Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001979
Apply for DE FOA 0001979
- The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Reliable Electronics to Achieve Kilovolt Effective Ratings Safely (BREAKERS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 12, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 13, 2018 Full Applications must be submitted by November 13, 2018 at 930 a.m. ET.. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Building Reliable Electronics to Achieve Kilovolt Effective Ratings Safely (BREAKERS) is a Department of Energy ARPA-E funding opportunity focused on advancing medium-voltage direct-current (MVDC) circuit breaker technology. ARPA-E exists to push high-potential energy technologies that are still too early or too risky for typical private investment, with the larger national goals of strengthening US economic and energy security, reducing energy imports, cutting energy-related emissions (including greenhouse gases), and improving energy efficiency across the economy. Awards under this announcement are issued as cooperative agreements, meaning the government typically expects an active partnership role during the project rather than a hands-off grant structure.
The core technical aim of BREAKERS is to accelerate the development of practical, reliable, and cost-effective MVDC circuit breakers capable of operating in emerging DC power systems spanning roughly 1 kV to 100 kV. In traditional AC systems, current naturally crosses zero many times per second, which helps interrupt faults. In DC systems, that natural zero-crossing does not occur, so interrupting fault current is more difficult and places greater stress on switching devices and insulation. BREAKERS is built around solving that real-world bottleneck so that MVDC architectures can scale safely and economically into new applications.
ARPA-E is intentionally flexible about what kind of circuit breaker concepts applicants pursue. The program is described as agnostic to breaker design type, explicitly welcoming mechanical circuit breakers (MCBs), solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), hybrid circuit breakers (HCBs), and other novel approaches. The FOA frames R&D efforts in two broad buckets: improvements to the normal-operation branch of hybrid circuit breakers (often involving a load commutation switch paired with a mechanical switch), and improvements to the main breaking element (which could benefit hybrid designs, solid-state designs, or potentially enable entirely new breaker architectures). In practical terms, this means proposals can focus on reducing losses and complexity during normal operation, increasing interruption speed and reliability during faults, improving voltage and current handling, or redesigning topologies so the overall breaker is simpler and cheaper.
A key expectation is that teams will move beyond analysis and component testing toward prototype demonstrations and enabling tools that show a credible path to economical MVDC breakers. The language about "prototype tools" signals that ARPA-E wants deliverables that help de-risk commercialization, such as prototype hardware, validated designs, test methods, protection/control approaches, packaging concepts, or other tangible demonstrations that make MVDC breaker deployment more realistic for industry. The program emphasis is not only on raw performance, but also on safety and reliability at kilovolt-class effective ratings, which is critical for acceptance in fielded power systems.
The opportunity is motivated by a range of MVDC market pull areas where better DC interruption and protection can unlock system-level benefits. The FOA highlights applications including DC distribution for grids and storage as well as industrial sectors like oil and gas exploration/production; wind energy collection systems; solar energy conversion; and electric transportation platforms such as all-electric ships, aerospace systems, and automotive systems (including hybrids). These areas often benefit from MVDC because it can reduce conductor mass, improve controllability, integrate renewables and storage more directly, and support high-power loads, but only if faults can be detected and interrupted quickly and safely.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001979 under CFDA 81.135, categorized as discretionary funding for science and technology and other R&D. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different entity types (subject to any clarifications in the FOA text). ARPA-E anticipated making about six awards, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award. The announcement was created September 12, 2018, with full applications due November 13, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Applications for BREAKERS are handled exclusively through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, ARPA-E's online submission portal. Applicants must register in the system and submit full applications (and any replies to reviewer comments) through eXCHANGE; submissions by email, mail, fax, or hand delivery are not accepted. The ARPA-E eXCHANGE Applicant Guide is referenced as the main how-to resource for navigating the portal and submission process.
BREAKERS (DE-FOA-0001979) FAQ
What is the BREAKERS funding opportunity?
Building Reliable Electronics to Achieve Kilovolt Effective Ratings Safely (BREAKERS) is a Department of Energy ARPA-E funding opportunity focused on advancing medium-voltage direct-current (MVDC) circuit breaker technology. The program is aimed at pushing technologies that are still too early or too risky for typical private investment, with a focus on practical pathways to deployment.
Which agency is running this program?
The program is administered by ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) within the U.S. Department of Energy.
What is ARPA-E trying to accomplish with this program?
ARPA-E exists to advance high-potential energy technologies that can strengthen U.S. economic and energy security, reduce energy imports, cut energy-related emissions (including greenhouse gases), and improve energy efficiency across the economy. BREAKERS aligns with those goals by targeting a major technical bottleneck for MVDC power systems: reliable and safe fault interruption at kilovolt-class effective ratings.
What is the main technical goal of BREAKERS?
The core technical aim is to accelerate development of practical, reliable, and cost-effective MVDC circuit breakers that can operate in emerging DC power systems spanning roughly 1 kV to 100 kV.
Why are MVDC circuit breakers difficult compared to AC circuit breakers?
In traditional AC systems, current naturally crosses zero many times per second, which helps interrupt faults. In DC systems there is no natural zero-crossing, making fault interruption more difficult and increasing stress on switching devices and insulation. BREAKERS is focused on solving that interruption and protection challenge so MVDC architectures can scale safely and economically.
What types of circuit breaker concepts are eligible or encouraged?
The program is described as agnostic to breaker design type. It explicitly welcomes mechanical circuit breakers (MCBs), solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), hybrid circuit breakers (HCBs), and other novel approaches.
What R&D areas does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA frames R&D efforts in two broad buckets:
- Improvements to the normal-operation branch of hybrid circuit breakers (often involving a load commutation switch paired with a mechanical switch).
- Improvements to the main breaking element (which could improve hybrid designs, solid-state designs, or potentially enable entirely new breaker architectures).
What kinds of improvements could a proposal focus on?
Based on the program description, proposals may focus on items such as reducing losses and complexity during normal operation, increasing interruption speed and reliability during faults, improving voltage and current handling, or redesigning topologies so the overall circuit breaker is simpler and cheaper.
Is the program looking for analysis only, or prototypes and demonstrations?
A key expectation is that teams move beyond analysis and component testing toward prototype demonstrations and enabling tools that show a credible path to economical MVDC breakers. The program language signals interest in tangible deliverables that help de-risk commercialization.
What does ARPA-E mean by "prototype tools" in this context?
As described, "prototype tools" indicates deliverables that make MVDC breaker deployment more realistic for industry. Examples mentioned or implied include prototype hardware, validated designs, test methods, protection/control approaches, packaging concepts, or other tangible demonstrations that support practical adoption.
What performance dimensions are emphasized besides raw interruption performance?
The emphasis is not only on performance, but also on safety and reliability at kilovolt-class effective ratings. This is positioned as critical for acceptance in fielded power systems.
What application areas are motivating this program?
The opportunity is motivated by MVDC market pull areas where improved DC interruption and protection can unlock system-level benefits. Applications highlighted include DC distribution for grids and storage, and industrial sectors such as oil and gas exploration/production, wind energy collection systems, solar energy conversion, and electric transportation platforms (all-electric ships, aerospace systems, and automotive systems including hybrids).
Why is MVDC attractive in these applications?
These areas can benefit from MVDC because it can reduce conductor mass, improve controllability, integrate renewables and storage more directly, and support high-power loads. The program frames fast, safe fault detection and interruption as the key enabling requirement to realize those benefits.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001979 and the CFDA number is 81.135.
What type of funding is this categorized as?
It is categorized as discretionary funding for science and technology and other R&D.
What award instrument will be used?
Awards under this announcement are issued as cooperative agreements. This means the government typically expects an active partnership role during the project, rather than a fully hands-off grant structure.
How many awards does ARPA-E expect to make under this FOA?
ARPA-E anticipated making about six awards.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different entity types, subject to any clarifications in the FOA text.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on September 12, 2018.
What is the full application deadline?
Full applications were due on November 13, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications are handled exclusively through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, ARPA-E's online submission portal. Applicants must register in the system and submit full applications through eXCHANGE.
Are submissions by email, mail, fax, or hand delivery accepted?
No. The information provided states that submissions by email, mail, fax, or hand delivery are not accepted. Submissions must go through ARPA-E eXCHANGE.
Where can applicants find instructions for using the submission portal?
The ARPA-E eXCHANGE Applicant Guide is referenced as the main how-to resource for navigating the portal and submission process.
How are replies to reviewer comments submitted?
Any replies to reviewer comments must also be submitted through ARPA-E eXCHANGE.
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