Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001232
Apply for DE FOA 0001232
- The DOE-GFO in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number DE-FOA-0001232: Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower (PD2B3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 06, 2016 and posted on May 06, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 22, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001232, titled Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower (PD2B3), is a Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) funding opportunity issued through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It supports domestic project development for integrated biorefinery (IBR) facilities that can manufacture advanced or cellulosic biofuels (as referenced under EISA 2007), along with certain related outputs such as bioproducts, refinery-compatible intermediates, and biopower. The core purpose is to push bio-based conversion technologies past the lab and early pilot stage by funding real scale-up and validation, which DOE views as necessary to de-risk future pioneer and full commercial plants. The program also ties back to DOE's longer-running biorefinery efforts (dating to 2002) aimed at reducing dependence on imported oil and helping build a stronger domestic bio-industry.
The FOA is structured around a two-phase project model that mirrors how real facilities are brought online. Phase 1 focuses on design and project development, meaning applicants are expected to produce credible, execution-ready plans for an IBR at pilot or demonstration scale. After Phase 1 concludes, DOE conducts a formal down-select review before allowing any projects to proceed to Phase 2. Phase 2 covers construction and operation of the facility, meaning actual build-out and running the plant to generate operating data, validate performance, and demonstrate integrated end-to-end functionality. Importantly, Phase 2 funding is not automatic; DOE makes the decision at the end of Phase 1 based on Phase 1 performance and readiness, as well as broader considerations like portfolio balance, availability of funds, and other program factors. Only projects selected in that down-select can receive additional funding and proceed into construction and operations.
Technically, applications must propose a complete, integrated manufacturing pathway rather than a single unit operation. DOE expects proposals to cover the full process from feedstock handling all the way through distribution of the final product(s), whether those are fuels, products, or power. For biopower projects specifically, the FOA requires applicants to discuss the costs associated with combined heat and power (CHP) or electricity generation as part of the full application, reflecting DOE's emphasis on realistic techno-economic performance and deployable system designs rather than conceptual power-only claims.
The funding is organized into three topic areas, each defined by feedstock type, production focus, and minimum throughput requirements that distinguish pilot from demonstration scale. Topic Area 1 targets pilot-scale production of biofuels using high-impact cellulosic, algal, or biogas feedstocks. For this topic, the facility must be sized for at least 1 dry metric ton (DMT) of feedstock per day (or an equivalent throughput if the feedstock is algae or biogas). In Topic Area 1, the primary output must be biofuel; bioproducts and biopower are allowed only as co-products, meaning they can improve the overall economics or utilization of the biomass but cannot be the primary focus of the facility.
Topic Area 2 is similar in feedstock and primary product focus but is aimed at a larger, demonstration-scale facility. It targets demonstration-scale production of biofuels from high-impact cellulosic, algal, or biogas feedstocks, with a minimum feedstock throughput of 50 DMT per day (or equivalent throughput for algal biomass or biogas). As in Topic Area 1, bioproducts and biopower can be included only as co-products, reinforcing that the main goal in these two areas is to validate fuel-focused conversion pathways at scales that meaningfully reduce risk for commercial deployment.
Topic Area 3 broadens the eligible feedstocks and outputs by focusing on biosolids and other allowable wet waste feedstock streams. Under this topic, projects may produce either biopower or biofuels as the main output, and bioproducts are also permitted as co-products. The minimum throughput for Topic Area 3 is 1 DMT per day. This topic recognizes that wet wastes and biosolids are materially different from dry lignocellulosic feedstocks in handling and conversion, and it allows projects that center power generation as a primary pathway (not merely a co-product), provided the application still treats the effort as an integrated end-to-end system.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial DOE involvement during project execution (for example, through negotiated milestones, reporting, and federal project management engagement). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of entity types subject to any clarifications in the FOA text itself. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.087 and is managed under DOE-GFO. The posted award ceiling is $15,000,000. The FOA was posted May 6, 2016, with an application closing date of July 22, 2016. Applications were required to be submitted through EERE Exchange, DOE's online portal, and the full FOA materials and instructions were made available on the EERE Exchange website.
FAQs: DOE FOA DE-FOA-0001232 (PD2B3)
What is FOA DE-FOA-0001232 (PD2B3)?
DE-FOA-0001232, titled "Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower (PD2B3)," is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) funding opportunity issued through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It supports domestic project development for integrated biorefinery (IBR) facilities producing advanced or cellulosic biofuels, with certain related outputs allowed.
Which DOE offices are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is from DOE BETO within EERE. It is managed under DOE-GFO.
What is the main purpose of the PD2B3 program?
The program is intended to move bio-based conversion technologies beyond lab and early pilot stages by funding scale-up and validation at pilot and demonstration scale. DOE frames this as a way to de-risk future pioneer and full commercial plants by generating real operating data and validating integrated performance.
What kinds of facilities does the FOA support?
The FOA supports integrated biorefinery (IBR) facilities at pilot or demonstration scale, designed to manufacture advanced or cellulosic biofuels (as referenced under EISA 2007). Depending on topic area and project design, certain bioproducts, refinery-compatible intermediates, and biopower may be included.
Does the FOA support projects outside the United States?
No. The FOA supports domestic project development for IBR facilities.
What is meant by an "integrated manufacturing pathway" in this FOA?
Applicants must propose a complete, integrated pathway rather than a single unit operation. DOE expects coverage of the full process from feedstock handling through distribution of the final product(s), whether fuels, products, or power.
How is the project structured (Phase 1 vs Phase 2)?
The FOA uses a two-phase model. Phase 1 focuses on design and project development, with the expectation that applicants produce credible, execution-ready plans for a pilot- or demonstration-scale IBR. Phase 2 covers construction and operation of the facility to generate operating data, validate performance, and demonstrate integrated end-to-end functionality.
Is Phase 2 funding guaranteed if a project is selected for Phase 1?
No. Phase 2 funding is not automatic. After Phase 1, DOE conducts a formal down-select review to determine which projects may proceed into Phase 2.
What factors affect DOE's Phase 1 down-select decision?
DOE makes the Phase 2 decision based on Phase 1 performance and readiness, and also considers factors such as portfolio balance, availability of funds, and other program considerations.
What are the topic areas under this FOA?
The FOA is organized into three topic areas defined by feedstock type, production focus, and minimum throughput requirements distinguishing pilot from demonstration scale.
What is Topic Area 1?
Topic Area 1 targets pilot-scale production of biofuels using high-impact cellulosic, algal, or biogas feedstocks. The facility must be sized for at least 1 dry metric ton (DMT) of feedstock per day (or equivalent throughput if the feedstock is algae or biogas). Biofuel must be the primary output; bioproducts and biopower are allowed only as co-products.
What is Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 targets demonstration-scale production of biofuels from high-impact cellulosic, algal, or biogas feedstocks. The facility must have a minimum throughput of 50 DMT per day (or equivalent throughput for algal biomass or biogas). Biofuel must be the primary output; bioproducts and biopower are allowed only as co-products.
What is Topic Area 3?
Topic Area 3 focuses on biosolids and other allowable wet waste feedstock streams. Projects may produce either biopower or biofuels as the main output, and bioproducts are permitted as co-products. The minimum throughput is 1 DMT per day.
How do throughput requirements differ between pilot and demonstration scale in this FOA?
For Topic Area 1 (pilot-scale), the minimum is 1 DMT/day (or equivalent for algae or biogas). For Topic Area 2 (demonstration-scale), the minimum is 50 DMT/day (or equivalent for algal biomass or biogas). Topic Area 3 requires at least 1 DMT/day.
When are bioproducts allowed, and can they be the main output?
Bioproducts are allowed as co-products in all topic areas described, but in Topic Area 1 and Topic Area 2 they cannot be the primary focus because the primary output must be biofuel. In Topic Area 3, bioproducts are still described as co-products, while the main output may be biopower or biofuels.
When is biopower allowed, and can it be the main output?
In Topic Area 1 and Topic Area 2, biopower is allowed only as a co-product (biofuel must be primary). In Topic Area 3, biopower may be the primary output (or biofuels may be the primary output), with bioproducts permitted as co-products.
Are refinery-compatible intermediates mentioned as eligible outputs?
Yes. Along with advanced or cellulosic biofuels, the FOA notes certain related outputs such as bioproducts, refinery-compatible intermediates, and biopower as allowable depending on the topic area and role (primary output vs co-product).
Are there special application expectations for biopower projects?
Yes. For biopower projects, the FOA requires applicants to discuss the costs associated with combined heat and power (CHP) or electricity generation as part of the full application.
What kind of award instrument does DOE use for this FOA?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial DOE involvement during project execution (for example, negotiated milestones, reporting, and federal project management engagement).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any clarifications contained in the FOA itself.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is associated with CFDA 81.087.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $15,000,000.
When was the FOA posted, and when did applications close?
The FOA was posted on May 6, 2016. The application closing date was July 22, 2016.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through EERE Exchange, DOE's online portal. Full FOA materials and instructions were made available on the EERE Exchange website.
Why does DOE emphasize pilot and demonstration scale in this program?
DOE views real scale-up and validation as necessary to de-risk future pioneer and full commercial plants. The intent is to produce operating data and demonstrate integrated, end-to-end performance that goes beyond laboratory or small pilot validation.
How does this FOA relate to DOE's broader biorefinery efforts?
The FOA ties back to DOE biorefinery efforts dating to 2002 aimed at reducing dependence on imported oil and supporting the growth of a stronger domestic bio-industry.
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