Brady PieperThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund large scale conversion projects that will convert carbon emissions into viable, economically valuable products.
The NOI, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, seeks to accelerate the development of carbon conversion technologies and advance the nation’s transition to a net-zero economy by 2050. Issued by the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), the NOI outlines potential funding opportunity to support pilot-scale projects that demonstrate advanced carbon conversion technologies capable of reducing significant carbon emissions to the atmosphere.
The proposed initiative would fund the cost-shared research and development (R&D) in innovative conversion technologies capable of achieving emissions mitigation through three pathways – biological, catalytic or mineralization.
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For biological R&D, the FECM will pursue applicants that focus on algae and non-photosynthetic technologies. These routes would conduct pilot tests of algae-based systems or optimized autotrophic microbial and enzymatic systems that integrate as a carbon-reducing source.
The NOI intends to support catalytic R&D subprojects that utilize pilot thermochemical and electrocatalytic carbon conversion integration processes. Thermochemical R&D would use innovative methods to generate products from carbon and test catalyst/reactor performance regarding efficiency, stability and long-term operation. Electrocatalytic technologies would convert carbon into products, evaluating them with respect to durability, performance and selectivity.
The final pathway, mineralization R&D, will encompass three focus areas that utilize synthetic aggregates, supplementary cementitious materials and point source and process integration to characterize end uses and test performance.
Additionally, FECM intends to fund applicants that test and characterize products prior to commercialization.
FECM will also prioritize projects that align with the broader goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while fostering job creation and economic resilience. The agency seeks to ensure that the projects not only reduce environmental impacts associated with atmospheric emissions but also support an equitable, inclusive energy transition.
The NOI seeks to benefit several industry and community stakeholders, including manufacturers, technology providers and the public. When developing proposals, applicants must consider commercial viability and public access to cheaper more environmentally friendly products.
While this announcement does not include an invitation for proposals, the DOE anticipates releasing the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this climate change initiative in 2025. Additional information and resources for potential applicants, including upcoming opportunities, are available on the FECM website.
Prior to applying to this upcoming NOFO, applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and are required to be registered with SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
These technologies, in combination with federal investments in clean energy resource generation, emphasize the DOE’s commitment to developing innovative clean emissions technologies and sparking comprehensive climate change action nationwide.
Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay
