Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003371
DE-FOA-0003371, titled "FY24 Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries," is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) funding opportunity designed to push higher-risk bioenergy and bioproduct technologies out of the lab and into real-world, integrated operations at larger scales. The central purpose is to reduce technical and scale-up uncertainty by supporting cost-shared research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that design, build, operate, and validate engineering-scale integrated biorefineries. In practical terms, DOE is looking for projects that can prove new feedstock and conversion combinations, show repeatable performance at pilot or demonstration scale, and generate the kind of operating data that financiers, offtakers, and regulators typically want before a technology is considered truly commercial-ready.
This FOA is directly tied to two major national goals. First, it supports the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge target of reaching 35 billion gallons per year of SAF production by 2050 by helping promising SAF pathways move through the hardest part of development: scaling from smaller integrated systems to larger, continuously operated facilities. Second, it supports the Clean Fuels and Products Shot vision of meeting around 50 percent of projected 2050 demand for certain hard-to-decarbonize markets, including maritime, rail, and off-road fuels, as well as renewable, carbon-based chemicals. The overall theme is decarbonization through biomass and waste-derived carbon, with an emphasis on integrated biorefineries that can demonstrate viable pathways for producing drop-in fuels and/or valuable chemicals at meaningful scale.
The announcement is structured around three topic areas, each focused on a different scale-up step or end product. Topic Area 1 targets biofuel technologies that are at pre-pilot scale, generally described as Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, and supports projects that will scale these systems to pilot scale (TRL 6). That typically means moving from a relevant-environment, integrated pilot-like setup to a true pilot operation with higher throughput, improved integration, and more robust control and reliability. Topic Area 2 is for biofuel technologies already proven at pilot scale (TRL 6) and aims to scale them to demonstration scale (TRL 7-8), where longer-duration operation, larger equipment, tighter integration, and more commercial-like performance expectations come into play. Topic Area 3 shifts the focus from fuels to organic chemicals made from renewable biomass and waste feedstocks that could displace petroleum-derived chemicals. This topic supports scale-up of biochemical pathways from TRL 5-6 up to pilot and demonstration scales (TRL 6-8), again emphasizing integrated, validated operations that reduce risk for commercialization.
Awards under this FOA are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which usually means DOE will have substantial involvement during the project (for example, through technical reviews, go/no-go milestones, and active project management). The work is intended to be cost-shared and collaborative, with partnerships spanning industry, academia, and the National Laboratories. The overarching intent is not just to fund research, but to fund the engineering and operational proof that a pathway can perform at scale, including the ability to handle feedstock variability, maintain stable conversion performance, and demonstrate product quality and yields that align with eventual market use.
Key administrative details matter here because the process is deadline-driven and submission is strictly controlled through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system. A required concept paper is due November 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, and full applications are due January 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The eXCHANGE portal enforces hard cutoffs by disabling submission functions at the deadline, so applicants need to plan for internal reviews, uploads, and potential last-minute technical issues. If technical problems occur before the deadline, applicants are instructed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). If a technical problem causes a late submission, DOE states it will only consider accepting a late application if the issue was beyond the applicant's control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk for assistance, and the application is submitted through eXCHANGE within 24 hours after the posted deadline, with the system administrators able to assist in finalizing submission with the applicant's concurrence.
From an eligibility standpoint, the FOA is broad and includes many applicant types, such as state and local governments, special districts, public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), individuals, for-profit entities (including small businesses and other than small businesses), and other eligible entities. The issuing agency is the DOE Golden Field Office, the program is categorized under energy (CFDA 81.087), and the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding. The stated award ceiling is $3,000,000, with an expectation of around 12 awards, indicating competitive selection and a portfolio approach rather than a single large buildout. DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) cannot apply as the prime recipient, but they can participate as subrecipients, with a cap that the aggregate FFRDC effort may not exceed 50 percent of the total estimated project cost.
For applicants looking for the full requirements, templates, merit review criteria, and detailed topic scope, DOE directs everyone to the EERE eXCHANGE posting for DE-FOA-0003371 at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Questions are routed to FY24BETOScaleUp@ee.doe.gov, which is the official point of contact for clarifications tied to this specific funding opportunity. Overall, the FOA is best understood as a scale-up and de-risking program: it is meant to help integrated biorefinery pathways prove performance at pilot and demonstration scale so they can credibly move into first-of-a-kind commercial deployment and contribute to long-term national SAF and clean fuels/renewable chemicals supply goals.Apply for DE FOA 0003371
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0003371 FY24 Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-16. (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 12 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is DE-FOA-0003371?
DE-FOA-0003371 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) funding opportunity titled "FY24 Scale-Up of Integrated Biorefineries." It is intended to support higher-risk bioenergy and bioproduct technologies as they move from laboratory and smaller integrated setups into larger-scale, real-world integrated operations.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to reduce technical and scale-up uncertainty by supporting cost-shared research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that design, build, operate, and validate engineering-scale integrated biorefineries. DOE is specifically looking for projects that can generate credible operating data and demonstrate repeatable performance at pilot or demonstration scale.
What kinds of projects is DOE trying to support through this FOA?
This FOA focuses on projects that can prove new feedstock and conversion combinations, demonstrate stable and repeatable operation at larger scales, and validate performance in integrated systems. The goal is to produce operational evidence that helps address the information needs of financiers, offtakers, and regulators prior to commercialization.
How does this FOA connect to national clean energy goals?
The FOA is tied to two national goals: (1) supporting the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge target of 35 billion gallons per year of SAF by 2050, and (2) supporting the Clean Fuels and Products Shot vision of meeting about 50 percent of projected 2050 demand for certain hard-to-decarbonize markets (including maritime, rail, and off-road fuels) and renewable, carbon-based chemicals.
Is this opportunity focused only on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)?
No. While SAF scale-up is a major driver, the FOA also emphasizes broader decarbonization through biomass and waste-derived carbon, including drop-in fuels for other hard-to-decarbonize markets and, under one topic area, renewable organic chemicals.
What is an "integrated biorefinery" in the context of this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, an integrated biorefinery is an engineering-scale system that combines feedstock handling and conversion operations in an integrated way, operating at pilot or demonstration scale to validate performance, reliability, and product outcomes under real-world, continuously operated or commercial-like conditions.
What are the topic areas in this FOA?
The FOA is organized into three topic areas: (1) scaling biofuel technologies from pre-pilot (generally TRL 5) to pilot scale (TRL 6), (2) scaling biofuel technologies from pilot (TRL 6) to demonstration scale (TRL 7-8), and (3) scaling biochemical pathways to make renewable organic chemicals from biomass and waste feedstocks from TRL 5-6 to pilot and demonstration scales (TRL 6-8).
What does Topic Area 1 support?
Topic Area 1 targets biofuel technologies at pre-pilot scale (generally TRL 5) and supports efforts to scale these systems to pilot scale (TRL 6). This typically involves higher throughput, improved integration, and more robust operational control and reliability compared to earlier integrated setups.
What does Topic Area 2 support?
Topic Area 2 supports biofuel technologies already proven at pilot scale (TRL 6) and aims to scale them to demonstration scale (TRL 7-8). This stage emphasizes longer-duration operation, larger equipment, tighter integration, and more commercial-like performance expectations.
What does Topic Area 3 support?
Topic Area 3 focuses on organic chemicals made from renewable biomass and waste feedstocks that could displace petroleum-derived chemicals. It supports scale-up of biochemical pathways from TRL 5-6 up to pilot and demonstration scales (TRL 6-8), emphasizing integrated, validated operations to reduce commercialization risk.
What Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) does this FOA target?
Across the topic areas, the FOA targets scale-up from TRL 5 to TRL 6 (Topic Area 1), from TRL 6 to TRL 7-8 (Topic Area 2), and from TRL 5-6 to TRL 6-8 for renewable organic chemical pathways (Topic Area 3).
What type of award instrument will DOE use?
Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE will have substantial involvement during the project, such as technical reviews, active project management, and go/no-go milestones.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. The FOA describes the work as cost-shared RD&D, meaning applicants should expect a cost-share requirement as part of the project structure.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state and local governments, special districts, public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), individuals, and for-profit entities (including small businesses and other than small businesses), as well as other eligible entities as described in the FOA.
Can National Laboratories participate?
The FOA anticipates collaboration across industry, academia, and the National Laboratories. It also states that DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) cannot apply as the prime recipient but can participate as subrecipients, subject to limits.
Can an FFRDC be the prime applicant?
No. DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs cannot apply as the prime recipient under this FOA.
Is there a limit on how much of the project an FFRDC can perform?
Yes. The FOA states the aggregate FFRDC effort may not exceed 50 percent of the total estimated project cost.
What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling for this FOA is $3,000,000.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE expects to make around 12 awards, indicating a competitive selection process and a portfolio approach.
Who is issuing this funding opportunity?
The issuing agency is the DOE Golden Field Office, and the program is categorized under energy (CFDA 81.087). The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
What are the key submission deadlines?
A required concept paper is due November 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Full applications are due January 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Is a concept paper required?
Yes. The FOA states that a concept paper is required and provides the concept paper due date and time.
Where must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system. DOE directs applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE posting for DE-FOA-0003371 at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov for full requirements, templates, merit review criteria, and detailed topic scope.
Are the submission deadlines flexible?
No. The eXCHANGE portal enforces hard cutoffs by disabling submission functions at the deadline, so applicants are expected to plan ahead for reviews, uploads, and potential technical issues.
What should applicants do if they have technical issues with eXCHANGE before the deadline?
If technical problems occur before the deadline, applicants are instructed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov.
Will DOE accept a late submission caused by technical problems?
DOE states it will only consider accepting a late application if the issue was beyond the applicant's control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk for assistance, and the application is submitted through eXCHANGE within 24 hours after the posted deadline, with system administrators able to assist in finalizing submission with the applicant's concurrence.
What is DOE looking to see demonstrated at scale?
The FOA emphasizes engineering and operational proof at pilot or demonstration scale, including the ability to handle feedstock variability, maintain stable conversion performance, and demonstrate product quality and yields that align with eventual market use.
What is meant by "de-risking" in this FOA?
In this FOA, de-risking refers to reducing technical and scale-up uncertainty by producing validated operating data from integrated biorefinery operations at larger scales, helping technologies credibly progress toward first-of-a-kind commercial deployment.
How can applicants ask questions about this specific FOA?
Questions are routed to FY24BETOScaleUp@ee.doe.gov, which is identified as the official point of contact for clarifications tied to this funding opportunity.
Where can applicants find the official FOA details, templates, and review criteria?
DOE directs applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE posting for DE-FOA-0003371 at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov for the full requirements, templates, merit review criteria, and detailed topic scope.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy
Next opportunity: Partnerships for Aquatic and Watershed Restoration (PAWR)
Previous opportunity: Biomedical Research Initiative for Next-Gen BioTechnologies - SynBio Control
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0003371
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0003371) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Undocumented Orphaned Well Characterization and Remediation Apply for DE FOA 0003343 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003343 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,400,000 |
| Notice of Intent (NOI) related to "HARMONY: Human-Centric Analytics for Resilient & Modernized Power sYstems” Apply for DE FOA 0003445 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003445 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information (RFI) Technology and Market Potential of Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Systems in the United States Apply for DE FOA 0003465 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003465 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SuperTruck Charge Apply for DE FOA 0003344 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003344 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $36,000,000 |
| Request for Information on Request for Information on Carbon Transport Research, Development and Demonstration Consortium Apply for DE FOA 0003330 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003330 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Technology Development for Securing a Domestic Supply of Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) Apply for DE FOA 0002956 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002956 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,750,000 |
| Oxygen-conducting SOFC and SOEC Research and Development for Hydrogen Production Apply for DE FOA 0003366 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003366 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| TRIBAL CLEAN ENERGY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - 2025 Apply for DE FOA 0003401 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003401 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| U.S.-Danish Floating Offshore Wind Energy Mooring and Anchoring Research and Development Apply for DE FOA 0003362 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003362 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program Apply for DE FOA 0003410 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003410 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $40,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) No. DE-FOA-0003373: "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007(b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling” Apply for DE FOA 0003443 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003443 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas – Fiscal Year 2025 Release Apply for DE FOA 0003428 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003428 Agency: Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $50,000,000 |
| Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials: A Draft Strategic Framework RFI Apply for DE FOA 0003455 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003455 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Pathway to Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0003485 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003485 Agency: Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $800,000,000 |
| REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) - Egypt Energy Sector Activity Apply for 72026325RFI00003 Funding Number: 72026325RFI00003 Agency: Egypt USAID-Cairo Category: Energy Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): A Mid-Course Evaluation Apply for DE FOA 0003471 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003471 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies to Drive National Goals Apply for DE FOA 0003439 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003439 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry (QC3) Apply for DE FOA 0003482 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003482 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Rural Energy for America Program Apply for RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2025 Funding Number: RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2025 Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY 2025 University Nuclear Research Infrastructure Revitalization Apply for DE FOA 0003314 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003314 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0003371", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.