Funding to Support Technologies Converting Biomass and Waste Materials into Affordable, Low-Carbon Fuel
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has announced up to $15 million in federal funding. The funding will advance clean hydrogen production and make it a more available and affordable fuel. Clean hydrogen can be used for electricity generation, industrial decarbonization, and transportation.
Converting Waste Feedstocks into Clean Hydrogen
The funding opportunity will support research and development projects that convert feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas). These feedstocks include coal, biomass, petcoke, household waste, industrial wastes, and waste plastics. The projects will enable low-cost production of clean hydrogen. Using low-carbon fuels like clean hydrogen will help achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal. This goal is to have a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
“Increasing the use of low-carbon fuels like clean hydrogen in the industrial and power sectors will help meet our ambitious climate goals,” said Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. “We will advance technologies that use waste and other feedstocks to reduce the carbon footprint and costs. This is coupled with the capture and storage of carbon dioxide emissions to produce clean hydrogen.”
Diverse Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production Pathways
Diverse, domestic resources can produce hydrogen through low-carbon pathways. These include:
- Natural gas and coal, coupled with carbon capture and storage
- Splitting of water using nuclear electricity and renewable electricity sources (wind, solar, geothermal, hydro-electric power)
- Biomass through biological and gasification processes
Gasification of coal, biomass, plastics, common household garbage, and other wastes is expected to provide a low-cost, low-carbon route. This is coupled with carbon capture and storage to address greenhouse gas emissions to produce clean hydrogen.
Areas of Interest for Funding Opportunity
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits applications in two areas of interest:
- Researchers will develop and demonstrate entrained flow gasification technologies for alternative feedstocks. They will focus on feedstock preparation and slag handling.
- Researchers will develop and demonstrate fluidized bed gasification technologies for alternative feedstocks. They will emphasize feedstock preparation, tar mitigation for clean syngas production, and ash handling.
Addressing Societal Considerations and Impacts
Applicants must address the societal considerations and impacts of their proposed projects. They should emphasize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the research and development process. Applicants should also explain how projects will deliver equitable access to and distribution of benefits. These benefits are produced from successful technology innovations.
Supporting DOE’s Hydrogen Shot Initiative
Technology advanced under this FOA will support DOE’s Hydrogen Shot initiative. This initiative aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per 1 kilogram in one decade. The goal is to enable the commercial development of new, clean hydrogen pathways in the United States.
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