U.S. Department of Agriculture and Energy Department Announce $8.7 Million through the Interagency Biomass Research and Development Initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced up to $8.7 million for the Biomass Research and Development Initiative to fund projects that address feedstock development, biofuels and biobased products development, or biofuels development analysis to help reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. For more information and application requirements, visit grants.gov (Reference Number USDA-NIFA-9008-004957). Concept papers are due on March 27, 2015, and full applications are due on July 27, 2015.

Highlights of the High-Tonnage Feedstock Logistics Projects

After receiving BETO funding just a few years ago, five BETO feedstock logistics projects are complete! Each project developed innovative harvesting equipment that demonstrate lower costs for collecting, storing, and transporting cellulosic feedstocks—corn stover, switchgrass, and energy crop trees—to the biorefinery. Some of the new machinery developed by these projects is already available on the commercial market, including Tigercats’ feller buncher and skidder, as well as New Holland’s self-propelled forest harvester. Click through an infographic gallery on the EERE Blog to see innovative technologies for each project and to learn how they can help lower the cost of advanced biofuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Valuable Chemical Produced from Renewables Instead of Petroleum

Recently, researchers at Lygos, Inc. developed a manufacturing technology that allows for a cleaner production of malonic acid from sugar, instead of petroleum. Malonic acid is used for non-fuel related products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fragrances, food flavors, and other specialty materials. This new process could replace the chemical’s existing production process, use less energy, reduce costs, decrease CO₂ emissions, and eliminate toxic inputs. Research for the pilot-scale manufacturing of this high-value bioproduct was funded in part by BETO at the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Save the Date for Bioenergy 2015—Now in June!

Save the Date! On June 23–24, 2015, BETO will host its eighth annual conference—Bioenergy 2015: Opportunities in a Changing Energy Landscape. Co-hosted with the Clean Energy Research and Education Foundation, this year's conference will focus on opportunities and challenges in the highly dynamic U.S. energy ecosystem. For the most up-to-date details on the conference, including the latest agenda and speakers, view the Bioenergy 2015 Conference Web page. To register, please visit the Bioenergy 2015 registration Web page today!

BETO 2014 Successes in Fact Sheet

There were many impressive BETO achievements last year—from the grand openings of POET-DSM’s Project LIBERTY biorefinery and Abengoa’s Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas facility—to meeting conversion cost goals for hydrocarbon fuels. Last year, we celebrated the completion of feedstock logistics projects (see also link above to the infographic gallery), the development of new sustainability tools, and advancements in algae research. BETO’s new fact sheet showcases the highlights. Download it from our website and see the Web version.

BETO Coloring Book

Get your crayons out! Teach your children or students about the benefits of bioenergy through BETO’s first ever coloring and activity book! Designed for the next generation of budding scientists, the coloring book is filled with fun facts about how renewable energy can play a big role in their future. Visit our website to print out a copy today!

BioenergizeME Social Media Campaign Starts Soon!

We invite you to participate in the upcoming bioenergy social media campaign for BETO’s education and workforce initiative, OPERATION BioenergizeME. Between April 13 and 23, high school-aged teams around the country will be promoting their bioenergy infographics to help increase awareness about how bioenergy can play an important role in the future bioeconomy. You can participate by viewing entries via the Infographic Challenge Map or by checking out the #BioenergizeME hashtag on Facebook and Twitter and liking, sharing, or retweeting. The grand prize winner will be chosen from the top 10 infographics that receive the most unique page views!

EERE Blog: Innovation Unleashed—Sportscar Racing Takes Next Step toward Driving Technology and Renewable Fuel Development

Mobile 1 held its 63rd annual Twelve Hours of Sebring for the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship (TUDOR Championship) this past weekend in Sebring, Florida. The championship recognized the cleanest, fastest, and most efficient GT Le Mans competitor in each TUDOR Championship race. One thing all the competitors had in common was their use of alternative fuels including E10, cellulosic E85, and renewable synthetic clean diesel. The Bioenergy Technologies Office provides funding to support the development of clean fuels through the Green Racing partnership. Green Racing is a partnership between the Energy Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Society of Automotive Engineers to help develop, test, and promote the use of cleaner fuels and advanced vehicle technologies through motorsports. Read more on the EERE Blog.

Past and Upcoming Events with BETO Representation

• FY 2016 EERE Budget Webinar—Sustainable Transportation Sector; March 3; Online
• Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research 2015 Annual Symposium; March 3–4; Jonathan Male; Washington, D.C.
• World Bio Markets, March 1–4; Jim Spaeth; Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Automotive Energy Storage Systems 2015; March 4–5; Alicia Lindauer; Novi, Michigan
• Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference 2015; March 11–13; Jonathan Male; Washington, D.C.
• Food and Fuel for the 21st Century; March 12–13; Daniel Fishman; La Jolla, California
• National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference; March 12–15; Sheila Dillard; Chicago, Illinois
• BETO 2015 Project Peer Review; March 23–27; Alexandria, Virginia
• 37th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals ; April 27–30; Kevin Craig; San Diego, California
• TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2015; June 14–17; Jonathan Male; National Harbor, Maryland
• Bioenergy 2015: Opportunities in a Changing Energy Landscape; June 23-25; Washington, D.C.

To view past Monthly News Blasts, visit the BETO Newsletter page.