPES ................................................................................................. - 58 -

A. AWARD NOTICES ............................................................................................................................................ - 58 -

1. REJECTED SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................................................................. - 58 -

2. CONCEPT PAPER NOTIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................. - 58 -

3. FULL APPLICATION NOTIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................... - 58 -

B. PRE-AWARD COSTS ......................................................................................................................................... - 59 - C. RENEWAL AWARDS ..................................................................................................................................... - 60 - D. FUNDING AGREEMENT TYPES ....................................................................................................................... - 60 -

1. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS........................................................................................................................ - 60 -

2. FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH FFRDCS/DOE LABS, GOGOS, AND FEDERAL INSTRUMENTALITIES .......................... - 60 -

3. OTHER TRANSACTIONS AUTHORITY .............................................................................................................. - 61 -

VII. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................... - 62 -

A. NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................... - 62 -

1. NATIONAL POLICY ASSURANCES ................................................................................................................... - 62 -

2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE ................................................................................................... - 62 -

B. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................... - 63 -

1. COST SHARE PAYMENTS ............................................................................................................................. - 63 -

2. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DATA MANAGEMENT PLANS ............................................................................. - 63 -

3. U.S. COMPETITIVENESS .............................................................................................................................. - 64 -

4. NONDISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS REPRESENTATIONS .......................................................... - 65 -

5. INTERIM CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE .................................................................. - 66 -

6. COMPLIANCE AUDIT REQUIREMENT .............................................................................................................. - 66 -

7. RESEARCH SECURITY TRAINING REQUIREMENT ............................................................................................... - 66 -

C. REPORTING................................................................................................................................................ - 67 -

1. FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE ....................................................................................................................... - 67 -

2. COMMERCIALIZATION PLAN AND SOFTWARE REPORTING ................................................................................. - 67 -

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................... - 68 -

A. TITLE TO SUBJECT INVENTIONS .......................................................................................................................... - 68 - B. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN SUBJECT INVENTIONS.................................................................................................... - 68 -

1. GOVERNMENT USE LICENSE ........................................................................................................................ - 69 -

2. MARCH-IN RIGHTS .................................................................................................................................... - 69 -

C. RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA ......................................................................................................................... - 69 - D. PROTECTED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ...................................................................................... - 70 - E. TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION PLAN ....................................................................................................................... - 70 - F. MATERIAL SUPPLY PLAN .................................................................................................................................. - 71 -

IX. GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................................... - 72 -

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 5 -

BASIC INFORMATION

KEY DATES:

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Issue Date: November 21, 2024 Deadline for Concept Paper Questions to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov: 5 PM ET, December 20, 2024 Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 9:30 AM ET, December 31, 2024 Anticipated Timeframe for Encourage/Discourage Notifications: 5 PM ET, February 2025 Deadline for Full Application Questions to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov: 5 PM ET, TBD Submission Deadline for Full Applications: 9:30 AM ET, TBD Expected Reviewer Comment Release Date: 5 PM ET, TBD Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments: 5 PM ET, TBD Anticipated Timeframe for Selection Notifications: June 2025 Anticipated Timeframe for Award: September 2025 Anticipated Period of Performance: September 2025 – September

BASIC INFORMATION:

Total Amount to Be Awarded

Approximately $36 million, subject to the availability of appropriated funds to be shared between NOFOs DE-FOA-0003510 and DE-FOA-0003511.

Anticipated Number and Value of Awards

ARPA-E anticipates making approximately 10-16 awards between NOFOs DE-FOA- 0003510 and DE-FOA-0003511. ARPA-E may issue one, multiple, or no awards under this NOFO. The Federal share of awards under this NOFO may vary between $1.5 million and $4 million.

Agency Contact Information

• Questions and answers (Q&As) about ARPA-E and this specific NOFO:

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

• Send other questions about the NOFO to: ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov.

• Send questions about use of ARPA-E eXCHANGE to:

ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov.

Upon the issuance of a NOFO, only the Grants Officer via ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov may communicate with Applicants. This “quiet period” remains in effect until ARPA-E’s public announcement of project selections. Emails sent to other email addresses will be disregarded.

The Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters (RECOVER) program seeks to develop technologies to concentrate and recover high value energy materials from aqueous waste streams. Priority high value energy materials for the program are ammonia and metals considered critical to energy and diversifying the U.S. supply chain. Ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process with a high energy and greenhouse gas penalty, and much of this ammonia ends up in municipal and animal waste streams where it is destroyed without recovery. Critical metals are obtained from ore mining and processing and are almost entirely sourced from overseas; their use in infrastructure and military technologies makes their supply a matter of national concern. Produced water and mining waste streams have sufficient amounts of key critical metals to displace all or most of U.S. imports.

The RECOVER program will enable: i) the replacement of 50% of conventional ammonia supplies, and all or partial critical metals imports, ii) the valorization of multiple high value energy materials from an https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs 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 http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 6 -aqueous waste stream, iii) the reduction of energy demands and CO2-equivalent (CO2eq) emissions for ammonia and critical metals procurement, and iv) the recovery of market-valuable products at competitive prices. Recovery of market-valuable products will create new revenue sources for aqueous waste stream processors, thereby reducing net costs and contributing to improved water treatment outcomes.

Relevant waste stream targets are municipal or animal feedlot waste streams, produced water waste streams, and mining waste streams. New technology development efforts under the RECOVER program include three technical categories: 1) new materials, 2) process development and derisking, and 3) process integration. Capable technologies will be energy efficient, highly selective, and durable over extended use. Processes will involve limited sequential steps, be scalable, and be adaptable to existing or new wastewater facilities.

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 7 -

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 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16538. The NOFO and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this NOFO 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.

ARPA-E will provide support at the highest funding level only for submissions with significant https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov http://arpa-e.energy.gov/

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 8 -technology risk, aggressive timetables, and careful management and mitigation of the associated risks.

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 (R&D). 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.”0F

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”)1 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).

ARPA-E encourages submissions stemming from ideas that still require proof-of-concept R&D efforts as well as those for which some proof-of-concept demonstration already exists.

Submissions can propose a project with the end deliverable being an extremely creative, but partial solution.

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

pg. 3.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@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 NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 9 -

B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters (RECOVER) program seeks to develop technologies to concentrate and recover high value energy materials (ammonia and critical metals) from aqueous waste streams. The RECOVER program will enable the U.S. to fully replace imports of these high value energy materials with domestic sources, thereby enhancing energy security. The RECOVER program will also enable a 30% reduction in energy demand and a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as compared to conventional production of high value energy materials. This will be achieved by eliminating energy demand for creating or mining high value energy materials, electrifying new recovery technologies, and preventing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from wasted ammonia.

1. BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION

The RECOVER program defines the aqueous waste stream as any unwanted aqueous byproduct of anthropogenic activities, and includes:

• Municipal wastewater;

• Animal feedlot retention basins/waste ponds;

• Oil and gas flowback, and produced water; and

• Mining drainage, discharge, and tailing ponds.

High value energy materials under consideration include:

• Ammonia, defined as both ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) unless otherwise specified;

• Phosphorus (P) when captured in addition to ammonia;

• 13 metals considered critical or near critical to energy and diversifying the U.S. metals supply chain (see Figure 1); and

• All additional rare earth elements (REEs) (see Figure 1).1F

Other high value energy materials can be targeted for recovery if their importance to ARPA-E’s statutory goals as described in Section I.A and ability to meet RECOVER program objectives. By improving recovery technologies, ARPA-E aims to support the creation of new revenue sources for aqueous waste stream processors, thereby reducing net costs for water treatment.

2 U.S. DOE, “Notice of Final Determination on 2023 DOE Critical Materials Lists” (Federal Register, 2023), 88, 51792–51798. energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/doe-critical-material-assessment_07312023.pdf .

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/doe-critical-material-assessment_07312023.pdf

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 10 -

Figure 1. DOE list of the most important critical materials with respect to energy and supply chain risk, and a list of high value energy materials preferred for this NOFO.2F

Ammonia

Total domestic consumption of anhydrous ammonia is approximately 15 million tonnes (Mt), with greater than 2 Mt of this amount imported at a cost of $1.35 billion in 2023.3F

4, 4F

5 Food production agriculture comprises 88% of this demand.5F

6 Total worldwide ammonia production is predicted to increase 40% from 2020 to 2050. This growth is mainly driven by economic and population growth in developing countries.6F

The Haber-Bosch (HB) process is the dominant reaction to manufacture ammonia from nitrogen and natural gas. Ammonia production accounts for approximately 2% of global energy consumption and 1.3% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; domestic energy and CO2 impacts are

3 Figure adapted from U.S. DOE, “Notice of Final Determination on 2023 DOE Critical Materials Lists” (Federal Register, 2023), 88, 51792–51798. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/doe-critical-material-assessment_07312023.pdf.

4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Anhydrous Ammonia Supply Chain – Full Profile,” EPA.gov, 2022, https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/water-treatment-chemical-supply-chain-profiles.

5 World Integrated Trade Solutions, “United States Anhydrous Ammonia Imports by Country in 2019,” 2024, https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/USA/year/2019/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/ 281410#.

6 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Commodity Statistics and Information,” usgs.gov., 2024, https://www.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-nitrogen.pdf.

7 International Energy Agency, “Ammonia Technology Roadmap,” iea.org, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/water-treatment-chemical-supply-chain-profiles https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/USA/year/2019/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/281410 https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/USA/year/2019/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/281410 https://www.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-nitrogen.pdf https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 11 -expected to be similar or greater because U.S. ammonia production facilities are older than the global mean.7F

8 Domestic ammonia production drives a $28 billion domestic fertilizer market.8F

More than 50% of the ammonia used each year in the U.S. is collected in municipal wastewaters and animal feedlot retention basins, where it is destroyed.9F

10, 10F

11, 11F

12 Replacement of destroyed ammonia via HB requires approximately 0.4 quads of energy per year (quads/yr) and results in annual GHG emissions of greater than 60 Mt of CO2eq.12F

13, 13F

14 Approximately one-third of these GHGs are from direct CO2 emissions due to energy consumption by HB, while the remainder is associated with N2O emissions during the destruction of ammonia and its reaction products in treatment facilities or the environment.14F

15, 15F

16, 16F

The nitrate (NO3–) produced and discharged from wastewater treatment plants and animal feedlot basins is a major environmental contaminant that results in eutrophication and hypoxia in surface waters and extensive groundwater contamination.17F

18, 18F

Critical Metals

The overwhelming majority of nonferrous critical metals are mined and processed outside the U.S. This is especially true for the targeted critical metals listed in Figure 1, as greater than 95% of iridium (Ir), cobalt (Co), magnesium (Mg), and REEs are mined and processed abroad.19F

20 The

8 International Energy Agency, “Ammonia Technology Roadmap,” iea.org, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap.

9 Mordor Intelligence, “United States Fertilizers Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecasts up to 2030,” https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-states-fertilizers-market.

10 U.S. EPA, “Sources and Solutions: Wastewater,” EPA.gov, 2023, https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-wastewater.

11 Metcalf & Eddy. “Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery,” New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014.

12 U.S. EPA, “Estimated Animal Agriculture Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Manure,” EPA.gov, 2023, https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/estimated-animal-agriculture-nitrogen-and-phosphorus-manure.

13 International Energy Agency, “Ammonia Technology Roadmap,” iea.org, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap.

14 U.S. EPA. “Draft of Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2022,” 2024, EPA 430-D-24-001.

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2022.

15 U.S. EPA. “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2021,” 2023, EPA-430-R-23-002.

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2021.

16 Ewelina Pluciennik-Koropczuk and Sylwia Myszograj, “Significance of Wastewater Treatment to Nitrous Oxide Emission,” Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 31, no. 4 (2021): 237–248. https://doi.org/10.2478/ceer- 2021-0059.

17 Patricia M. Gilbert, “From Hogs to HABs: Impacts of Industrial Farming in the US on Nitrogen and Phosphorus and Greenhouse Gas Pollution,” Biogeochemistry 150, (2020): 139–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-020- 00691-6.

18 Michal Preisner, Elena Neverova-Dziopak, and Zbigniew Kowalewski, “Analysis of Eutrophication Potential of Municipal Wastewater,” Water Science & Technology 81, no. 9 (2020): 1994–2003.

https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2020.254.

19 Karen R. Burrow, et al., “Nitrate in groundwater of the United States, 1991–2003,” Environmental Science & Technology 44, no. 13 (2010): 4988–4997. https://doi.org/10.1021/es100546y.

20 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Commodity Statistics and Information,” usgs.gov., 2024, https://www.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-nitrogen.pdf.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-states-fertilizers-market https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-wastewater https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-wastewater https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/estimated-animal-agriculture-nitrogen-and-phosphorus-manure https://www.iea.org/reports/ammonia-technology-roadmap https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2022 https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2021 https://doi.org/10.2478/ceer-2021-0059 https://doi.org/10.2478/ceer-2021-0059 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-020-00691-6 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-020-00691-6 https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2020.254 https://doi.org/10.1021/es100546y https://www.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-nitrogen.pdf

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 12 -lack of domestic mining and processing is often attributed to long permitting times and associated expenses for new facilities due to environmental and social concerns. For example, the average time to obtain a new mining permit is 18 years.20F

The critical metals listed in Figure 1 are key components in electronics and decarbonization technologies such as computers, electric vehicles, and wind turbines. The use of critical metals in the U.S. for consumer products, infrastructure, and military technologies makes metal procurement a matter of national concern. Demand for critical metals is growing with a projected four times volume increase by 2040 and as much as a six times increase under a “Net- Zero by 2050” scenario (Figure 2).21F

22 Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates that 384 new mines will be needed to meet domestic critical metal demand by 2035.22F

23 Given the long permitting times for mines, the U.S. is unlikely to meet demand by domestic production alone unless new sources and methods to recover critical metals are discovered.

Figure 2. Projected demand of critical materials by sector. Projections show a four times increase under a Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS) by 2040, or a six times increase under the net-zero by 2050 scenario.23F

21 Paul Manalo, “Average Lead Time Almost 18 Years for Mines Started in 2020–2023,: S&P Global, S&P Global Market Intelligence, April 10, 2024, https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/research/average-lead-time-almost-18-years-for-mines-started-in-2020-23.

22 International Energy Agency, “The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions,” iea.org., 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/mineral-requirements-for-clean-energy-transitions.

23Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, “More than 300 new mines required to meet battery demand by 2035”, Benchmark Source, 6th Sept. 2022. https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/more-than-300-new-mines-required-to-meet-battery-demand-by-2035.

24 Reproduced with permission from U.S. EPA. “Draft of Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:

1990–2022,” 2024, EPA 430-D-24-001. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2022.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/research/average-lead-time-almost-18-years-for-mines-started-in-2020-23 https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/research/average-lead-time-almost-18-years-for-mines-started-in-2020-23 https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/mineral-requirements-for-clean-energy-transitions https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/mineral-requirements-for-clean-energy-transitions https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/more-than-300-new-mines-required-to-meet-battery-demand-by-2035 https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/more-than-300-new-mines-required-to-meet-battery-demand-by-2035 https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2022 https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2022

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with

- 13 -

Large amounts of critical metals can be found in industrial and mining waste streams. Based on median values from the U.S. Geological Survey database, produced waters from conventional hydrocarbon, shale gas, and tight oil wells contain sufficient lithium (Li) to supply all present U.S. needs (i.e., approximately 3,000 tonnes in 2022).24F

25, 25F

26 Waste streams from 1,100 coal mining sites in Appalachia contain sufficient yttrium (Y) to meet 100% of U.S. demand, and enough praseodymium (Pr), cerium (Ce), and neodymium (Nd) to meet 50% of U.S. demand.26F

However, these metals are often at single digit or lower milligrams per liter (mg/L) levels. Thus, new methods are needed to competitively recover these critical metals.

The energy demand and CO2eq emissions for conventional mining and processing of critical metals vary widely and depend on ore quality, processing steps, transportation needs, and final purity based on estimates for 63 metals.27F

28 For the metals targeted in this NOFO (Figure 1), the energy demand and CO2eq emissions vary greatly by metal type, with the lowest values for Li (125 megajoule equivalents per kilogram (MJeq/kg) and 7.1 kilogram CO2eq per kilogram (kg CO2eq/kg)) and the highest for Pt (243,000 MJeq/kg and 12,500 kg CO2eq/kg). On an annual basis, the domestic demand for Li (3000 t/yr) versus Pt (42 t/yr) brings the yearly energy demand and CO2eq emissions amounts closer (i.e., Li at 3.6 × 10–4 quads/yr and 21,300 tCO2eq/yr versus Pt at 9.7x10–3 quads/yr and 525,000 tCO2eq/yr). In the same study, relative energy demands for ore mining, beneficiation, and acid leaching were calculated and compared to totals, where totals include all subsequent processing steps such as sequential precipitation and acid dissolution, solvent extractions, and electrowinning.28F

29 Relative energy demands for ore mining, beneficiation, and acid leaching range from a few percent for Li to approximately 12% for Y with relative CO2eq emissions closely matching these values.

Overlap between Ammonia and Critical Metals

The challenges of ammonia and critical metals recovery overlap. Both ammonia and critical metals are present as cations, so new cation-selective adsorbents and membranes developed for one may benefit the other. Both ammonia and critical metals are often present at low concentrations such that common pre-concentration steps may be used to facilitate recovery.

Technologies to recover either ammonia or critical metals are also subject to deactivation from common organic and inorganic foulants, so similar strategies to prevent or reverse fouling may

25 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Commodity Statistics and Information,” usgs.gov., 2024, https://www.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022-nitrogen.pdf.

26 Carleton R. Bern, Justin E. Birdwell, and Aaron M. Jubb, “Water–Rock Interaction and the Concentrations of Major, Trace, and Rare Earth Elements in Hydrocarbon-associated Produced Waters of the United States,” Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 23, no. 8 (2020): 1198–1219.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34308467/.

27 Christopher R. Vass, Aaron Noble, and Paul F. Ziemkiewicz, “The Occurrence and Concentration of Rare Earth Elements in Acid Mine Drainage and Treatment By-products: Part 1—Initial Survey of the Northern Appalachian Coal Basin,” Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration 36, (2019): 903–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-019-0097-z.

28 Phillip Nuss, and Matthew J. Eckelman, “Life Cycle Assessment of Metals: A Scientific Synthesis,” PLOS ONE 9, no 7 (2014): e101298. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101298.

29 Phillip Nuss, and Matthew J. Eckelman, “Life Cycle Assessment of Metals: A Scientific Synthesis,” PLOS ONE 9, no 7 (2014): e101298. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101298.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov…