Bioenergy Consortia

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) provides funding for seven bioenergy industry consortia. Each consortium utilizes the capabilities of the DOE National Laboratory system to overcome the challenges of researching and developing competitive, cost-effective, and scalable fuels and products made from renewable biomass.

Below are brief descriptions and links to more information for each BETO-funded consortium:

Works to accelerate and streamline the biomanufacturing pipeline through the use of synthetic biology tools, processes for predictable scale-up, machine learning, and the use of non-model host organisms by establishing a robust set of biomanufacturing principles.

Learn more at agilebiofoundry.org
Download the Agile BioFoundry fact sheet

Develops cost-effective, high-performing separations technologies that are coordinated with challenges relevant to industry in order to facilitate adoption.

This consortium addresses separations challenges such as impurities in intermediates impeding downstream biological and chemical catalysts, the need for low-cost purification technologies, and recovery and conversion of dilute carbon.

Learn more at: bioesep.org

Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment

Supported by both the Bioenergy Technologies Office and the Advanced Manufacturing Office, Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE™) is a multi-organization consortium focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today's plastics and creating tomorrow's plastics to be recyclable by design. BOTTLE’s vision is to deliver selective, scalable technologies to enable cost-effective recycling, upcycling, and increased energy efficiency.

Learn more at bottle.org

Addresses challenges related to the catalytic upgrading of intermediates from both high- and low-temperature processes.

The consortium provides access to more than 50 unique, world-class capabilities and expertise in materials theory and computation, synthesis, characterization, and analysis to accelerate the development of new biofuel catalysts and make improvements to existing catalytic systems.

Learn more at chemcatbio.org
Download the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy fact sheet

Advances state-of-the-art computational modeling of fundamental physical and chemical processes. New fundamental insight and models developed by this consortium in conjunction with experimental verification will accelerate research and development, help target new applied research, and aid in the design of advanced catalysts, enzyme systems, and reactors.

Learn more at cpcbiomass.org

Works to advance the underlying science needed to develop fuel and engine technologies that will work in tandem to achieve significant efficiency and emissions benefits. Focuses on identifying and developing new high-performance biofuel blendstocks that can increase energy affordability and diversify fuel options, while reducing life cycle emissions from the transportation sector and improving the value proposition for bio-based fuels.

Learn more at energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/co-optimization-fuels-engines

Investigates the enhancement of algae productivity through screening of promising algae strains and implementation of effective cultivation strategies to accelerate the development of algal biofuels and bioproducts.

Learn more at discovr.labworks.org

Researchers in this consortium quantify, understand, and manage biomass variability from the field to downstream conversion. The consortium seeks to understand how feedstock composition, structure, and behavior impacts overall biorefinery performance.

Learn more at fcic.inl.gov
Download the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium fact sheet