Designation/Position- DBT Call for Proposals for Energy
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India invites applications for DBT Call for Proposals for Energy from eligible and interested candidates
About- Aviation accounts for approximately 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions but is expected to increase to 5% by 2050. There is no substitute for liquid fuels in jet aircraft for the foreseeable future. Substituting sustainable aviation fuel for fossil-fuel-based jet fuel is the single most significant opportunity to decarbonize air travel. India has taken bold steps to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at almost current consumer prices. The technology is commercially viable but still needs investment and market confidence to scale. Power-to-liquid (PtL) is a particularly promising SAF production pathway that can take advantage of India’s renewable electricity supply.
Research/Job Area- Science and Technology
Key Priority Areas:
Applications may include, but are not limited to collaborations addressing the following areas:
- Demonstrate conventional and advanced aviation fuel technologies from biomass and other renewable feedstock such as non-food crops, agriculture and forest residues, organic fraction of MSW including waste lipid etc. at a minimum scale of 100 kg per day feed throughput
- Technologies to produce drop-in-biofuels for aviation sectors (Aqueous phase reforming, Hydrothermal liquefaction, Power to Liquid, Thermochemical liquefaction, advanced biological routes, Microbial biotechnology). MSW/Biomass gasification to syngas followed by catalytic conversion of syngas to drop in fuel
- Waste to Energy Strategies (Waste industrial gases (CO, CO2, H2, Methane) to alcohols or acetone by bio-fermentation and then AJT to bio-jet fuel)
- Algae/Macro algae Based aviation fuels
- CO2 Direct-Air-Capture and Efficiency for aviation biofuel production
- Bio-Restore: Biomass to Restore Natural Resources – Feed stock Development and its sustainability in the context of aviation biofuel production
- Innovative technologies using Genomics and Synthetic Biology as pathways for SAF production.
- Scale-Up of Bench Applications in above areas as the processes amenable to alignment with petroleum refineries / Integrated Biorefineries
Location- India
Eligibility/Qualification–
WHO CAN APPLY: Faculties of recognized universities and academic institutions, scientists working in National Laboratories, R&D institutions, and Research organizations recognized by DSIR, individually or in consortium mode. The roles and responsibilities of each partner should be delineated in the proposal. Industry participation is not mandatory, however, the proposals having industrial contribution can be considered. The industrial partner should have proven standing and R&D capability in the proposed R&D area.
INDUSTRIAL CONTRIBUTION: Participating Industry would be required to invest financial and other resources within its own system i.e. production/ test lines and/or develop required infrastructure to adopt research leads and is expected to bring design, engineering, and development capability for the benefit of the project.
Research Objectives
This FOA is intended to support Research & Innovations to produce at scale, widely affordable, advanced biofuels for aviation applications. In addition, the goal is to conduct research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to foster technological innovations that are technically feasible, robust, and cost-effective. It is also expected to evolve technologies and develop methodologies and business models that are adaptable to local and global needs.
The Investigators need to propose new pathways and not the routine production of ethanol or diesel.
Also Investigators are encouraged to incorporate specific end of project metrics to be achieved i.e. SAF must be produced in specific quantities, as per approved standard, specific and with tentative cost targets in order to take forward for pilot / precommercial scale etc.
Job/Position Description-
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Category ‘A’ Fundamental Research Projects
- The potential impact of the project and the national importance of the proposed research.
- Need assessment and demand for proposed work, defined achievable targets in alignment to National Priorities
- Scientific and technical merit
- Expertise, facilities, and track record and ability of the Project Investigation Team to achieve the research goals
- Proposal formulation (Precision in the objective, adequacy, and completeness of literature review, preliminary work done, methodology and work plan, resources requested for this purpose, effectiveness of planning and resource management, etc.)
Category ‘B’ Translational research projects
In addition to assessment criteria given for Category ‘A’, proposals can be assessed for established proof-of-concept ready to go to the next phase for technology development, validation and commercialization; promising late translational leads ready for technology enhancement and commercialization; validation and field trials
COMPONENT OF GRANT
- Equipment cost
- Research Manpower (Nomenclature and salary as per DBT/DST guidelines only)
- Outsourcing / Fabrication cost
- Domestic travel
- Consumables
- Contingencies
- Other costs
- Overheads as per DBT norms.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The proposals will be evaluated on following criteria:
- Scientific Merit
- Technical strength of proposal
- Clarity of technical strategy
- Innovation level
- Investigator’s Credentials and/or collaborative team’s expertise.
How to Apply-
Interested researchers should submit project proposals online only through DBT electronic project management system ‘ePromis’ (http://dbtepromis.nic.in/Login.aspx) under the Programme ‘Energy Biosciences – Biofuels’. One hardcopy of the proposal
(exactly as submitted through DBT ‘ePromis’ portal) should also be submitted by post to Dr. Manoj Kumar Modi, Scientist- ‘F’, Room No. 505, Block-3, Department of Biotechnology, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.
The proposals which are not submitted through DBT eProMIS portal and received after due date will not be entertained.
Any technical queries in this regard can be addressed to Dr. Sangita M Kasture, Scientist ‘F’ & Head-Energy, Environment & Forest Decision Unit (Email: sangita.kasture@nic.in) and Dr. Manoj Kumar Modi, Scientist ‘F’ DBT (Email: manoj.modi@nic.in).
Last Date for Apply– 05 June 2022
| Activity | Date /Month/Year |
| Call Open date | 21.04.2022 |
| Call Closing Date | 05.06.2022 |
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