The United States is leveraging its vast energy and natural resources to unlock new opportunities for increased energy production and profitability. This effort is driven by innovative Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) focused on bioresources and refinery assets.

In October 2024, in Long Beach, California, the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), convened a symposium bringing together industry and academic experts. The focus was to explore the potential of utilizing existing petroleum refinery infrastructure to support the expansion of the bioeconomy. While the integration of biorefineries into conventional refinery operations is not a new concept, recent market trends and national priorities have renewed interest in this area. In response, the Biorefining, Petroleum, and Gas Refining Symposium will showcase ongoing applied research within refineries and highlight early-stage innovations emerging from universities, national laboratories, and startups. The event will spotlight key advancements across the following focus areas: