In the United States (US), the Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on Renewable Propane Production Technologies and Uses to "better understand the supply chains for the production and uses of renewable propane and other renewable gaseous intermediates."
Propane is primarily used for residential and commercial heating, for industrial purposes, including chemical and plastics manufacturing, and for agricultural applications.
Propane consumption averages approximately one million barrels per day and accounts for approximately 1 percent of total energy consumption in the United States (US).
Traditionally originating as a natural gas processing byproduct or crude oil refining byproduct, recently, renewable propane has become a new byproduct or product in the biofuels sector where production utilizes municipal waste, agricultural residue, forest resources, and fats, oils, and greases (FOG).
Specifically, this RFI (DE-FOA-0003389) seeks input from industry and other stakeholders who produce or are considering producing, renewable propane on the potential to increase its viability to pursue new production pathways to sustainable aviation fuels and other high-impact products.
This RFI also aims to collect information on the costs and benefits to a refinery that hydroprocessing biogenic fats, oils, and greases by utilizing renewable propane produced in situ as process energy compared to the separation recovery of renewable propane for sale externally in the propane market.
RFI questions fall into two categories:
- Production of propane and other gaseous intermediates from the hydroprocessing of biogenic fats, oils, and greases; and
- Production of propane and other gaseous intermediates from municipal waste, agricultural residue, and forest residues.
Responses must be submitted by August 5, 2024.
This is an RFI only, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will not pay for the information provided under this RFI and no project will be supported as a result of this RFI.
This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives.
EERE may or may not issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) based on consideration of the input received from this RFI.
