The Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO’s) Conversion Technologies program supports research and development in technologies for converting biomass feedstocks into finished liquid transportation fuels—such as renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel—co-products or chemical intermediates, and biopower. To achieve this goal, BETO is exploring a variety of conversion technologies that can be combined into pathways, from feedstock to product.

While, historically, conversion technology pathways have been roughly classified as either biochemical or thermochemical processes, BETO has moved away from classifying pathways strictly as one or the other. In order to encompass the diversity and potential of innovative technologies, BETO has shifted its focus by considering instead a broad landscape of potential processes that may contain both biochemical and thermochemical steps.

Within the Conversion Technologies program, BETO focuses on activities in the areas of Deconstruction & Fractionation and Synthesis & Upgrading.

Deconstruction and fractionation activities involve deconstructing biomass into its component chemicals so it can be converted into biofuels.

After deconstruction of biomass, intermediates are synthesized and upgraded using various techniques to produce a finished product, including fuels and bioproducts.

Results of Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities Request for Information

In February 2016, BETO reached out to industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders via a request for information (RFI) to identify existing pilot- or process development-scale facilities. The goal of this RFI was to identify entities with the capability to perform process verifications for biomass conversion pathways to biofuels, bioproducts, or intermediates that integrate multiple unit operations on a scale of approximately 0.5 or greater tons of dry biomass input per day. BETO-funding recipients, as well as the general research community, can use this information to determine resources that are available. To see the full list of RFI responses available, visit the Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities RFI Responses.

Results of Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Request for Information

On July 20, 2016, BETO released a request for information (RFI) entitled “Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities.” The purpose of this RFI was to develop a list of suppliers who are willing and able to produce and sell cellulosic sugar and/or lignin for use by the research community. BETO-funding recipients, as well as the general research community, can use this information to determine resources that are available. To see the full list of RFI responses available, visit the Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities RFI Responses web page.