Opportunity Information: Apply for DE PS36 09GO99009

  • The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "20 Wind by 2030 Overcoming the Challenges" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2009 and posted on Feb 27, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 5, 2009 Reposting opportunity to post Adobe application package. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 99 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for DE PS36 09GO99009

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Opportunity Summary:

The "20 Wind by 2030 Overcoming the Challenges" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-PS36-09GO99009) is a U.S. Department of Energy discretionary grant program run through the Golden Field Office under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). It is designed to push forward near- to medium-term research, development, and related actions that help the United States realistically reach a scenario where wind supplies 20 percent of the nation s electricity by 2030, a target outlined in DOE s May 2008 "20 Wind Energy by 2030" report. That report concluded the country has more than enough affordable wind resource potential, but that several practical, system-level barriers must be solved for wind to scale to that level. This funding opportunity is essentially aimed at tackling those barriers in ways that accelerate deployment while strengthening energy security, improving environmental outcomes, and supporting domestic economic growth through a more diverse, reliable, and affordable electricity supply.

The program sits within DOE s Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (WHTP), whose broader mission is to maximize renewable energy use in the U.S. by leading technology improvements for wind and water power, coordinating with stakeholders, and addressing non-technical barriers that slow adoption. In plain terms, DOE is looking to fund projects that remove the bottlenecks that show up when wind generation moves from being a niche contributor to a major pillar of the national grid. The opportunity reflects an understanding that wind growth is not just about better turbines; it is also about transmission, grid operations, planning, siting, environmental considerations, and having enough trained people to design, build, operate, and maintain the industry at scale.

The FOA highlights several specific challenge areas that applicants are expected to address. One major theme is transmission expansion and modernization, because the best wind resources are often far from major demand centers; for example, high-quality wind in the Midwest needs pathways to deliver electricity to population-heavy areas like the East Coast. Another theme is grid integration, including the need for larger load balancing areas and improved regional planning so that variability in wind can be managed across broader geographic footprints and combined with other generation sources. The opportunity also emphasizes technology and cost: continued reduction in wind turbine capital costs through technology advances and manufacturing improvements, along with improved turbine performance and lower operating and maintenance costs through better reliability. Beyond engineering, DOE explicitly calls out local siting issues and concerns about wildlife and environmental impacts, signaling interest in projects that reduce conflicts, improve permitting outcomes, or strengthen environmental mitigation approaches. Finally, workforce development is listed as a key barrier, recognizing that rapid growth requires a deep pipeline of skilled workers across manufacturing, construction, operations, maintenance, and related professional services.

In terms of award structure and scale, the announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $8,000,000 with an anticipated 99 awards, and an award ceiling of $50,000 (with no stated minimum award floor). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning recipients must contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources, although the exact match rules and percentages would be detailed in the full announcement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types (subject to any constraints spelled out in the FOA), which typically can include private companies, universities, nonprofits, state or local governments, and other organizations involved in energy research, technology, deployment support, or workforce efforts.

The application process is routed through Grants.gov, and the posting strongly stresses the administrative steps required to submit successfully. Applicants are expected to obtain a DUNS number and complete federal registration steps (at the time, including CCR registration), set up required submission software, and register with Grants.gov well ahead of the deadline. The notice recommends allowing at least 21 days to complete registrations and then confirming registration success with the Grants.gov helpdesk. It also directs technical and content questions to DOE s Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) using the "Submit Question" function. The posting includes period-specific submission warnings, including compatibility problems at the time with Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 file formats, advising applicants to use older systems or save Office 2007 documents into older formats to avoid silent submission failures where an application appears submitted but cannot be processed.

Key dates in the listing show it was posted February 27, 2009, with an original and current closing date of March 5, 2009 (noted as a reposting to post the Adobe application package), and an archive date of April 4, 2009. The fastest way to understand what project types were specifically solicited, how DOE intended to evaluate proposals, what cost share levels applied, and what deliverables were expected is to review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement linked in the posting.

FAQs: 20 Wind by 2030 Overcoming the Challenges (DE-PS36-09GO99009)

What is the "20 Wind by 2030 Overcoming the Challenges" funding opportunity?

It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discretionary grant opportunity intended to support near- to medium-term research, development, and related activities that help the United States realistically reach a scenario where wind provides 20 percent of the nation's electricity by 2030.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-PS36-09GO99009.

Which DOE office runs this opportunity?

The opportunity is run through DOE's Golden Field Office.

What program is this opportunity associated with?

It sits within DOE's Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (WHTP).

What is the CFDA number and program area?

The listing references CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.

What is the main goal of this grant program?

The goal is to address practical, system-level barriers that must be solved for wind energy to scale significantly, accelerating deployment while strengthening energy security, improving environmental outcomes, and supporting domestic economic growth through a more diverse, reliable, and affordable electricity supply.

What DOE report is this opportunity based on?

The opportunity aligns with DOE's May 2008 report titled "20% Wind Energy by 2030."

Why does DOE consider this funding necessary if wind resources are sufficient?

DOE's 2008 report concluded the United States has more than enough affordable wind resource potential, but that several practical barriers (beyond just turbine technology) need to be addressed to scale wind to the 20 percent level.

What kinds of barriers or challenges is DOE trying to solve through this FOA?

The FOA targets bottlenecks that appear when wind grows from a niche source to a major contributor to the national grid, including transmission, grid operations and planning, siting and environmental considerations, cost and reliability, and workforce capacity.

What specific topic areas does the FOA highlight for proposed projects?

The FOA highlights several challenge areas, including transmission expansion and modernization; grid integration and regional planning; wind technology and cost reduction (capital cost, performance, reliability, and operations and maintenance costs); local siting issues; wildlife and environmental impacts; and workforce development.

How does transmission relate to this opportunity?

A major theme is that high-quality wind resources are often located far from major demand centers, so DOE is interested in efforts that expand and modernize transmission to deliver wind-generated electricity where it is needed.

How does grid integration fit into the scope of this FOA?

The FOA emphasizes grid integration challenges such as managing wind variability through larger load balancing areas and improved regional planning across broader geographic footprints, including coordination with other generation sources.

Does the opportunity focus only on turbine engineering?

No. The description explicitly reflects that scaling wind is not only about better turbines; it also includes transmission, grid operations, planning, siting, environmental considerations, and building a trained workforce to support the industry at scale.

What types of technology and cost improvements are mentioned?

The FOA references continued reduction in wind turbine capital costs through technology advances and manufacturing improvements, along with improved turbine performance and reduced operating and maintenance costs through better reliability.

Are environmental and wildlife impacts included in the scope?

Yes. The opportunity calls out local siting issues and concerns about wildlife and environmental impacts, signaling interest in projects that reduce conflicts, improve permitting outcomes, or strengthen environmental mitigation approaches.

Is workforce development an eligible focus area?

Yes. Workforce development is identified as a key barrier, reflecting the need for skilled workers across manufacturing, construction, operations, maintenance, and related professional services as wind deployment accelerates.

How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?

The announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $8,000,000.

How many awards does DOE anticipate making?

The listing anticipates 99 awards.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is listed as $50,000.

Is there a minimum award amount?

No minimum award floor is stated in the provided listing information.

Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning recipients must contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources. The exact rules and percentages are described in the full announcement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any constraints specified in the FOA.

Where are applications submitted?

Applications are submitted through Grants.gov.

What registrations or identifiers are mentioned as part of the submission process?

The posting states applicants are expected to obtain a DUNS number and complete federal registration steps (at the time including CCR registration), set up required submission software, and register with Grants.gov well ahead of the deadline.

How far in advance should applicants start registrations?

The notice recommends allowing at least 21 days to complete registrations and then confirming registration success with the Grants.gov helpdesk.

Where should technical or content questions be submitted?

Questions are directed to DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) using the "Submit Question" function.

Are there any technical submission warnings mentioned?

Yes. The posting includes warnings about compatibility issues at the time with Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 file formats. It advises using older systems or saving Office 2007 documents into older formats to avoid situations where an application appears submitted but cannot be processed.

When was this opportunity posted?

The listing shows a posted date of February 27, 2009.

What is the closing date?

The listing shows an original and current closing date of March 5, 2009, noted as a reposting to post the Adobe application package.

When is the archive date?

The listing shows an archive date of April 4, 2009.

Why does the listing mention a reposting?

It notes the closing date as both original and current and explains it was a reposting to post the Adobe application package.

Where can applicants find details on evaluation, deliverables, and cost share levels?

The listing indicates the fastest way to understand the specific project types solicited, evaluation approach, applicable cost share levels, and expected deliverables is to review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement linked in the posting.

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