Category: Blog

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office announced a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) of up to $8 million, subject to appropriations, for innovative technologies and approaches to help advance bioenergy and bioproducts from algae. The FOA is meant to help develop productivity-enhancing algal biology technologies that can enable doubling the current state of technology for seasonal algal biomass productivities.

This FOA, entitled “Productivity Enhanced Algae and Tool-Kits,” has two topic areas: (1) algal strain improvements and (2) algal cultivation biology improvements. This FOA will allow the selection of a variety of projects and approaches that overcome species-specific, ecological, and practical challenges to improved algal productivity and biomass composition—two key metrics in achieving high fuel yields.  

Learn more about this funding opportunity and apply on the EERE Exchange.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up its support for programs that can include algae-based solutions. The agency  is launching a new water protection program called Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR), which includes assistance with the cost of building bioreactors that can filter nitrates and other nutrients from cropland. CLEAR may cover up to 90 percent of the cost to install these new practices through incentives and cost-share.

Early estimates indicate that CLEAR could help to reduce nitrate runoff by as much as 40 percent over traditional conservation methods.

More information can be found in USDA’s press release. 

Here’s another notice from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that will be of interest to ABO members. The notice is an intent to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled “Integrated Biorefinery Optimization,”  targeting research and development to “increase the performance efficiencies of biorefineries resulting in continuous operation and production of biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower at prices competitive with fossil-derived equivalents.”

The areas of interest that the FOA is targeting will likely include waste products, industrial separations within an integrated biorefinery, analytical modeling of solid materials and handling of solid materials.

The deadline for applications has not yet been issued (as of 12/13/2017).

For more details, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

We have another potential algae funding announcement to share. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to support algae innovations.

The FOA, entitled Productivity Enhanced Algae and Tool-Kits (PEAK), is focused on innovations that will contribute to cost reductions in the production of algal biofuels. Specifically, they are looking for innovation in biomass productivity, biomass composition, predation and pathogen resistance, halotolerance, heat and cold tolerance and high-intensity light tolerance.

The FOA will be divided into two areas of interest: strain development and cultivation improvement.

The purpose of the notice of intent is to provide interested parties with advance notice of EERE’s intent to issue the FOA shortly. Notably, the funding opportunity is for up to $8 million.

For more details, visit the EERE website.

It’s time to renew your membership in the Algae Biomass Organization! Not a member? Not a problem. Join us and become part of an organization that is pushing algae to become a solution for dozens of worldwide challenges.

Join or renew today.

Or read on to learn the full impact you will have as a member of ABO.

Throughout 2016 it was the members of ABO that made possible an aggressive agenda of outreach, education and advocacy that is transforming how customers, investors, policy makers, and others look at algae.

ABO is aggressively working to grow awareness and support for algae in a rapidly expanding universe of applications, including carbon utilization, human and animal nutrition, soil health, energy, and water treatment. Some of ABO’s 2016 efforts included:

Outreach and Education

• The first ever “Algae Day” at the World Aquaculture Society’s Triennial Meeting provided leading feed companies from around the world an update on the rapid growth of algae-derived feed ingredients
• ABO assembled the strongest ever presence of algae producer companies at the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists, one of the largest food industry gatherings in the world
• ABO hosted a briefing for staff at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and Office of Fossil Energy on opportunities for biological carbon capture and use
• The world’s first “Algae Product Showcase” debuted at the Algae Biomass Summit, featuring products from more than two dozen companies – the most diverse collection of algae products ever assembled

 Advocacy

• $30 million in new algae funding from the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office for a broad set of algae technologies and products
• Strong findings from the first ever national assessment of algae biomass potential
• A new $30 million funding opportunity for macroalgae production
• Promising early discussions with congressional agriculture committee leaders on expanded support for algae in the next farm bill
• A five-fold increase in funding for carbon utilization research and introduction of legislation to extend carbon capture tax credits to algae and other CCU technologies

This success is to be celebrated, but we have much work to do. The results of the US election are likely to bring seismic shifts in Washington politics that could present both opportunities and significant challenges. The new Administration is likely to devote significant effort to rural revitalization, domestic manufacturing, and infrastructure. But we can also expect significant cuts to federal spending in key programs that have sustained the algae industry for the past decade.

Every current member of ABO, along with the ABO Board of Directors, would welcome your own membership, support, and participation in the organization. We are looking forward to a year of progress – both in Washington and around the globe – in 2017. Join us!

Join or renew today, click here to learn about the benefits that come with ABO membership.