The US Department of Energy‘s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has announced a $52 million investment to support six innovative university and industry projects. The funding seeks to promote the production of low-carbon energy crops vital for developing a clean energy bioeconomy. These projects create a renewable carbon supply chain, lowering emissions in transportation and industry while fostering growth in US agriculture.
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Strategic Research and Diverse Crop Focus
The initiative supports the DOE’s goal to advance renewable carbon technologies for greater bioenergy and bioproduct production. Spanning 18 states, the projects explore feedstocks such as algae, switchgrass, miscanthus, sorghum, carinata, camelina, pennycress, and shrub willow. Energy crops will be tested in diverse conditions, providing valuable data and research to enhance sustainable production techniques and methods.
Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy said, “DOE’s investment in biofuels and bioproducts is critical to the federal government’s efforts to support innovative energy research.”
He added, “Expanding our domestic supply chain of energy crops, like algae and switchgrass, will ensure that we can continue to develop cutting-edge technologies that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create high-quality jobs across the agricultural industry and increase our energy independence.”
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Supporting Sustainable Aviation Goals
The federal government supports the SAF Grand Challenge, targeting 35 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2050. The projects also align with DOE’s Clean Fuels and Products Shot, aiming for an 85% emissions reduction in fuel industries by 2035.
The six recipients will participate in the BETO-funded Regional Biomass Resource Hub Initiative (RBRH), managed by Idaho National Laboratory. This initiative will promote collaboration among universities, national labs, farmers, and policymakers. RBRH groups will standardize feedstock data, tackle regional challenges, and ensure projects align with community and industry needs.