National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Biomass Research

Working with Us

NREL offers industry, universities, and other government agencies opportunities to leverage NREL's research expertise. Working with outside organizations is the key to moving advanced biofuel technologies into the market. Explore NREL's biomass projects for examples of stakeholder partnerships.

We provide opportunities to develop technology partnerships, license our technologies, and use our facilities. Learn about working with NREL's Biomass Program and the National Bioenergy Center.

Develop Technology Partnerships

Interaction with outside partners is key to moving biomass technologies into the marketplace and the U.S. economy. There are a variety of ways to get involved with NREL's biomass research activities:

• Work collaboratively with NREL through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). This is the most widely used means of industrial collaboration.

• Participate in subcontracted biomass research through current solicitations/request for proposals. More than half of NREL's budget goes to support U.S. Department of Energy-directed research conducted by large and small private companies, universities, research institutes, and consultants.

• Pay NREL to conduct research without your collaboration through Work-for-Others Agreements (WFOs) or Sponsored Research, such as Analytical Services Agreements and Technical Services Agreements. This is an effective way for industry to take advantage of the National Bioenergy Center's expertise and unique research facilities.

• Participate in NREL's postdoctoral researchers and research associates education partnerships with colleges and universities. NREL and universities engage in joint research projects, subcontracts, task ordering agreements, and master agreements; faculty and postdoctoral fellowships and sabbaticals; adjunct faculty arrangements; scientist-faculty exchanges; and facility access, use, and sharing.

• Work with NREL biomass researchers through mentored undergraduate and graduate student internships.

License Our Technologies

NREL has several biomass technologies available for licensing. Patents of particular interest include:

• Hydrolysis and Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass
  

  6,228,177, 6,423,145, 6,660,506, 6,022,419, 6,737,258

• Thermotolerant Enzymes and Gene Encoding for Endoglucanase
  

  5,712,142, 5,536,655, 5,432,075, 5,366,884, 5,275,944, 5,110,735, 7,059,993, 5,514,584

• Photoconversion of Combustible Organic Materials into Single-Cell Protein
  

  5,250,427

• Gene that Encodes Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase from Cyclotella Cryptica
  

  5,661,017, 5,559,220

• Recombinant Zymomonas for Pentose Fermentation
  

  6,566,107, 5,843,760, 5,726,053, 5,712,133, 5,514,583, 7,223,575, 7,354,755

• Chemical Recycling of Plastics
  

  5,821,553, 5,464,602, 5,386,070, 5,359,061, 5,359,099, 5,321,174, 5,300,704, 5,216,149, 5,136,111.

Use Our Facilities

Through the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL has extensive, state-of-the-art facilities for conducting biomass research, including user's facilities for converting renewable feedstocks into a variety of products including transportation fuels and high-value chemicals. Learn more about NREL's biomass facilities.

Contact Us

Please contact us if you would like to explore collaboration opportunities with NREL's Biomass Program.

John Ashworth, 303-384-6858
Rich Bolin, 303-384-7716