DOE backs two biofuel projects with USD 6m

Jul 18, 2014 - The US Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday it will grant a total of USD 6 million (EUR 4.4m) in funding to two local projects that aim to develop next-generation biofuels.

In particular, the DOE is providing USD 3.2 million to California-based SRI International to produce bio-crude oil from algal biomass so it could boost the amount of carbon recovered for use in fuel. Another goal of the initiative is to lower the nitrogen content of the product so that it complies with fuel quality standards.

Meanwhile, the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, will receive USD 3.1 million to maximise the biomass carbon and energy recovery in a low pressure process and thus cut production costs. This will help produce a bio-crude oil that is upgradable into a finished biofuel.

The DOE pointed out that the two projects are part of its plan to develop technologies with the purpose of generating clean energy and drop-in biofuels at USD 3.00 per gallon by 2017.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.739)

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