Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003495
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment - Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways funding opportunity (DE FOA 0003495) is a competitive federal program run by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to push mature carbon conversion technologies into real-world pilot-scale demonstrations. The core aim is to accelerate technologies that take captured or otherwise sourced CO2 and convert it into useful products through three main approaches: biological pathways (such as microbes or enzymes that transform CO2 into fuels, chemicals, or biomaterials), catalytic pathways (chemical catalysts that convert CO2 into higher-value molecules like alcohols, hydrocarbons, or chemical intermediates), and mineralization pathways (binding CO2 into stable carbonate minerals or using CO2 to create mineral-based products like aggregates, cementitious materials, or other building products). The emphasis is on solutions that are already at a relatively high technology readiness level and are ready to prove performance at pilot scale, with an expectation that successful projects will meaningfully reduce net carbon emissions.
A major feature of the solicitation is its focus on pilot-scale testing and validation rather than early-stage research. Applicants are expected to propose cost-shared research and development projects that can demonstrate reliable operation, measurable CO2 conversion or utilization performance, and credible mitigation impact. In addition to running the technology, the opportunity explicitly supports work needed to make the resulting products acceptable in real markets. That includes testing and characterizing carbon conversion products to verify they meet performance requirements, safety expectations, durability standards, or other specifications that buyers and end users care about. In practical terms, this could mean generating data on product quality, consistency, impurities, long-term stability, compatibility with existing processes, or other attributes that typically determine whether a new product can be adopted at scale.
The notice also highlights lifecycle analysis as an eligible and relevant activity, especially for novel conversion pathways and for pilot facilities using those technologies. This is important because the climate value of CO2 conversion depends on the full system: energy inputs, feedstocks, co-products, process emissions, and downstream use and end-of-life outcomes. By supporting lifecycle analysis development, the program is signaling that projects should quantify net greenhouse gas impacts and be prepared to substantiate claims of carbon mitigation with transparent, defensible methods and data. For many CO2-derived products, market acceptance and policy recognition can hinge on these lifecycle results, so incorporating robust LCA work can be central to the commercialization pathway.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during project execution compared to a more hands-off grant. The program is listed under CFDA 81.089, and eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant types may apply under standard federal eligibility rules (for example, private companies, universities, nonprofits, and state or local entities, depending on the full FOA terms). The opportunity was created on 2025-01-15 and has an original closing date of 2025-04-11, so applicants would need to plan around that submission deadline.
In terms of funding scale, the award ceiling is $8,000,000 per award, and NETL anticipates making about 17 awards. Because proposals must be cost-shared, applicants should be prepared to contribute non-federal cost share as required by the FOA, which often influences project structure, partnerships, and demonstration scope. Overall, this opportunity is geared toward bridging the gap between lab success and commercial reality by funding pilot demonstrations and the kind of performance, product qualification, and lifecycle evidence that investors, customers, and regulators typically require before carbon conversion technologies can be deployed widely.Apply for DE FOA 0003495
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment – Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment - Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways funding opportunity (DE FOA 0003495) is a competitive federal program administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It is designed to move relatively mature CO2 conversion technologies into real-world, pilot-scale demonstrations.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to accelerate technologies that take captured or otherwise sourced CO2 and convert it into useful products, with an expectation that successful projects will meaningfully reduce net carbon emissions. The program is focused on bridging the gap between lab-scale success and commercial deployment by supporting pilot-scale validation and the evidence needed for market adoption.
Which CO2 conversion pathways are supported?
The opportunity targets three main CO2 conversion approaches:
- Biological pathways: Using microbes or enzymes to transform CO2 into fuels, chemicals, or biomaterials.
- Catalytic pathways: Using chemical catalysts to convert CO2 into higher-value molecules such as alcohols, hydrocarbons, or chemical intermediates.
- Mineralization pathways: Binding CO2 into stable carbonate minerals or using CO2 to create mineral-based products such as aggregates, cementitious materials, or other building products.
Is this opportunity meant for early-stage research?
No. A major feature of the solicitation is its emphasis on pilot-scale testing and validation rather than early-stage research. The program is oriented toward technologies that are already at a relatively high technology readiness level and are ready to demonstrate performance at pilot scale.
What kinds of projects is NETL looking to fund?
Applicants are expected to propose cost-shared research and development projects that can demonstrate reliable operation, measurable CO2 conversion or utilization performance, and credible mitigation impact at pilot scale. The intent is to validate the technology in a real-world demonstration context, not just in controlled lab experiments.
Does the program support product testing and market qualification work?
Yes. In addition to operating the conversion technology, the opportunity explicitly supports work needed to make resulting products acceptable in real markets. This includes testing and characterizing CO2-derived products to verify they meet performance requirements, safety expectations, durability standards, or other buyer/end-user specifications.
What types of product-related data might be relevant under this FOA?
The program description indicates that product acceptance work can include generating data on product quality, consistency, impurities, long-term stability, and compatibility with existing processes, as well as other attributes that influence whether a new product can be adopted at scale.
Is lifecycle analysis (LCA) included or encouraged?
Yes. Lifecycle analysis is highlighted as an eligible and relevant activity, especially for novel conversion pathways and for pilot facilities using those technologies. Projects are expected to quantify net greenhouse gas impacts and be prepared to substantiate carbon-mitigation claims with transparent, defensible methods and data.
Why does lifecycle analysis matter for CO2 conversion projects?
The climate value of CO2 conversion depends on the full system, including energy inputs, feedstocks, co-products, process emissions, and downstream use and end-of-life outcomes. For many CO2-derived products, market acceptance and policy recognition can depend on lifecycle results, so strong LCA work can be central to commercialization.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial federal involvement during project execution compared to a more hands-off grant.
Which federal program listing applies to this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA 81.089.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant types may apply under standard federal eligibility rules (for example, private companies, universities, nonprofits, and state or local entities), subject to the full FOA terms.
Is cost share required?
Yes. Proposals must be cost-shared, so applicants should be prepared to provide non-federal cost share as required by the FOA. Cost share expectations can influence project structure, partnerships, and the scope of the pilot demonstration.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $8,000,000 per award.
How many awards does NETL expect to make?
NETL anticipates making about 17 awards.
What are the key dates mentioned?
The opportunity was created on 2025-01-15 and has an original closing date of 2025-04-11. Applicants should plan submission and project development activities around that deadline.
What does "pilot-scale demonstration" mean in the context of this FOA?
Based on the opportunity description, pilot-scale demonstration refers to operating a relatively mature CO2 conversion technology in a real-world, pilot-scale setting to validate reliable operation, measurable CO2 conversion/utilization performance, and credible net-emissions mitigation, along with generating evidence that supports market acceptance of the resulting products.
What sources of CO2 are eligible for these technologies?
The solicitation focuses on technologies that take captured or otherwise sourced CO2 and convert it into useful products. The specific allowable sources would be governed by the FOA terms, but the description indicates flexibility in CO2 sourcing as long as the project converts CO2 into products through one of the targeted pathways.
What outcomes is the program trying to enable beyond technical performance?
Beyond demonstrating conversion performance, the opportunity aims to generate the product qualification data and lifecycle evidence that investors, customers, and regulators typically require before carbon conversion technologies can be deployed widely in commercial markets.
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