US DOE launches new Energy Earthshot to decarbonize transportation, industrial sectors

U.S. DOE announced May 24 the launch of the Clean Fuels & Products Shot, a new initiative that aims to significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGs) from carbon-based fuels and products.

This is the seventh DOE Energy Earthshot, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions from the fuel and chemical industry through alternative, more sustainable sources of carbon to achieve a minimum of 85 percent lower GHG emissions as compared to fossil-based sources by 2035.

The Clean Fuels & Products Shot supports the national goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 by developing the sustainable feedstocks and conversion technologies necessary to produce crucial fuels, materials and carbon-based products that are better for the environment than current petroleum-derived components.

It aims to meet projected 2050 net-zero emissions demands for 100 percent of aviation fuel; 50 percent of maritime, rail and off-road fuel; and 50 percent of carbon-based chemicals by using sustainable carbon resources.

“DOE is invested in decarbonizing the transportation and chemical industries by accelerating technologies necessary to reduce emissions from the manufacturing of fuels and chemicals,” said Jennifer Granholm, U.S. energy secretary. “This Energy Earthshot will advance the Biden administration’s efforts to diversify the domestic supply chain with cost-competitive, clean fuels and products for daily use and establish the U.S. as a world leader in clean fuel and clean carbon-based chemical production.”

During the secretary’s announcement May 24 at Idaho National Laboratory, a ribbon-cutting also took place for the Biofuels National User Facility, a $15 million, three-year-long facility upgrade at Idaho National Laboratory funded by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and an important asset to reach the goals of the Clean Fuels & Products Shot.

The enhanced state-of-the-art facility is designed to solve critical biofuels production challenges associated with the feeding, handling and preprocessing of diverse biomass and waste materials.

Industry use of this facility will enable rapid technology development and large-scale commercialization of biofuels and bioproducts.

The Clean Fuels & Products Shot can help eliminate more than 650 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent per year by 2050.

This significant decrease in the U.S. carbon footprint will establish the United States as a global leader in clean fuel and chemical production, create jobs and bolster energy security by building robust and versatile supply chains for fuels and products.

This effort aligns with the interagency Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, as well as DOE’s broader Energy Earthshots portfolio.

To learn more, read the Clean Fuels & Products Shot factsheet and visit the initiative’s website.