The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit input for a potential ARPA-E program focused on leveraging the zero-energy carbon dioxide capture process provided by photosynthesis to develop novel, transformational technologies that improve the energy efficiency of the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector.
Specifically, this RFI focuses on:
- Increasing the quantity and efficiency of carbon harvested from above-ground biomass per unit of land, energy, and other inputs, especially for low-productivity, low-input biomass west of the 100th Meridian (i.e., non-farmland areas);
- Processing post-harvest biomass for maximized carbon storage durability and carbon efficiency;
- Improving the management of nutrient cycles within this CDR approach; and
- Understanding the potential economic and environmental underpinnings of sequestering purpose-grown biomass on rangelands.
RFI Guidelines:
Note that the information you provide will be used by ARPA-E solely for program planning, without attribution. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.
The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future research programs. ARPA-E will not provide funding or compensation for any information submitted in response to this RFI, and ARPA-E may use information submitted to this RFI without any attribution to the source. This RFI provides the broad research community with an opportunity to contribute views and opinions.
No material submitted for review will be returned and there will be no formal or informal debriefing concerning the review of any submitted material. ARPA-E may contact respondents to request clarification or seek additional information relevant to this RFI. All responses provided will be considered, but ARPA-E will not respond to individual submissions or publish a compendium of responses. Respondents shall not include any information in the response to this RFI that could be considered proprietary or confidential.
Responses to this RFI should be submitted in PDF format to the email address ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 27, 2024.