Funding Selections: Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops

Southwest Microalgal Research and Testing (SMaRT)

This project will evaluate two main approaches for algae cultivation: 1) Semi-continuous cultivation under nutrient replete conditions for biomass production and 2) 2-stage cultivation (growth and induction) to enhance the production of lipids. The research will be performed using a variety of raceway sizes, including sloped raceways driven by pumps rather than paddlewheels. One end goal of this project is to integrate empirical data collected at multiple scales with validated computational simulations and hydrodynamic modeling to enable a Digital Twin (or virtual testbed) to help guide, de-risk and mobilize the algae industry.

Economical Green Algae Cultivation for Renewable Fuels and Materials

This project will demonstrate, quantify, and optimize the cultivation of microalgae for the purpose of producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), bioplastics, and omega-3 fatty acids. The project will grow the high-yielding microalgae in outdoor raceway ponds without plastic liners. Key project objectives include optimizing algae cultivation and harvesting methods to maximize biomass yield and minimize costs.  This project will validate large-scale algae production and all biomass produced will be converted for product manufacturing by commercial partners. 

Regional Mobilization of Low-Carbon Intensity Herbaceous Feedstocks for Biofuels and Bioproducts (RM-Herb): Switchgrass, Miscanthus, and High-Biomass Sorghum

This project will link new and on-going data streams from commercial scale fields of miscanthus, switchgrass and sorghum over 9 states to demonstrate yield, composition, carbon intensity (CI) and ecosystem services, filling critical knowledge gaps in sustainable conversion-ready herbaceous feedstocks. A key innovation is leveraging existing fields for field evaluation, ecosystem modeling, and life cycle and technoeconomic analysis to determine the site and species-specific carbon intensity.

Oilseed Crops to Sustain the Environment and Meet Energy Demand (OILSEED)

This project will establish a relay cropping system that produces an intermediate oilseed (camelina or pennycress) as a harvestable winter crop between a summer annual grain and soybean—three crops in two years. In this system, soybean is interseeded into a standing oilseed crop in spring, the oilseed is harvested over the top of the immature soybean, and the soybean matures and is harvested in the fall. This cropping system is expected to produce low carbon intensity scores for the oilseed crops and address intractable environmental problems in agriculture. 

Developing a Reliable Supply Chain of Camelina and Carinata for SAF

This project proposes to conduct cultivation studies of wheat-camelina system under no-till farming practice and compare it with baseline of wheat-fallow conventional tilling for production of sustainable aviation fuel. Concurrently, the team will evaluate a camelina and soybean relay cropping system in Minnesota, and carinata as a cover crop during winter fallow prior to cotton planting in Alabama. Expected outcomes include optimal cropping systems that will improve soil health and water use efficiency, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and provide biodiversity for pest control. 

Advancing Commercialization through the Monitoring, Measurement, and Verification of Large, Established Willow Biomass Crops

This project will remove barriers to the expansion and commercialization of willow crops through innovations to lower production costs and carbon impact, including UAV precision management, new planting systems, improved genetics, and a prototype harvester.  This project offers a unique opportunity to understand the dynamics of a large-scale, commercially managed short rotation woody crop system that is currently in the second half of its 20-25 year life cycle. The project team will also collect, analyze and share sustainability data related to willow production.