The US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced up to $10 million in funding to support high-impact research and development (R&D) focused on algae system cultivation and preprocessing. The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY), will support BETO’s R&D priorities in the area of Renewable Carbon Resources for advancing algal systems.

Algae can provide abundant, feedstock sources for affordable, reliable biofuels, bioproducts, and bioenergy that do not compete with existing feedstocks. For this NOFO, algae include microalgae, cyanobacteria, and macroalgae (i.e., seaweed).

The MASY NOFO seeks applications to address ‘pinch points’ (defined as a challenge area within a proposed system that, if relieved, would enable scaling towards commercialization) in algal system operations that currently limit algae expansion as a domestic bioenergy feedstock. By addressing these challenges now with targeted applied R&D, BETO will accelerate the development of innovative technologies that can enable algae developers to bring new bioproducts to market, that will grow domestic supply chains, expand access to renewable feedstocks, and improve energy security.

The MASY NOFO supports one topic area - Maximizing Algal System Yield.

BETO plans to distribute multiple financial assistance awards for the MASY NOFO, in the form of cooperative agreements lasting between 18 months to three years. Required concept papers are due by 5:00 pm ET, on 21 February 2025, and the full application deadline is 5:00 pm ET, on 15 May 2025.