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DEAR0001666

Project Grant

Overview

Grant Description
Molten Industries Inc., new award project title: Biogas to Renewable Fuels via Thermal Reforming. Purpose: Molten is using a new reactor technology to enable the direct conversion of biogas into carbon-negative syngas for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and renewable diesel.
Place of Performance
Menlo Park, California United States
Geographic Scope
City-Wide
Molten Industries was awarded Project Grant DEAR0001666 worth $499,866 from Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy in August 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Menlo Park California United States. The grant has a duration of 2 years and was awarded through assistance program 81.135 Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy. The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity SOLICITATION ON TOPICS INFORMING NEW PROGRAM AREAS SBIR/STTR.

SBIR Details

Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
Biogas to Renewable Fuels via Thermal Reforming
Abstract
Molten is using a new reactor technology to enable the direct conversion of biogas into carbon-negative syngas for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and renewable diesel. This proposed project will investigate the feasibility of using Molten’s proprietary reactor developed for methane pyrolysis to convert biogas to syngas and carbon black at high conversion yields with a 2:1 H2:CO ratio, ideal for Fischer Tropsch synthesis of renewable diesel and SAF. Molten’s non-catalytic, thermal reforming reactor powered by renewable electricity suppresses carbon coking and enables excellent energy efficiency at high gas throughputs. In this project we will perform (1) experimental confirmation of modeled chemical reaction pathways, kinetics, and yield, (2) studies of reactor fouling and reaction products from raw biogas impurities, and (3) an evaluation of full system design at bench top scale, optimization of processing parameters, and the design of a demonstration scale reactor with cost model. If successful, this project will open a new route to upgrade biogas to fuels, increasing U.S. sustainable fuel production, increasing the number of economically viable biogas production sites, and decreasing the emissions of the road transport and aviation industries.
Topic Code
N/A
Solicitation Number
None

Status
(Complete)

Last Modified 4/3/23

Period of Performance
8/1/22
Start Date
7/31/24
End Date
100% Complete

Funding Split
$499.9K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$499.9K
Total Obligated
100.0% Federal Funding
0.0% Non-Federal Funding

Activity Timeline

Interactive chart of timeline of amendments to DEAR0001666

Transaction History

Modifications to DEAR0001666

Additional Detail

Award ID FAIN
DEAR0001666
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
897030 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Funding Office
897002 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Awardee UEI
PME2C5MYJ691
Awardee CAGE
8SU93
Performance District
18
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Representative
Zoe Lofgren

Budget Funding

Federal Account Budget Subfunction Object Class Total Percentage
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Energy Programs, Energy (089-0337) Energy supply Research and development contracts (25.5) $499,866 100%
Modified: 4/3/23