The US Department of Energy (DOE) is making $100mn available to partner with states, municipalities and public utilities in buying products derived from converted carbon emissions.
The new Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants program, which is being funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, will help offset 50pc of the costs of buying and using some products made from the conversion of captured carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions.
The goal of the program is to accelerate the adoption of advanced carbon management technologies and generate a larger market for sustainable alternatives in chemicals, fuels, and building products sourced from captured emissions, the Energy Department said.
Eligible products must show they have a "significant net reduction" in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared with already established products, the department said. It defined "significant" as being initially 10pc below baseline standards provided by the department's National Energy Technology Laboratory.
The Carbon Capture Coalition, a group that advocates for the development and use of carbon capture and other carbon management technologies, endorsed the new grants program.
"Carbon reuse is an essential technology among the full suite of carbon management tools needed to decarbonize the American economy," said Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, a group that advocates for the development and use of carbon capture and other carbon management technologies. "If properly incentivized, this nascent sector has the potential to create robust, sustainable supply chains while abating the production of greenhouse gas emissions."
Applications for grants will be accepted until 30 April 2024 at 5pm ET or until it is amended or succeeded by another issuance.
