The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), in partnership with the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), announced a lab call to accelerate commercialization of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, including direct air capture, by advancing measurement, reporting, and verification (MVR) best practices and capabilities. 

The lab call is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as part of the DOE Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). OTT expects to make $15 million in BIL TCF federal funding available for projects led by DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites and supported by diverse industry partnerships spanning the emerging CDR sector.

The funding program aims to support the development of MRV tools and protocols that are necessary to enable CDR commercialization at scale. The lack of robust and standardized MRV practices to quantify and compare CDR solutions for net greenhouse gas removals in an apples-to-apples manner is a market formation bottleneck impeding the ability to commercialize promising new CDR technologies. 

CDR MRV best practices and capabilities projects will allow CDR companies, academics, and industry stakeholders to leverage National Lab expertise to enable carbon removal claims to be compared in a rigorous, transparent, and bankable manner across the broad portfolio of approaches. 

OTT expects to make 3–5 awards under the funding program, each between $3 million and $5 million. Applicants should consider the teaming elements that are needed to successfully achieve the proposed project objectives. OTT encourages diverse stakeholders from industry and other non-federal entities to partner with National Lab(s) to support the emerging carbon removal sector. 

Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a brief, mandatory concept paper is due on Jan. 20, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET.

See a complete list of key dates.

National Lab expertise can help enable the emerging CDR industry and provide a pathway to commercialization for new technologies by solving the following problems:

1. Measuring carbon: Identifying, developing, and testing affordable, precise tools (e.g., sensors and models) to measure carbon fluxes within the CDR system to intended secure reservoirs
2. Quantifying net-carbon removed: Cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis, which includes establishing appropriate system boundaries, using correct baselines, and analyzing permanence, additionality, and leakage of specific approaches at reasonable geospatial and temporal scales
3. Increasing transparency: Improving access to and understanding of data-driven models and processes underlying CDR MRV to improve bankability, build trust in communities, and enable widespread adoption
4. Developing best practices for protocols and processes: Validating methodologies and cost-effective measurement approaches used for verifying carbon removal claims.

Tackling these challenges in parallel will enable net carbon removal comparisons of leading carbon removal pathways in a consistent manner, enabling a broader range of carbon removal solutions to gain commercial traction.

In general, projects will consist of two phases. In the first phase, awardees will build up capabilities and collaborate with each other to develop a harmonized MRV framework. The second phase will focus on usage of capabilities, including deeper engagements with industry partners. 

Stakeholder engagement will be critical throughout the projects to support knowledge sharing across the selectees and external stakeholders. Applicants can propose developing new mechanisms or leveraging existing structures, for example hosting an annual summit. 

OTT will host an informational webinar on Dec. 20, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the funding program and areas of focus. 

To expedite external partnerships in support of this lab call, DOE will compile a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of new project teams. 

The list allows organizations that may wish to participate in an application but cannot do so as the prime applicant to express their interest to National Lab applicants and explore possible partnerships.

Any organization that would like to be included on this list should find the Teaming Partner List for this solicitation (TPL-0000005) on Exchange and submit the following information:

• Organization Name
• Organization Type
• Website
• Contact Name
• Contact Address
• Contact Email
• Contact Phone
• Area of Expertise
• Brief Description of Capabilities
• Applicable Topic and Subtopic.

Please refer to the Manuals section on Exchange for more detailed instructions on using the Teaming Partner List.

Disclaimer: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the submitted information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Key Dates

• Download the full lab call on the Exchange website. 
• For questions about this lab call, contact TCF.BIL@hq.doe.gov. 
• Questions related to the registration process and use of the Exchange website should be submitted to: EERE-eXCHANGESupport@hq.doe.gov.
• Learn more about OTT’s Technology Commercialization Fund.
• Sign up for the OTT newsletter to stay current with the latest office news and funding programs.