On 21 August 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched a new funding initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the "Collaborative Alignment for Critical Technology Industries—Industrial Decarbonization Lab Call." The program is designed to address challenges in the commercialization, demonstration, and deployment of industrial decarbonization technologies.
The funding focuses on three key sectors:
- Chemicals and refining industry: Focus on overcoming commercialization hurdles in decarbonizing chemicals production and refining, particularly through developing carbon intensity (CI) evaluation frameworks to aid green procurement.
- Concrete and cement industry: Work with industry groups to commercialize low-carbon cement products ready for real-world demonstration within 3-5 years, emphasizing procurement facilitation.
- Metals industry (iron, steel, and aluminum): Support the commercialization of low-carbon processes for iron, steel, and aluminum and harmonize carbon intensity frameworks domestically and internationally.
Total funding has an initial budget of approximately USD 15 million, with USD 5 million dedicated to each of the three identified sectors. Eligible projects must be led by DOE National Laboratories, and the funding is intended to support the development and implementation of recommendations and best practices within the targeted industries. Only DOE National Laboratories, facilities, and sites are eligible applicants, but others can apply with expressions of interest to form partnerships with the labs.
This funding is part of the Biden administration's broader push under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to decarbonize hard-to-abate industrial sectors like chemicals, cement, and metals, which are critical for meeting U.S. climate goals. The USD 15 million in funding is aimed at accelerating technological innovation and collaboration, reflecting the federal government's strategy to align efforts across industries and maintain U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race, particularly in the face of international competition in Canada, the EU, and China.
The application deadline for National Laboratories is 14 October 2024. The DOE will also hold a webinar on 4 September 2024, to provide more details about the program. Please contact our Marketing Intelligence team if you have any questions.