Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE FOA 0001162, entitled Targeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001162, titled Targeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB), is a U.S. Department of Energy effort issued through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The opportunity focuses on pushing algal biofuels closer to commercial viability by tackling two long-standing bottlenecks: the high cost of producing algal biomass at scale and the relatively low yields of the specific fuel and bioproduct feedstocks that can be derived from algae. In practical terms, DOE is looking for projects that either make algal biomass worth more (by producing higher-value co-products alongside fuels) or make it cheaper (by improving productivity and yields in cultivation).

The FOA frames a clear economic target to guide the work: enabling a modeled minimum fuel selling price below $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) for algal biofuels, assuming mature technology performance. The strategy to reach that price point is twofold. First, projects can increase the overall value of algae by pairing fuels with valuable bioproducts, so the economics are not dependent on fuel alone. Second, projects can reduce the unit cost of biomass by increasing culture productivity and improving yields through better crop protection approaches and improved utilization of CO2, both of which are meant to raise output per unit area, time, and input cost.

TABB is organized into two topic areas with different project shapes and expectations. Topic Area 1 is aimed at consortia that combine upstream and downstream expertise to deliver fuels and bioproducts from algae that can compete with petroleum-based counterparts and have the potential for broad national market impact. These consortium projects are expected to span the algae-to-products pipeline rather than focusing on a single isolated step. That means integrating or tightly coordinating work across cultivation, harvesting, processing, and refining and/or bioproduct production, with an emphasis on developing and characterizing finished fuels and products rather than stopping at intermediate materials.

Topic Area 2 is designed for single investigators or small teams working on more targeted technology development. The emphasis here is on cultivation-side advances that raise algal biomass productivity and/or improve yield by using crop protection strategies (for example, approaches that prevent or control contamination, predation, or culture crashes) or by developing CO2 utilization technologies that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of carbon delivery and uptake. A key expectation is not just showing a technical improvement in a lab sense, but demonstrating that the productivity increase could plausibly translate into higher yields in a way that would meaningfully affect overall economics.

From an administrative standpoint, applications are submitted through EEREs eXCHANGE system, which enforces hard deadlines by disabling submission controls at the deadline time. The FOA lays out a specific process for applicants who run into technical problems. If issues occur before the deadline, applicants are directed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov, and the helpdesk or eXCHANGE system administrators (eXCHANGE@go.doe.gov) will work with the applicant to resolve the problem. If a technical problem causes a late submission, DOE indicates it will only consider accepting the late application when the problem was beyond the applicants control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk for assistance, and the application is submitted in eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the posted deadline. The helpdesk can also assist with finalizing the submission on behalf of the applicant with the applicants concurrence in those circumstances.

Key dates provided in the announcement include a posted date of September 22, 2014, a concept paper deadline of October 30, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, and a full application deadline of December 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, with the opportunity later archived on March 15, 2015. DOE also scheduled an informational webinar for Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern to cover standard questions about EERE and FOA procedures, with registration provided via a GoToMeeting link.

The funding instrument identified is a cooperative agreement under the Energy activity category, tied to CFDA number 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), and the FOA indicates that cost sharing is required. Eligibility is described as unrestricted in the sense that many entity types may apply, including individuals, domestic entities, foreign entities, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia, subject to the FOAs specific definitions and rules in its eligibility section. The issuing office is identified as the Golden Field Office. For content questions or trouble accessing the full announcement, the contact listed is Geoffrey I. Walker at TABBFOA@ee.doe.gov, and additional materials are referenced through the EERE eXCHANGE site.

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