DE-FOA-0003535 Request for Information (RFI): Defining Sustainable Maritime Fuels in the United States | DE FOA 0003535

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003535

DE-FOA-0003535 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on one specific near-term policy need: creating a clear, federally informed definition of "Sustainable Maritime Fuel" (SMF) in 2025. The RFI is tied to the federal Action Plan for Maritime Energy and Emissions Innovation, which argues that the maritime sector will not be able to meet future emissions goals by swapping in drop-in replacements alone. Instead, the plan anticipates a shift toward a wider set of solutions such as clean methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, electrification, and operational and vessel efficiency improvements as shipping moves toward zero- and near zero-emission pathways. Because many later targets in the Action Plan depend on how SMF is defined (including projections for future production volumes and deployment), DOE is using this RFI to gather practical input before a definition is finalized.

The main purpose of the opportunity is stakeholder engagement rather than funding. DOE is looking for feedback from industry, government entities, and maritime stakeholders on what should count as an SMF and what criteria should be used to evaluate candidate fuels and energy carriers. The RFI emphasizes that a shared definition would help align expectations across communities, shipping and fuel companies, ports, investors and financiers, regulators, and other stakeholders. That alignment is positioned as a prerequisite for scaling technology development and investment, since markets and projects move more confidently when "sustainable" has a consistent meaning that is understood across agencies and the private sector.

DOE notes it is coordinating this effort with other federal agencies to support the eventual SMF definition, including (but not limited to) the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of State, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In practical terms, this signals that the final definition may need to work across multiple policy and regulatory contexts, including transportation and port operations, agricultural and bio-based feedstock supply chains, international diplomacy and trade considerations, and environmental and public health priorities.

The RFI invites comments on a broad set of potential definition elements. These include the minimum level of lifecycle carbon intensity reduction that a fuel should achieve to qualify as "sustainable," along with what sustainability factors beyond carbon should be included (for example, broader environmental impacts and supply chain considerations). It also asks whether criteria air pollutants should be part of the SMF definition, explicitly referencing NOx, SOx, and particulate matter, which are central to maritime air quality and community health impacts near ports and shipping corridors. Another theme is what feedstocks should be considered acceptable, which matters for biofuels and electrofuels alike because feedstock sourcing strongly influences both lifecycle emissions and broader sustainability concerns. DOE also highlights the need to consider alignment with global frameworks and requirements, specifically pointing to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and FuelEU Maritime, since shipping is inherently international and U.S. definitions that diverge too far from global rules could create compliance and investment friction. Finally, DOE is asking whether and how to account for emission reduction technologies such as onboard carbon capture, which raises questions about how to credit reductions achieved through equipment on the vessel versus upstream fuel production changes.

Submission is straightforward but tightly formatted. Responses must be emailed to DefiningSMF@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 28, 2025, and they must be included as attachments to the email. DOE recommends compressing (zipping) attachments larger than 25 MB to reduce delivery problems. The response itself must be in Microsoft Word format (.docx) and limited to no more than three pages, using 12-point font and one-inch margins. Only electronic submissions are accepted.

It is important to treat this as a consultation process, not a grant competition. Although it appears in the funding opportunity system and carries the identifier DE-FOA-0003535 (CFDA 81.087) through DOE's Golden Field Office, it is explicitly not a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). There is no award funding available under this posting (award ceiling is listed as $1 and expected awards are 0), and DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is not accepting applications. The intended outcome is an informed federal definition of Sustainable Maritime Fuel, shaped by stakeholder input, that can be used to guide future maritime decarbonization strategy, investment signals, and potential later programs. The full RFI document is available through EERE Exchange at EERE-Exchange.Energy.gov.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0003535 Request for Information (RFI): Defining Sustainable Maritime Fuels in the United States" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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