Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000104
Apply for DE FOA 0000104
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Baseload Concentrating Solar Power Generation" 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 Aug 19, 2009 and posted on Jul 15, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,800,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Baseload Concentrating Solar Power Generation opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000104) is a U.S. Department of Energy award administered through the Golden Field Office that supports work aimed at making concentrating solar power (CSP) plants capable of producing electricity at costs that can compete with conventional fossil-fueled generation. The funding is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect substantial DOE involvement during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The program is tied to CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development, and it requires cost sharing or matching funds from recipients, so applicants need to be prepared to contribute a defined portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.
This specific notice is Modification 001 to the original FOA, and it is mainly an administrative clarification rather than a change in the technical direction or overall requirements. The modification updates header labels in the Period of Performance section to better distinguish what kinds of activities belong in each part of Phase 2, and it similarly updates header labels in the Cost Sharing section to clarify what activities fall under each part of Phase 3. In addition, it revises the Notice of Right to Request Patent Waiver language to address class waivers, which is relevant for intellectual property planning and commercialization strategy. Outside of these targeted edits, the FOA states that all other provisions remain unchanged, and the updated areas are highlighted within the announcement to make them easy to identify.
The technical scope centers on “baseload” CSP, which in practice means solar thermal generation concepts designed to deliver more continuous, dispatchable power rather than only producing when the sun is shining. The FOA divides work into two topic areas. The first topic area focuses on research and development of concepts and components that could be used as part of a CSP baseload system, which can include subsystem innovations intended to reduce cost, improve efficiency, increase reliability, or enable longer-duration operation. The second topic area moves closer to deployment by supporting evaluation of the feasibility of a complete CSP baseload system and the development of a prototype system that can be implemented in the field, emphasizing integrated system performance and practical demonstration readiness.
Projects funded under this announcement are organized into three sequential phases with increasing levels of maturity and validation. Phase 1 is dedicated to system feasibility analysis and preliminary design, where teams typically define requirements, model performance, assess technical and economic feasibility, identify key risks, and lay out an initial design approach. Phase 2 advances into engineering design work, translating early concepts into more complete engineering definitions, component specifications, and system architecture details suitable for fabrication planning. Phase 3 then concentrates on detailed engineering design and prototype testing and evaluation, which is where the project is expected to produce and test a prototype or prototype-relevant hardware and generate evidence that the approach can work under realistic conditions.
From an applicant and administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted July 15, 2009, created August 19, 2009, with an application closing date of October 15, 2009, and an archive date of November 15, 2009. The award size ranges from a floor of $1,000,000 to a ceiling of $10,800,000, indicating the DOE expected substantial, multi-disciplinary projects rather than small exploratory studies. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entity types could apply (subject to any specific clarifications in the full FOA), which typically opens the door to universities, national labs, private companies, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations, including teams or consortia where appropriate.
For practical access and support, the notice points applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and submission pathway, with assistance available through support@fedconnect.net for technical access issues. The DOE contact listed is Andrea Lucero (Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov), which would be the point of contact for programmatic questions tied to the FOA content, interpretation of requirements, and clarification of the modification language, particularly around phase activity definitions and patent waiver provisions.
Baseload Concentrating Solar Power Generation (DE-FOA-0000104) - FAQs
What is the Baseload Concentrating Solar Power Generation funding opportunity?
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000104) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) award administered through the DOE Golden Field Office. It supports work intended to make concentrating solar power (CSP) plants capable of producing electricity at costs that can compete with conventional fossil-fueled generation.
What does "baseload" mean in the context of this CSP FOA?
In this FOA, "baseload" CSP refers to solar thermal generation concepts designed to deliver more continuous, dispatchable power rather than only producing electricity when the sun is shining. The emphasis is on concepts that can provide sustained output and practical, integrated system performance.
Who is administering the award?
The award is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This means awardees should expect substantial DOE involvement during the project, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?
Yes. The FOA requires cost sharing or matching funds from recipients. Applicants should be prepared to contribute a defined portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
This FOA is tied to CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
What is Modification 001, and what changed?
This notice is Modification 001 to the original FOA. It is mainly an administrative clarification rather than a change in technical direction or overall requirements. The modification updates header labels in the Period of Performance section to better distinguish activities within parts of Phase 2, updates header labels in the Cost Sharing section to clarify activities within parts of Phase 3, and revises the Notice of Right to Request Patent Waiver language to address class waivers.
Does Modification 001 change the technical scope or the overall requirements?
Based on the notice description, no. The FOA states that all other provisions remain unchanged outside of the targeted edits described in the modification.
How can applicants identify what was updated in the modified FOA?
The updated areas are highlighted within the announcement to make them easier to identify.
Why does the patent waiver language matter for applicants?
The modification revises the Notice of Right to Request Patent Waiver language to address class waivers. This is relevant for intellectual property planning and commercialization strategy because it affects how patent waiver requests may be handled under the award.
What are the main topic areas supported by this FOA?
The FOA divides the technical work into two topic areas:
- Topic Area 1: Research and development of concepts and components that could be used as part of a CSP baseload system (including subsystem innovations to reduce cost, improve efficiency, increase reliability, or enable longer-duration operation).
- Topic Area 2: Evaluation of the feasibility of a complete CSP baseload system and development of a prototype system that can be implemented in the field, with emphasis on integrated system performance and demonstration readiness.
What kinds of improvements are in scope for Topic Area 1?
Topic Area 1 may include subsystem innovations intended to reduce cost, improve efficiency, increase reliability, or enable longer-duration operation as part of a CSP baseload system.
What is the focus of Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 moves closer to deployment by supporting feasibility evaluation of a complete CSP baseload system and development of a prototype system that can be implemented in the field, emphasizing integrated system performance and practical demonstration readiness.
How are projects structured under this FOA?
Projects are organized into three sequential phases with increasing levels of maturity and validation: Phase 1 (feasibility analysis and preliminary design), Phase 2 (engineering design), and Phase 3 (detailed engineering design and prototype testing and evaluation).
What happens in Phase 1?
Phase 1 is dedicated to system feasibility analysis and preliminary design. Teams typically define requirements, model performance, assess technical and economic feasibility, identify key risks, and lay out an initial design approach.
What happens in Phase 2?
Phase 2 advances into engineering design work, translating early concepts into more complete engineering definitions, component specifications, and system architecture details suitable for fabrication planning. The modification also clarifies header labels in the Period of Performance section to better distinguish which activities belong in each part of Phase 2.
What happens in Phase 3?
Phase 3 concentrates on detailed engineering design and prototype testing and evaluation. The project is expected to produce and test a prototype (or prototype-relevant hardware) and generate evidence the approach can work under realistic conditions. The modification also clarifies header labels in the Cost Sharing section to better distinguish activities within parts of Phase 3.
What is the expected award size for this opportunity?
The award size ranges from a floor of $1,000,000 to a ceiling of $10,800,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 15, 2009. The application closing date was October 15, 2009.
When was the opportunity created and archived?
The notice indicates it was created on August 19, 2009, and the archive date was November 15, 2009.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of entity types could apply (subject to any specific clarifications in the full FOA).
Where can applicants find the full announcement and submit an application?
The notice points applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and the submission pathway.
Who should be contacted for FedConnect technical access issues?
For technical access issues related to FedConnect, the notice lists support@fedconnect.net.
Who is the DOE program contact for questions about this FOA?
The DOE contact listed is Andrea Lucero (Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov). This contact is the point of contact for programmatic questions tied to FOA content, interpretation of requirements, and clarification of modification language (including phase activity definitions and patent waiver provisions).
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Golden Field Office
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy
Next opportunity: Malpai Borderlands FY09
Previous opportunity: Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Floods in the Western United States
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0000104
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000104) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Recovery Act Funding for Expansion of Infrastructure for Higher Ethanol Blends Apply for DE FOA 0000125 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000125 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Request for Information PV Manufacturing Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000153 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000153 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Recovery Act Workforce Training For The Electric Power Sector Apply for DE FOA 0000152 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000152 Agency: Richland Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Support of Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities Apply for DE FOA 0000146 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000146 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Support of Advanced Fossil Resource Utilization Research By Historically Black Colleges And Universities And Other Minority Institutions (HBCUs/OMIs) Apply for DE FOA 0000173 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000173 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program Training Centers And Programs Apply for DE FOA 0000220 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000220 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Energy Innovation Fuels from Sunlight Apply for DE FOA 0000214 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000214 Agency: Chicago Service Center Category: Energy Funding Amount: $122,000,000 |
| Program Year 2010 Weatherization Formula Grants Apply for DE FOA 0000216 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000216 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $15,786,616 |
| Request for Information and Notice of Pre Solicitation Workshop for Hydrogen Fuel Cells Apply for DE FOA 0000225 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000225 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing Short Term Wind Energy Forecasting for Improved Utility Operations Apply for DE FOA 0000280 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000280 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Industrial Technologies Program Superior Energy Performance Program Administrator Technical Assistance Apply for DE FOA 0000246 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000246 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RECOVERY ACT (ARRA) National Park Service, Intermountain Region, Green Renewable Energy Efficient Network Apply for NPSARRANOIIMRO100520 Funding Number: NPSARRANOIIMRO100520 Agency: National Park Service Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Malawi Rural Electrification Public Private Partnership (RE PPP) Mini Grid Apply for MCC 10 0058 RFA Funding Number: MCC 10 0058 RFA Agency: Millennium Challenge Corporation Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Request for Information (RFI) Solar Demonstration Zone Project Apply for DE FOA 0000303 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000303 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fellowship/Scholarship Program Apply for DE FOA 0000304 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000304 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Weatherization Assistance Program Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Grants Apply for DE FOA 0000283 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000283 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue a FOA for the Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000310 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000310 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| State Energy Program (SEP) PY 2010 Formula Award Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0000308 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000308 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Electric Sectory Cyber Security Organization Apply for DE FOA 0000245 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000245 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $16,250,000 |
| SEP Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets and Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action Apply for DE FOA 0000251 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000251 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0000104", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.