Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000215

  • The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engineering Design of Advanced H2 CO2 Membrane Separations" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089 Fossil Energy Research and Development.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 30, 2010 and posted on Mar 30, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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.
  • DOE Laboratory involvement is not eligible as a prime applicant, but is acceptable as a team member on another entitys application. Participation is not to exceed 20 of the total project cost.
Apply for DE FOA 0000215

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Opportunity Summary:

The grant opportunity titled "Engineering Design of Advanced H2 CO2 Membrane Separations" (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0000215) was a U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) funding call focused on moving advanced gas separation membranes closer to real-world deployment for coal-based (and coal-biomass) syngas applications. The core technical aim was to demonstrate, at a pre-engineering or pilot-relevant scale, membrane-based separation of hydrogen from syngas produced from coal or coal-biomass feedstocks. In practical terms, the government was looking for projects that could go beyond lab-scale proof of concept and show credible, scalable membrane separation performance under conditions representative of syngas processing, where separating hydrogen (H2) from carbon dioxide (CO2) and other constituents is central to producing cleaner hydrogen while enabling carbon capture.

This opportunity fell under the discretionary funding category and was expected to be awarded through cooperative agreements, which generally means the government anticipated substantial involvement during the project period rather than simply providing funds and receiving reports at the end. The activity area was listed as Energy, Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with the CFDA number 81.089 associated with Fossil Energy Research and Development. The funding level indicated a sizable program: an estimated total of $20,000,000 across the solicitation, with an expectation of about four awards. Individual awards had an award ceiling of $2,000,000, signaling that the program was designed to support multiple teams to advance competing or complementary membrane approaches rather than backing a single large demonstration.

A cost-sharing requirement applied, meaning applicants were expected to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources. This is typical for DOE projects that are intended to push technologies toward commercialization or pilot readiness, because cost share can be used as a signal of industry buy-in and a way to ensure teams have a practical deployment path in mind. Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to the specific details in the full announcement), which generally allows participation from private companies, universities, nonprofits, and state or local entities. One important restriction was that DOE laboratories could not serve as the prime applicant, although they could participate as team members under another organization. Even then, DOE lab participation was capped and could not exceed 20 percent of the total project cost, a limitation that effectively keeps the lead role and most of the budget in the hands of non-federal partners while still allowing national lab expertise to contribute.

The timeline of the opportunity reflects its status as a historical, now-archived solicitation. It was posted and created on March 30, 2010, with an original and final closing date of May 17, 2010, and it was archived on August 17, 2010. The announcement pointed applicants to FedConnect for additional details and provided a NETL contact for assistance, including support for those who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.

Overall, the solicitation can be read as part of DOE/NETL's broader push at the time to improve hydrogen production from coal-derived syngas while supporting carbon management. By emphasizing membrane separations at pre-engineering or pilot scale, the opportunity prioritized not just materials performance but also the engineering design considerations that determine whether a membrane system can operate reliably in realistic syngas environments, integrate with upstream gasification and downstream hydrogen purification, and ultimately contribute to more efficient, lower-emission energy and industrial hydrogen pathways.

FAQs: Engineering Design of Advanced H2 - CO2 Membrane Separations (DE FOA 0000215)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Engineering Design of Advanced H2 - CO2 Membrane Separations" and the Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0000215.

Which agency issued this funding opportunity?

This was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

What was the main purpose of the solicitation?

The solicitation focused on moving advanced gas separation membranes closer to real-world deployment for syngas applications by demonstrating membrane-based separation of hydrogen (H2) from syngas at a pre-engineering or pilot-relevant scale.

What technical problem was DOE/NETL trying to address?

The core problem was how to credibly separate hydrogen from syngas produced from coal or coal-biomass feedstocks under conditions representative of real syngas processing, where separation of H2 from carbon dioxide (CO2) and other constituents is central to cleaner hydrogen production and carbon capture.

What types of feedstocks and gas streams were targeted?

The call emphasized syngas produced from coal-based and coal-biomass feedstocks, with a focus on separating hydrogen from CO2 and other syngas constituents.

Was the program focused on lab-scale research or more advanced development?

It emphasized work beyond lab-scale proof of concept, targeting pre-engineering or pilot-relevant scale demonstrations that show scalable membrane separation performance in realistic syngas environments.

What kind of award instrument was expected?

Awards were expected to be made through cooperative agreements, meaning DOE anticipated substantial involvement during the project period rather than a hands-off grant structure.

What was the activity area and CFDA number?

The activity area was listed as Energy, Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development).

How much total funding was estimated for the solicitation?

The solicitation indicated an estimated total of $20,000,000 across the program.

About how many awards were expected?

The opportunity anticipated about four awards.

What was the maximum award size (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for individual awards was $2,000,000.

Was cost share required?

Yes. A cost-sharing requirement applied, meaning applicants were expected to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.

Why did the solicitation include a cost-sharing requirement?

Based on the description, cost share is typical for DOE projects intended to push technologies toward commercialization or pilot readiness, and it can signal industry buy-in and a practical deployment path.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to details in the full announcement. This generally includes private companies, universities, nonprofits, and state or local entities.

Can DOE national laboratories apply as the prime recipient?

No. DOE laboratories could not serve as the prime applicant for this opportunity.

Can DOE laboratories participate in a project team?

Yes. DOE laboratories could participate as team members under another organization serving as the prime applicant, but their participation was limited.

What was the limit on DOE laboratory participation?

DOE lab participation could not exceed 20 percent of the total project cost.

What did DOE/NETL want projects to demonstrate in practical terms?

DOE/NETL was looking for projects that could move beyond proof-of-concept and demonstrate credible, scalable membrane separation performance under syngas-representative conditions, with engineering design considerations that support real operation and integration.

Did the solicitation emphasize engineering and integration considerations?

Yes. It prioritized engineering design considerations that affect whether a membrane system can operate reliably in realistic syngas environments and integrate with upstream gasification and downstream hydrogen purification.

How does this opportunity relate to carbon management goals?

By focusing on separating hydrogen from CO2 in syngas, the solicitation aligns with producing cleaner hydrogen while enabling carbon capture as part of DOE/NETL's broader push to improve hydrogen production from coal-derived syngas while supporting carbon management.

What was the posting date and close date?

The opportunity was posted/created on March 30, 2010. The original and final closing date was May 17, 2010.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. It is a historical, archived solicitation. It was archived on August 17, 2010.

Where were applicants directed to find additional details?

The announcement pointed applicants to FedConnect for additional details.

Was a government contact provided for assistance?

Yes. A NETL contact was provided for assistance, including support for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.

What does it mean that this was listed under discretionary funding?

The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding, meaning it was a competitive funding call rather than an entitlement or formula-based allocation.

Why did the solicitation expect multiple awards rather than one large project?

Based on the stated structure (about four awards, $20,000,000 total, and a $2,000,000 ceiling per award), the program was positioned to support multiple teams advancing competing or complementary membrane approaches.

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