The U.S. Department of Energy announced they are now accepting applications for grant funding up to $30 million for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels. The projects should replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to vehicle or fueling infrastructure.

Funding up to $30 million is available over the next three to four years to support up to five projects to develop and demonstrate integrated bench scale technology and/or process improvement steps that convert biomass into biofuels and bioproducts that will be used to support hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. The projects can include: 1) pretreatment methods that alter the biomass to improve the yield of sugars in subsequent process steps; 2) less costly and more efficient enzymes that produce sugars; and 3) fermentation organisms and catalysts that convert the sugars into fuel and chemical intermediates.

All domestic entities are eligible to apply for this Funding Opportunity Announcement (“FOA”), except nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. Domestic entities may include, but are not limited to, domestic institutions of higher education, federally funded research and development centers, non-profit entities, for-profit entities and state, local and tribal governments. Applications must be submitted by February 7, 2011.