Pentagon unveils new CTL technology development program

as reported by www.futurecoalfuels.org, Sept 17, 2008

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) earlier this month unveiled a new “aggressive” program designed to enable the Department of Defense “to effectively and economically” utilize U.S. coal reserves “as part of an overall strategy to ensure a secure future energy supply for our military services.”

In a Sept. 4 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), DARPA emphasized that “the military’s reliance on fuels derived from foreign oil imports represents a vulnerability that could adversely affect our national security should a disruption in these sources occur,” thus necessitating the need for a program capable of accelerating the development and use of advanced coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels technology.

“Given the abundance of U.S. coal reserves, it is reasonable to assume that coal derived fuels could play an increased role in meeting future U.S. energy needs,” said DARPA.  “

Under the program, DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office will review proposals focused on short term projects capable of demonstrating the ability to reduce the cost of CTL plant construction, further reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve the water usage performance of CTL plants.

The agency is allotting approximately $4.5 million in funding to support successful demonstration projects.  Project proposals must be submitted to DARPA by Nov. 12, with the agency pledging to issue a consolidated question and answer response document after Sept. 30 to help guide those drafting proposals.