Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000996
Apply for DE FOA 0000996
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE FOA 0000996 RENEWABLE CARBON FIBERS" 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 3, 2014 and posted on Feb 3, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 11, 2014 Submission Deadline for Concept Papers 03/03/2014 at 500 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Submission Deadline for Full Applications 04/11/2014 at 500 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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.
- Individuals, Domestic Entities, Foreign Entities, Incorporated Consortia, Unincorporated Consortia, subject to the definitions in Section III.A. of the FOA.
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Opportunity Summary:
DE-FOA-0000996, titled Renewable Carbon Fibers, is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity issued through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), with involvement from EERE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI) and the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The opportunity is designed to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in clean energy manufacturing while advancing BETO's mission of turning biomass into commercially viable fuels and bioproducts. In practical terms, the FOA is focused on pushing a new, biomass-based route to carbon fiber that is strong enough for demanding applications but inexpensive enough to be used broadly, especially in vehicles where lightweight materials can significantly improve fuel economy and overall energy efficiency.
The core technical problem the FOA is trying to solve is cost. Conventional carbon fiber is typically derived from fossil-based feedstocks and made through an acrylonitrile (ACN) to polyacrylonitrile (PAN) pathway. Propylene and ammonia are commonly used to make ACN, which is then polymerized into PAN and spun into fibers that are later converted into carbon fiber. This established supply chain has two major cost drivers: volatile petroleum and natural gas pricing, and energy-intensive manufacturing steps. As a result, carbon fiber has historically been expensive (the FOA cites around $10 per pound), which limits adoption in the automotive sector even though carbon fiber composites can deliver major weight reductions for both structural and non-structural parts.
To address this, the FOA seeks projects that can demonstrate a cost-competitive technology pathway to high-performance carbon fiber starting from renewable, non-food biomass. The specific target intermediate is biomass-derived acrylonitrile (often referred to as bio-ACN). The FOA sets a clear cost and performance vision: develop a pathway capable of producing bio-ACN at a modeled cost of $1.00 per pound, which in turn is intended to enable finished carbon fiber production at $5.00 per pound by 2020. The emphasis on modeled cost signals that DOE is looking not only for lab proof-of-concept chemistry, but also for credible techno-economic analysis and a plausible scale-up story that links the biomass feedstock to a manufacturable fiber product with competitive economics.
From a program and award standpoint, this opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding program with awards made as cooperative agreements, meaning DOE expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, technical oversight, milestones, go/no-go decisions, and coordination). The estimated total funding available is $12,000,000, with an expected 2 awards. A cost share is required, consistent with many DOE applied R&D and demonstration style programs. The funding activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). The opportunity was managed through DOE's Golden Field Office.
Eligibility is broadly defined as unrestricted, subject to details in the FOA's eligibility section. The listing indicates that individuals, domestic entities, foreign entities, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia may apply, following the definitions and rules provided in Section III.A of the FOA. This structure leaves room for teams that combine biomass supply expertise, catalytic or biochemical conversion capabilities, polymer science, fiber spinning know-how, and downstream composite or automotive qualification experience, which is often necessary to credibly address both performance and cost at the same time.
The submission process runs through EERE eXCHANGE, DOE's online portal for EERE funding opportunities. Applicants had to register for an account and submit applications electronically through that system for consideration. The schedule for this FOA included a required or requested concept paper stage due March 3, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, and full applications due April 11, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The FOA was posted February 3, 2014, and the archive date is June 14, 2014, indicating the competition is closed, but the content remains useful as a reference for DOE's technical targets and expectations for renewable carbon fiber pathways. For questions, the FOA provided a program contact point (Geoffrey I. Walker) and an email address specific to the topic (RenewableCarbonFiber@go.doe.gov), with additional submission and content question instructions included in the full FOA on eXCHANGE.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DE-FOA-0000996: Renewable Carbon Fibers
What is DE-FOA-0000996 (Renewable Carbon Fibers)?
DE-FOA-0000996 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Renewable Carbon Fibers. It was issued through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), with involvement from EERE's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI) and the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The FOA is aimed at strengthening U.S. competitiveness in clean energy manufacturing while advancing BETO's mission of converting biomass into commercially viable fuels and bioproducts. Practically, it focuses on enabling a new, biomass-based route to carbon fiber that is high-performing yet low-cost enough for broad adoption, especially in vehicles where lightweighting can improve fuel economy and energy efficiency.
What problem is DOE trying to solve with this opportunity?
The central technical challenge is cost. Conventional carbon fiber has historically been expensive (the FOA cites about $10 per pound), which has limited widespread automotive adoption despite major potential weight reduction benefits.
Why is conventional carbon fiber expensive, according to the FOA?
The FOA points to two major cost drivers in the established fossil-based acrylonitrile (ACN) to polyacrylonitrile (PAN) pathway:
- Volatile petroleum and natural gas pricing (since conventional feedstocks are fossil-derived).
- Energy-intensive manufacturing steps required to make carbon fiber.
What feedstock and intermediate does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes starting from renewable, non-food biomass and specifically targets production of biomass-derived acrylonitrile (bio-ACN) as the key intermediate toward carbon fiber.
What cost targets does the FOA set for bio-ACN and carbon fiber?
The FOA describes a cost and performance vision with modeled costs of:
- $1.00 per pound for bio-ACN (modeled cost).
- $5.00 per pound for finished carbon fiber by 2020, enabled by the bio-ACN pathway.
Does the FOA require actual production costs or modeled costs?
The FOA specifically highlights modeled cost (for example, a modeled $1.00/lb bio-ACN), signaling that DOE expected credible techno-economic analysis and a plausible scale-up pathway, not only laboratory proof-of-concept results.
What kinds of projects is DOE looking for under this FOA?
Based on the description, DOE is looking for projects that can demonstrate a cost-competitive technology pathway from renewable, non-food biomass to high-performance carbon fiber, centered on producing bio-ACN and connecting that intermediate to a manufacturable fiber with competitive economics.
Which DOE offices and initiatives are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is issued through EERE, with involvement from:
- Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI) (within EERE)
- Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
What type of funding instrument is used for awards?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project. The description references involvement such as technical oversight, milestones, go/no-go decisions, and coordination.
How much funding was expected to be available?
The estimated total funding available is $12,000,000.
How many awards were expected?
The FOA anticipated making approximately 2 awards.
Is cost share required?
Yes. The FOA indicates a cost share is required, consistent with many DOE applied R&D and demonstration-style programs.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The funding activity category is Energy. The CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Which DOE office managed this opportunity?
The opportunity was managed through DOE's Golden Field Office.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, subject to the specific details in the FOA's eligibility section. The listing indicates that individuals, domestic entities, foreign entities, and both incorporated and unincorporated consortia could apply, following the definitions and rules in Section III.A of the FOA.
Are foreign entities allowed to apply?
Yes. The listing explicitly includes foreign entities among those that may apply, subject to the FOA's eligibility rules and definitions.
Can consortia apply, and what types are mentioned?
Yes. The listing indicates that both incorporated and unincorporated consortia may apply, consistent with the FOA's definitions and Section III.A rules.
What types of expertise or partners might be relevant for a competitive application?
The description suggests the FOA structure allows for multi-party teams that combine capabilities such as biomass supply expertise, catalytic or biochemical conversion, polymer science, fiber spinning, and downstream composite or automotive qualification experience, since the FOA aims to address both performance and cost.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were submitted electronically through EERE eXCHANGE, DOE's online portal for EERE funding opportunities. Applicants needed to register for an account and submit through that system.
Was there a concept paper stage?
Yes. The FOA schedule included a concept paper stage due on March 3, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
When were full applications due?
Full applications were due on April 11, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
When was the FOA posted, and is it still open?
The FOA was posted on February 3, 2014. It has an archive date of June 14, 2014, indicating the competition is closed, though the archived material may remain useful for reference.
Who was the program contact for this FOA?
The FOA listed Geoffrey I. Walker as a program contact.
What email address was provided for questions?
The FOA provided the email address RenewableCarbonFiber@go.doe.gov for topic-related questions, with additional submission and content question instructions included in the full FOA on eXCHANGE.
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