DE-FOA-0003274 - MACRO - Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity | DE FOA 0003274

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003274

DE-FOA-0003274, titled MACRO - Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity, is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity aimed at speeding up research, development, and validation of technologies that turn algae-based biomass into low-carbon fuels and products. It is positioned as part of the Biden Administration's broader push for a clean and equitable energy economy and the long-term national goal of reaching net-zero, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050. The solicitation is jointly funded by two DOE offices with complementary priorities: the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) within EERE, and the Carbon Conversion Program within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM). The overall theme is to use algae (including seaweeds and microalgae) as a scalable renewable feedstock, including opportunities that pair algae cultivation with the use of captured, concentrated CO2 from industrial sources.

From the BETO side, the emphasis is on conversion technologies that can transform domestic biomass and waste resources into affordable biofuels and bioproducts with meaningfully lower life-cycle emissions than petroleum-based counterparts. In this FOA, BETO is specifically focused on seaweeds (macroalgae) and blends of seaweeds, including co-processing with wet waste feedstocks such as waste microalgae. The intent is to address technical barriers in algae conversion pathways that could unlock larger clean energy investments, create jobs, strengthen rural and coastal economies, and support innovation in renewable fuels and chemicals. A notable additional motivation is community impact: the FOA highlights the potential to develop practical solutions for communities affected by harmful algal blooms by turning problematic biomass into useful products and reducing the costs of waste management.

From the FECM Carbon Conversion Program perspective, the goal is to develop and advance multiple routes for converting anthropogenic CO2 into economically viable, environmentally sustainable products, with a near-term focus on accelerating real-world deployment. Under this FOA, DOE is looking for applications that explicitly incorporate anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions into the algae cultivation process and then convert the resulting macroalgae and/or microalgae into low-carbon products. The opportunity specifically notes strong interest in conversion routes that produce agricultural products, with animal feed called out as an example of particular interest. In practice, this framing encourages integrated concepts where CO2 utilization is not just a downstream carbon accounting claim, but a functional input to biomass growth that supports measurable carbon management outcomes.

The FOA defines "algae" broadly to include microalgae, cyanobacteria, and macroalgae (seaweed), and indicates that all algae types may be relevant as long as applicants meet the requirements of the specific topic area they pursue. The work is organized into two topic areas. Topic Area 1 focuses on conversion of seaweeds to low-carbon fuels and bioproducts, aligning strongly with BETO's conversion R&D mission and the technical challenges of processing wet, variable biomass streams into fuels and chemical intermediates. Topic Area 2 focuses on conversion of algal biomass into low-carbon agricultural bioproducts, aligning with the stated interest in products such as animal feed and the broader idea of placing algae-derived outputs into markets that can scale while reducing emissions.

Administratively, awards are expected to be made using cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the project period (for example, in technical direction, milestones, go/no-go decisions, and coordination). The funding activity category is Energy, and the CFDA numbers listed are 81.087 and 81.089. The award ceiling is $3,000,000, and DOE expects to make about 6 awards under this opportunity. The issuing office listed is the DOE Golden Field Office, and the FOA was created on 2024-04-10.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types such as state, county, and local governments; special districts; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; for-profit entities (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible entities. There are important restrictions for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and certain federal entities. DOE/NNSA FFRDCs may participate only as subrecipients and cannot apply as the prime recipient. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs also may participate only as subrecipients. Federal agencies and instrumentalities other than DOE may participate only as subrecipients and cannot serve as prime recipients. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is explicitly ineligible both as a prime and as a subrecipient; any application that includes NETL in either role is deemed non-responsive.

The submission process runs through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system (EERE-Exchange.energy.gov), which enforces hard deadlines by automatically disabling submission functionality at the stated cutoffs. A required concept paper was due on 05/10/2024 at 5:00 PM ET, and the full application deadline is 06/27/2024 at 5:00 PM ET (also listed as the original closing date). The FOA provides specific guidance for technical submission problems: applicants are instructed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov for support. DOE indicates it will accept late applications only when the lateness results from technical difficulties beyond the applicant's control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk for assistance, and the submission is finalized through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the posted deadline. FOA-specific questions are directed to MacroFOA@ee.doe.gov, while system-level issues go to the helpdesk or eXCHANGE administrators.

Taken together, this opportunity is designed to push algae conversion beyond lab curiosity into practical, lower-carbon products by tackling conversion R&D challenges, encouraging use of waste and wet feedstocks, and linking algae production to carbon management through the use of anthropogenic CO2. The two topic areas reflect DOE's dual priorities: building robust pathways to low-carbon fuels and bioproducts from seaweeds, and developing scalable, low-carbon agricultural bioproducts from algal biomass, with animal feed positioned as a particularly attractive near-term market.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0003274 - MACRO - Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087, 81.089.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-27. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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, Others.

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