In the United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO) and the Vehicle Technology Office (VTO) announced the provision of up to $17.5 million in federal funding to develop cost-effective strategies for communities to sustainably manage and recover potential clean energy from their waste streams.
The Waste Analysis and Transport End Use Strategic Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support municipal authorities and transport authorities to provide waste to energy (WtE) solutions, and transform organic wastes into raw materials for various clean transport fuel products, thus contributing to the local energy economy.
VTO is pleased to cooperate with the Bioenergy Technology Office and support the innovative process of producing low-carbon biofuels to reduce traffic emissions. Dr. Austin Brown, director of VTO, said: "This fund enables us to help expand the efforts that are critical to promoting sustainable fuel development for transportation modes that are difficult to decarbonize.
Food waste, wastewater sludge and organic waste streams from industrial operations are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cause air and water quality degradation.
A large number of costs are associated with the management of these waste streams, including treatment, stabilization, transportation, disposal or dumping costs.
The funds will also benefit communities by reducing other impacts related to waste collection and landfill, including heavy vehicle traffic, odor and waste.
"For many local communities throughout the country, local waste treatment and disposal may pose economic, health and environmental challenges. Because these facilities are disproportionately located in communities that have historically been underserved, The joint funds of BETO and VTO will directly support the U.S. government's goal of achieving a clean and fair energy economy by 2050, "said Dr. Valerie Sarisky Reed, director of BETO.
Recognizing that communities may be at different stages of sustainable waste management planning, this Waste Management Platform seeks to address these challenges in a phased manner through the following two thematic areas:
Thematic area 1: The feasibility study development analysis will help the community go beyond the conceptualization stage, and will include feasibility study, traffic case identification, sustainability indicator baseline and other activities.
Thematic area 2: The design work and experimental verification will support and promote more detailed engineering design work, provide further help to the community, and may have identified potential solutions to their waste/transportation needs.
Projects selected under Theme Area 2 will have the opportunity to build and operate pilot facilities designed by them in accordance with the selection process described in the FOA. We encourage interested applicants to view the qualification information in the FOA and view the list of team partners to identify potential project partners and register.
The US Department of Energy intends to award up to 14 financial assistance awards under the FOA as cooperation agreements for a period of 12 to 24 months.
If you choose to build and operate the test facility, you will have an additional 48 months to complete these activities.
(Materials from: DOE Global Biomass Energy Network, New Energy Network Integration) |