Limited Submission Opportunity: DOE RESEARCH TO ENABLE FUELS FROM SUNLIGHT
DOE RESEARCH TO ENABLE FUELS FROM SUNLIGHT
URL: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=324619
OBJECTIVES:
The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) hereby solicits new applications for multi-investigator cross-disciplinary fundamental research to address emerging new directions as well as long-standing challenges in liquid solar fuels generation via artificial photosynthesis approaches. Artificial photosynthesis is typically viewed as the generation of fuels using only sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water as inputs. However, for the purpose of this FOA the concept of artificial photosynthesis approaches will be expanded to include other abundant feedstocks beyond carbon dioxide, such as nitrogen. Regardless of feedstock, the focus must remain on fundamental scientific concepts for solar-driven liquid fuel production.
Applications should focus on the highest scientific priorities in solar fuels production as identified by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable and will be required to address priority research opportunities (PROs) denoted by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable at https://science.osti.gov/bes/Community-Resources/Reports. The research should capitalize on unique capabilities and accomplishments developed to date, including those from BES-funded efforts in the Fuels from Sunlight Hub, Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), and BES 2 core programs. Projects should also integrate experiment and theory to elucidate scientific principles for light energy capture and conversion into chemical bonds.
The nature of the proposed fundamental solar fuels research will impact a broad range of topics, including carbon dioxide use and reduction. Two recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reports, “Gaseous Carbon Waste Streams Utilization: Status and Research Needs” and “Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda,” provided an assessment of research needs and opportunities to remove and utilize gaseous carbon. As identified in these studies, key research targets for chemical carbon dioxide utilization include improvement of existing catalysts, discovery of entirely new catalysts, and identification of factors affecting catalysis performance when integrated into reactor systems. These fundamental science topics can advance the production of chemicals and fuel, including liquid solar fuels as noted by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable (https://science.osti.gov/bes/Community-Resources/Reports), as well as the development of effective carbon dioxide reduction, removal, and sequestration technologies.
FUNDING INFORMATION: up to $20,000,000
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS:
An investigator may be proposed as the Project Director (lead PI) on no more than one (1) preapplication and one (1) application.
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS:
Interested investigators should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by DATE: 3/16/20
- Questions outlined in InfoReady Review application;
- A letter of recommendation from the appropriate department chair or dean
- A brief statement (up to 2 pages) by the candidate describing their scientific achievements and proposed project including any potential partner organizations;
- A brief budget outline for the proposed research
- Up-to-date CV or biosketch.
A faculty committee will review internal proposals and select nominees.
DEADLINES:
Internal Materials Due: Monday, March 16, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: Tuesday, March 24, 2020