by Brianna Crandall — June 17, 2011—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on June 8 the availability of up to $70 million in new funding for geothermal energy, and on June 10 the availability of up to $36 million for advanced biofuels and other bio-based chemicals.
Geothermal Energy
The $70 million in new funding over three years will go towards technology advancements in geothermal energy, supporting DOE’s partnerships with industry, national laboratories, and academia to advance key technology research areas. DOE is targeting innovations in exploration technologies to locate geothermal resources, as well as in improvements in resource characterization, drilling, and reservoir engineering techniques. The goal is to reduce upfront costs and lower the price of geothermal energy. For more information see DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Web site.
Biofuels
The $36 million will go to fund six small-scale projects that will advance the technology and process integration needed to produce “drop-in” advanced biofuels and other bio-based chemicals. The projects, in California, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin, aim to improve the economics and efficiency of biological and chemical processes that convert non-food biomass feedstocks into replacements for petroleum-based feedstocks. For more information see DOE’s Biomass Program Web site.
