The US Department of Energy (DOE) will give $61.4 million for technologies that produce low-cost, low-carbon biofuels, the department announced in a statement Thursday.
Biofuels are derived from renewable resources and can power heavy-duty vehicles that are difficult to electrify with current technologies, including airplanes and ships, to help accelerate America’s path to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
According to the statement, topic areas for the 'Bioenergy Technologies Office Scale-Up and Conversion' funding opportunity include high-impact biotechnology research, development, and demonstration.
Commenting on the announcement, the Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, stated that biofuels are one of the country’s most promising paths to zero-carbon aviation and shipping.
'This funding is critical for decarbonizing the transportation sector—the largest source of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions -and delivering good-paying union jobs and clean air and water to American communities,' she said.
'Biofuels are produced by converting biomass—made up of recently-living organic materials like crop waste, food waste, and algae - and other waste resources into a liquid fuel, which can serve as a low-carbon equivalent to fossil-based fuels such as gasoline, jet, and diesel fuel,' the statement read.
The application process will include two phases, concept papers, which are due on April 30, 2021, and full applications due on June 21.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr