The Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) program supports BETO’s research and development (R&D) priorities in the areas of Conversion R&D.
Donor Name: Bioenergy Technologies Office
State: All States
County: All Counties
Territory: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/14/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
Specifically, it supports research and development of domestic chemicals and fuels from a variety of biomass and waste resources. Producing chemicals and propane/liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from renewable feedstocks helps to safeguard domestic supply chains, secure energy independence, support rural economies, and improve sustainability in the industry.
Topic Areas
- Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals
- By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- Production of a sufficient quantity of chemical product at a purity level appropriate for product or formulation testing. This quantity must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application, and it must support the proposed performance testing plan. This quantity should, however, be a minimum of 1 kg.
- Completion of initial performance testing for the chemical product or formulation demonstrating acceptable performance for the target end application. The specific tests and their significance must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application. If an appropriate industry standard specification (ex. ASTM) exists for the chemical product or application, the applicant should complete testing to demonstrate performance that meets the specification.
- Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to the conventional incumbent chemical of at least 70% by the end of the project.
- By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG
- By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- All Topic Area 2 projects:
- Finished Propane/LPG that meets ASTM D1835 specifications
- System energy consumption of no more than 50% of the higher heating value of the finished propane/LPG
- Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil propane/LPG of at least 70%
- Quantification of the process emissions including, at a minimum, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate emissions, and methane
- Subtopic Area 2a must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:
- System time-on stream of at least 500 cumulative hours
- Subtopic Area 2b must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:
- Catalyst time-on stream of at least 500 continuous hours.
Areas of Interest
- Topic Area 1 Specific Areas of Interest
- Specific areas of interest for Topic Area 1 include, but are not limited to:
- Technologies that can be scaled through the utilization or modification of existing U.S. ethanol fermentation infrastructure
- Technologies that produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid
- Technologies that use whole-kernel corn as a feedstock
- Technologies that combine biological and chemical processes
- Specific areas of interest for Topic Area 1 include, but are not limited to:
- Topic Area 2 Specific Areas of Interest
- Small-scale or modular technologies for conversion of gaseous intermediates to propane/LPG
- Technologies that can be deployed in rural and/or remote communities
- Catalytic technologies that can accept additional oil-seed crops, especially camelina, carinata, pennycress, and oil producing annual cover crops.
Funding Information
Estimated Total Program Funding: $23,000,000
- Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals
- Approximate total available funding: Up to $15,000,000 in FY25
- Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $1,000,000 – $2,500,000 (Federal Share)
- Approximate award project period: 36 months
- Anticipated length of budget periods: Budget period 1: 0-6 months, Budget period 2: 12-18 months, Budget period 3: 12-18 months
- Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG
- Approximate total available funding: Up to $8,000,000 in FY25
- Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $1,000,000 – $2,000,000 (Federal Share)
- Approximate award project period: 36 months
- Anticipated length of budget periods: Budget period 1: 0-6 months, Budget period 2: 12-18 months, Budget period 3: 12-18 months.
Eligibility Criteria
- Domestic Entities
- Domestic entities are eligible to apply as recipients or subrecipients. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient of this NOFO:
- Institutions of higher education;
- For-profit organization;
- Nonprofit organization;
- State and local governmental entities; and
- Indian Tribes,
- Domestic entities are eligible to apply as recipients or subrecipients. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient of this NOFO:
- DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.
- To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States or under the laws of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.
- Foreign Entity Participation
- In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either a recipient or subrecipient.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
