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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO) enables research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to accelerate technology commercialization for the production, storage, delivery and use of alternative fuels, fertilizers, chemicals, and feedstocks to enhance the security and reliability of energy networks and lower energy costs for Americans. Through collaboration with our National Laboratories, academia, and industry, AFFO advances energy independence by establishing a secure domestic supply chain, lowering production costs, invigorating a strong U.S. workforce, and fostering energy growth through diverse, domestic production pathways. As part of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, AFFO integrates legacy efforts in the Bioenergy Technologies Office and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office under one office.
AFFO focuses on:
- Cost-effective conversion of feedstocks to affordable chemicals and strategic fuels;
- Fuel-flexible fuel cells to provide prime and backup power for U.S. data centers and other growing electrical loads;
- Production of performance-enhanced chemicals to advance U.S. manufacturing dominance;
- Reduction of imported fertilizer by providing cost-effective domestic alternatives from hydrogen and biomass; and
- Leveraging growing use of artificial intelligence to spur innovation, advance technology readiness levels, and enable commercialization.
Relevant Topics
Quick links to hydrogen and fuel cells information and resources.
Program Areas
Analysis, Codes, and Standards
The Analysis, Codes, and Standards program conducts analysis to inform direction, prioritization, and decision-making, conducts R&D to develop technologies that enable the safe use of alternative fuels and feedstocks, and conducts underlying research to inform common-sense regulations, codes, standards, and workforce training.
Feedstocks Technologies
The Feedstocks Technologies R&D program develops reliable and cost-effective technologies for producing, harvesting, storing, processing, transporting, and mobilizing abundant domestic biomass and waste feedstocks for conversion into alternative fuels, fertilizers, hydrogen, performance-enhanced chemicals, and high-value bioproducts that will advance national security and energy dominance.
Fuel Cell Technologies
The Fuel Cell Technologies program develops fuel cells that are fuel-flexible and cost-competitive with incumbent and emerging technologies for use as stationary power (e.g. for data centers) and other applications. These efforts support data center expansion, nuclear-hydrogen synergies, and alternatives to critical minerals used in fuel cell technologies.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure R&D program advances infrastructure technologies to reduce the cost of transporting, storing, and dispensing alternative fuels and feedstocks. Cost-effective bulk hydrogen storage and transport can support efforts such as improving data center reliability and enhancing nuclear plant efficiency.
Production Technologies
The Production Technologies program reduces costs and enables expanded, resilient options for fuels, chemicals, and hydrogen using a variety of energy resources, feedstocks, and conversion technologies. This work includes R&D aimed at adding to domestic primary energy sources and enabling the conversion of nuclear and other energy resources to valuable chemicals. It also supports improving supply chain and production efficiency to support U.S. energy and manufacturing, as well as boosting American-made fertilizer production by enabling more ways to improve ammonia.
Systems Development and Integration
The Systems Development and Integration program integrates and validates technologies through first-of-a-kind demonstrations. This includes integration of technologies for the production, transportation, and end-uses of alternative fuels, fertilizers, chemicals, and feedstocks at various scales. This work reduces technical and operational uncertainty, mitigates risk, and enables industry-led scale-up and commercialization.
Features
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The Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP), published in May 2024, set forth the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office's mission, goals, and strategic approach relative to broader clean energy priorities of the U.S. Department of Energy.June 4, 2026
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The Regional Biomass Resource Hub Initiative (RBRH) is a new initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designed to accelerate the mobilization of purpose-grown energy crops to create clean fuels and products.June 2, 2026
News and Publications
Find more information about past bioenergy technologies and hydrogen and fuel cells technologies news and publications.
Upcoming AFFO Events
Find more information about past bioenergy technologies and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies meetings and events.
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Apr 19Save the Date: AFFO 2027 Peer Review MeetingStarts April 19th, 2027 - 9:00 AM EDT View Event Details for Save the Date: AFFO 2027 Peer Review Meeting
Leadership
Resources
Contact Us
Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office
Office of the Assistant Secretary
of Energy
Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation
Mail Stop CM-1
Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585
