DOE issues new RFI on renewable fuel scale-up, demonstration
Summary
Constructing and operating pilot- and demonstration-scale facilities is essential to de-risk technology and ensure the success of subsequent commercial scale projects. BETO recognizes the availability of financing for first-of-a-kind process systems can be a barrier to commercializing advanced biofuels. Input is sought from bioenergy companies that are planning to scale up and demonstrate SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable marine fuel technologies from the lower Technology Readiness Levels) to pilot and demonstration stage and eventual commercialization. Feedback is requested from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to the scale-up of renewable fuel production technologies. Specifically, the RFI has six categories in which DOE is interested in receiving information and input: •Biofuel Pathway Scale-Up Forecasts – plans by developers to scale SAF, marine, and renewable diesel production •Barriers to Scale-Up of SAF, Marine, and Renewable Diesel Technologies – input on technical, financial, legal, contractual, policy and other barriers •Leveraging First Generation Ethanol and Other Incumbent Industries – information on technological improvements that could enhance low-carbon fuel production •BETO Scale-Up of Biotechnologies Strategy – input on BETO’s scale-up strategy and other forms of financial assistance to support biofuel scale-up and commercialization •Leveraging National Laboratory PDU to Scale-Up Renewable Fuels – insight on how DOE National Laboratory capabilities can support biofuel scale-up and commercialization •Feedstock Production & Supply – information on sustainable corn farming practices and challenges in establishing robust biomass feedstock supply chains Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to Biofuels_FY22_RFI@ee.doe.gov no later than 5 p.m.