Frequently Asked Questions

Select a FOA to view questions and answers for the specific funding opportunity. Alternatively select "Non-FOA related items" to view system FAQ items.

Question 1: Is EERE interested in biogas and/or landfill as a feedstock for potential conversion technologies?
Answer 1: EERE/BETO is interested in using any conversion technology feedstock that would be eligible for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) based on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).
Question 2: Can the conversion technologies contemplated be for the production of chemicals only (no fuels production)?
Answer 2: As noted in Area of Interest 3, non-fuel bioproducts are of interest to EERE/BETO.
Question 3: Is EERE interested in the potential of methanol and DME as fuels for US transportation markets?
Answer 3:

EERE/BETO is interested in any fuel that would be defined as an "advanced biofuel" under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). 

Question 4: Our company has interest in submitting a document applying to this request for information. Instructions are not clear as to accessing the "full funding opportunity" for detailed description on submittal of a response to the RFI. Could you advise and/or assist us in this?
Answer 4: As stated in the Request For Information posted on the EERE Exchange website: The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to advanced biofuel, bioproducts, and biopower technology validation and potential deployment strategies. EERE is specifically interested in information on advanced biofuel, bioproducts, and biopower technologies that are ready for technology validation at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher.  This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).  EERE is not accepting applications.
Question 5: I am looking to find out if a particular technology would be of interest for this RFI. The technology we would consider to submit information on converts organic waste to biofuel, but in a manner that the Btu content of the biofuel is high enough to burn in coal plants, and thus could be an alternative to coal. Most of the information I have read so far on this RFI seems to be pointed at technology developing biofuel in liquid form. Would you also be interested in solid state biofuel for this request?
Answer 5:

BETO is interested in advanced biofuel, bioproducts, and biopower technologies.  This technology could be classified under the Area of Interest 5: "Feedstock supply and logistics systems for high impact feedstocks" though it may not meet the definition of high impact unless the amount of organic waste is equivalent to 50 million dry metric tonnes or more of lignocellulosic biomass per year.  Coal replacement technologies would be excluded from Area of Interest 4 since coal is used primarily for combustion systems that generate heat and power. 

Question 6: Is it acceptable for a single organization to submit multiple responses on this RFI on the same topic? We have several independent ideas which, if all were included in the 5 page topic limit, cannot be adequately described. A single project (in an integrated Biorefinery pilot plant) resulting from the prospective FOA would be able to address the development needs of the multiple concepts, however.
Answer 6: If you wish to provide input to more than one Area of Interest, you should submit a separate e-mail response for each Area of Interest.  For submission regarding only one of the nine Areas of Interest, please submit only one response.
Question 7: Would DOE consider providing an extension for submission of responses for this RFI (DE-FOA-0001013)?
Answer 7: DOE has decided to provide an extension to the submission deadline, which is changed to Dec. 18, 2013, 11:59 pm EST.  Please refer to Mod 001 posted on the EER Exchange website.