The 2015 peer review process, which took place from March 23-27, 2015, yielded a number of important results for the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO or the Office). External reviewers and Steering Committee members delivered a positive overall assessment of the Office and validated much of the current research approach and technical strategy. The Steering Committee recognized the progress made since 2013 and acknowledged that: (1) BETO has been responsive to feedback provided during the 2013 Peer Review Process (e.g., pathways, refinery integration, products); (2) many projects are much better positioned for significant breakthroughs than in 2013; (3) the Principal Investigators (PIs) are much more informed about the relationship of their work to BETO goals and their role within the supply chain; (4) BETO's project management is yielding dividends; (5) sustainability and techno-economic analysis efforts have shown significant progress and are moving toward implementation; (6) consortiums have proved to be an excellent model for coordinating research efforts, and should continue to be utilized; and (7) excellent resources and capabilities of the National Laboratories continue to be great assets for the program.The Steering Committee has also recognized several attributes of BETO's program, including the following: (1) strong support for high tonnage projects, feedstock regional partnerships, resource availability analysis, fundamental genetics projects, and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) user facility; (2) strong program support for the Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP3), Sapphire/University of California San Diego outdoor genetically modified algae trials, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's techno-economic analysis (TEA) modeling, algae wastewater treatment systems, and tools of genetic evolution and manipulation; (3) excellent coordination among biochemical conversion projects to meet 2017/2022 goals; (4) evidence of strong project management, with key efforts including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) analytical work, the Biochemical Feedstocks Interface work with INL/NREL, and multiple lignin conversion projects; (5) continued expansion of thermochemical conversion work on refinery integration; and advocating the national laboratories as an excellent focal point for industry efforts, with highly rated projects, such as the Computational Pyrolysis Consortium and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Corrosion Studies; (6) Demonstration and Market Transformation (DMT) program's shift away from ethanol, focus on the products component, as well addressing storage issues, and development of commercial feedstock supply chains; (7) strong support for ORNL Defining Sustainability, Biomass Scenario Modeling, TEA and life-cycle analysis (LCA) activities, and international engagements; and (8) strong support and continued investment in the development of national laboratory resources and expertise in sustainability that have resulted in the program now "reaping the benefits of...
