Biomass research in the U.S. is getting some federal support, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy jointly putting up to $18.4 million into 21 projects.

The funding will go into biomass research and development and demonstration projects over a three year period.

The two agencies said the projects would aim to address critical barriers to making production of biomass more efficient and cost-effective.

"These grants help fund the innovative research needed to develop technologies and systems that lead to the production of bio-based products and biofuels," said Ed Schafer, secretary of the USDA.

"Funding new technologies will help make biofuels competitive with fossil fuels in the commercial market, putting America on the path of reducing its dependence on foreign oil."

The grant recipients are required to raise a minimum of 20 percent matching funds for research and development projects, and 50 percent matching funds for demonstration projects.

One of the research and development projects is at the University of Colorado, which will be getting up to $1 million to develop rapid solar-thermal chemical reactor systems for conversion of biomass to synthesis gas.

On the demonstration side, the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, the engineering research agency of Texas, is set to receive up to $600,000 for a demonstration of commercial feasibility of anaerobic fermentation of biomass for the production of carboxylate salts and their conversion to keytones.

Funding for all of the projects will be provided through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, a joint USDA-DOE effort established in 2000.