Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002423
The FY21 Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock Technologies and Algae FOA (DE-FOA-0002423) is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity run through the DOE Golden Field Office that supports research, development, and validation work aimed at turning domestic biomass and waste resources into fuels, products, and power. The larger goal is to strengthen U.S. renewable energy and chemicals production by lowering costs and improving performance across the bioeconomy. In practical terms, BETO is looking for projects that help reduce the minimum selling price of drop-in biofuels, cut the cost of biopower, and enable higher-value products derived from biomass or waste.
The FOA is organized into two main topic areas that map to two BETO programs: Feedstock Technologies and Advanced Algal Systems. Topic Area 1 focuses on municipal solid waste (MSW) and the challenge of producing conversion-ready feedstocks from a highly variable and often poorly characterized material stream. The work BETO is encouraging here is foundational: better data and better measurement approaches so that downstream conversion technologies (for fuels, chemicals, or power) can operate more reliably and economically. Within this topic, Subtopic 1a targets measurement of how key MSW characteristics vary within and across different MSW streams, recognizing that regional differences, collection practices, and seasonal patterns can significantly change what is in the waste and how it behaves. Subtopic 1b emphasizes the development of novel methods for rapid or real-time measurement, which would help move MSW handling from slow, lab-based characterization toward faster operational decision-making, potentially improving sorting, preprocessing, and quality control for facilities that want consistent feedstock inputs.
Topic Area 2 is titled Algae Productivity Exceeding Expectations (APEX) and aims to push algal systems toward higher productivity and better economics, which is central to making algae-based fuels and products competitive. BETO is specifically interested in approaches that increase algae productivity under two carbon supply scenarios. Subtopic 2a focuses on improvements when using traditional carbon dioxide supplies (for example, delivered CO2 or CO2 sourced from industrial processes). Subtopic 2b addresses improvements using direct air capture (DAC), meaning capturing CO2 from ambient air and using it to support algae growth. This reflects a desire to explore pathways that could reduce dependence on concentrated CO2 sources and potentially broaden where algae cultivation could be deployed, while still maintaining or increasing productivity.
In terms of award structure, this opportunity uses cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, active technical collaboration, milestones, and federal engagement rather than a hands-off grant). The award ceiling listed is $3,500,000, and DOE anticipated making around 15 awards under this announcement. The catalog listing places it under CFDA 81.087 and the activity category of Energy, and it notes Opportunity Zone Benefits as part of the opportunity metadata.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. Applicants were required to submit a concept paper by 02/01/2021, with full applications due by 04/05/2021. Full details and the official FOA materials were made available through DOE EEREs EPIC portal at https://epicweb.ee.doe.gov, with DOE recommending Google Chrome for access to the system.Apply for DE FOA 0002423
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock Technologies and Algae FOA" 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 Dec 10, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 05, 2021. (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 $3,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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FAQs: FY21 BETO Feedstock Technologies and Algae FOA (DE-FOA-0002423)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY21 Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Feedstock Technologies and Algae Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), number DE-FOA-0002423, run through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Golden Field Office. It supports research, development, and validation work intended to turn domestic biomass and waste resources into fuels, products, and power.
What is BETO trying to achieve through this FOA?
The overall goal is to strengthen U.S. renewable energy and chemicals production by lowering costs and improving performance across the bioeconomy. Practically, BETO is looking for projects that can help reduce the minimum selling price of drop-in biofuels, cut the cost of biopower, and enable higher-value products derived from biomass or waste.
How is the FOA organized?
The FOA is organized into two main topic areas that align with two BETO programs: (1) Feedstock Technologies and (2) Advanced Algal Systems (APEX: Algae Productivity Exceeding Expectations).
What is Topic Area 1 focused on?
Topic Area 1 focuses on municipal solid waste (MSW) and the challenge of producing conversion-ready feedstocks from MSW, which is highly variable and often poorly characterized. BETO is encouraging foundational work that improves data and measurement approaches so downstream conversion technologies (for fuels, chemicals, or power) can operate more reliably and economically.
What is Subtopic 1a under Topic Area 1?
Subtopic 1a targets measurement of how key MSW characteristics vary within and across different MSW streams. It recognizes that regional differences, collection practices, and seasonal patterns can significantly change waste composition and behavior.
What is Subtopic 1b under Topic Area 1?
Subtopic 1b emphasizes developing novel methods for rapid or real-time measurement of MSW characteristics. The intent is to move MSW handling away from slow, lab-based characterization toward faster operational decision-making that could improve sorting, preprocessing, and quality control for facilities seeking more consistent feedstock inputs.
What is Topic Area 2 (APEX) focused on?
Topic Area 2 is titled Algae Productivity Exceeding Expectations (APEX). It aims to push algal systems toward higher productivity and better economics to improve competitiveness of algae-based fuels and products.
What carbon supply scenarios are emphasized in APEX?
BETO is interested in approaches that increase algae productivity under two carbon supply scenarios: (1) traditional carbon dioxide supplies (such as delivered CO2 or CO2 sourced from industrial processes) and (2) direct air capture (DAC), which captures CO2 from ambient air for algae growth.
What is Subtopic 2a under Topic Area 2?
Subtopic 2a focuses on improving algae productivity when using traditional CO2 supplies, including delivered CO2 or CO2 sourced from industrial processes.
What is Subtopic 2b under Topic Area 2?
Subtopic 2b focuses on improving algae productivity when using direct air capture (DAC) CO2, reflecting interest in pathways that could reduce reliance on concentrated CO2 sources and potentially broaden where algae cultivation can be deployed while maintaining or increasing productivity.
What type of award does DOE plan to use?
This opportunity uses cooperative agreements. That typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as active technical collaboration, milestones, and ongoing federal engagement rather than a hands-off grant structure.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling listed for this FOA is $3,500,000.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making around 15 awards under this announcement.
What is the CFDA number and activity category associated with this opportunity?
The catalog listing places this opportunity under CFDA 81.087, with an activity category of Energy.
Does the opportunity mention Opportunity Zone Benefits?
Yes. The opportunity metadata notes Opportunity Zone Benefits.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
What were the submission deadlines?
Applicants were required to submit a concept paper by 02/01/2021. Full applications were due by 04/05/2021.
Where were the official FOA materials and submission portal located?
Full details and official FOA materials were made available through DOE EERE's EPIC portal at https://epicweb.ee.doe.gov.
Is there a recommended browser for accessing the EPIC portal?
Yes. DOE recommended using Google Chrome to access the EPIC system.
Which DOE office administered this opportunity?
The FOA is a U.S. Department of Energy opportunity run through the DOE Golden Field Office.
What kinds of work does the FOA support?
The FOA supports research, development, and validation work. Across the two topic areas, that includes improving MSW measurement and characterization (including rapid/real-time methods) and increasing algae productivity under traditional CO2 and direct air capture CO2 scenarios.
How do the MSW-focused activities connect to downstream bioenergy or bioproduct production?
BETO highlights that better MSW data and better measurement approaches can make downstream conversion technologies (for fuels, chemicals, or power) operate more reliably and economically by improving understanding of feedstock variability and enabling more consistent, conversion-ready inputs.
Why does BETO emphasize MSW variability?
The FOA notes that MSW is highly variable and often poorly characterized, and that regional differences, collection practices, and seasonal patterns can significantly change what is in the waste stream and how it behaves. This variability can affect how reliably and economically MSW can be converted into fuels, products, or power.
Why does BETO include direct air capture (DAC) in the algae topic area?
The FOA reflects interest in algae productivity improvements that could reduce dependence on concentrated CO2 sources. Using DAC (capturing CO2 from ambient air) could potentially broaden where algae cultivation can be deployed, while still maintaining or increasing productivity.
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