Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000806
Apply for DE FOA 0000806
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foundational Program to Advance Cell Efficiency II (FPACE II) Model Systems" 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 Jan 25, 2013 and posted on Jan 25, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 8, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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:
The Foundational Program to Advance Cell Efficiency II (FPACE II) Model Systems funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000806) is a Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative solicitation aimed at pushing single-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices closer to their theoretical performance ceiling. The central technical goal is to support collaborative research teams that can define, design, and fabricate "model systems" built around a single p-n junction device structure, using a chosen absorber material and bandgap, with credible potential to approach the Shockley-Queisser limit for that specific material system. In practical terms, DOE is looking for research that does not just incrementally improve today’s devices, but instead creates tightly controlled, well-understood reference device architectures that can reveal what is fundamentally limiting efficiency and how close a carefully engineered cell can get to the physics-imposed maximum.
A defining feature of this FOA is its heavy emphasis on team composition and integration. DOE is explicitly encouraging cohesive, highly diverse teams that combine expertise both inside and outside the traditional PV community. The intent is to bring together the full chain of capabilities needed to close the gap between theoretical limits and experimentally demonstrated performance. That includes fundamental materials science (to understand and control defects, interfaces, doping, and recombination pathways), advanced characterization (to measure carrier lifetimes, recombination mechanisms, interface energetics, and loss channels with high fidelity), device physics (to translate materials properties into device-level performance and identify dominant loss mechanisms), ab initio simulations (to provide predictive modeling of materials and interfaces at the atomic level), and PV device integration (to turn the model concept into an actual fabricated junction device with reproducible processing and interpretable results). DOE’s underlying message is that approaching Shockley-Queisser limits is not a single-discipline problem; it requires coordinated iteration between modeling, measurement, and device fabrication.
The award mechanism is listed as discretionary funding using cooperative agreements and grants, under the Energy funding activity category. The CFDA number provided is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal cost share consistent with DOE rules and the specific requirements described in the full FOA. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), although applicants are instructed to consult the FOA text for any additional eligibility clarifications or conditions.
Administratively, applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal, and registration in that system was required before submission. The FOA directs applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE User Guide available through EERE resources after logging in. The opportunity was posted on January 25, 2013, with an application closing date of April 8, 2013 (original and current closing dates match). The issuing agency office is DOE’s Golden Field Office. The posting notes that the full announcement, official instructions, and points of contact for both technical questions (about the substance of the FOA) and submission questions (about the mechanics of applying through eXCHANGE) are all provided within the full FOA on the EERE eXCHANGE website.
Overall, FPACE II Model Systems is best understood as a targeted R and D push to establish high-performance, single-junction PV model devices that can serve as rigorous testbeds for identifying and eliminating efficiency losses. By requiring deep collaboration across theory, materials, metrology, and device engineering, the FOA is structured to produce not only better cells, but also clearer, defensible explanations for why a given material system is or is not capable of operating near its Shockley-Queisser limit and what specific physical mechanisms must be addressed to get there.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FPACE II Model Systems funding opportunity?
The Foundational Program to Advance Cell Efficiency II (FPACE II) Model Systems funding opportunity is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative solicitation focused on advancing single-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices by developing well-controlled, well-understood "model systems" that can move performance closer to the theoretical maximum for a chosen absorber material and bandgap.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000806.
What is the main technical objective of this FOA?
The central technical goal is to support collaborative research teams that can define, design, and fabricate model single p-n junction device structures (single-junction PV) using a chosen absorber material and bandgap, with credible potential to approach the Shockley-Queisser limit for that specific material system.
What does DOE mean by "model systems" in this FOA?
In this context, "model systems" refers to tightly controlled, well-characterized reference device architectures built around a single p-n junction. The emphasis is on creating devices with reproducible processing and results that are interpretable, so the research can pinpoint what is fundamentally limiting efficiency and how close the device can get to physics-imposed limits.
Is the FOA seeking incremental improvements to existing PV devices?
No. The FOA emphasizes research that goes beyond incremental improvements by creating controlled reference architectures that reveal fundamental loss mechanisms and clarify what prevents a given material system from operating near its theoretical efficiency ceiling.
What theoretical benchmark is specifically referenced for performance limits?
The solicitation specifically references approaching the Shockley-Queisser limit for the selected absorber material system and bandgap.
What type of PV device structure is the focus of this program?
The program is focused on single-junction photovoltaic devices built around a single p-n junction device structure.
What kinds of research capabilities is DOE encouraging teams to include?
DOE is encouraging teams that collectively cover the full chain needed to close the gap between theory and demonstrated performance, including: fundamental materials science, advanced characterization, device physics, ab initio simulations, and PV device integration/fabrication.
Why does the FOA emphasize team integration and diversity of expertise?
The FOA’s premise is that getting close to Shockley-Queisser limits is not a single-discipline challenge. DOE is encouraging cohesive, highly diverse teams (including expertise from outside the traditional PV community) so that modeling, measurement, and fabrication can iterate together and converge on defensible explanations for efficiency losses.
What role does materials science play in the expected work?
Materials science is described as important for understanding and controlling defects, interfaces, doping, and recombination pathways that ultimately influence device efficiency.
What role does advanced characterization play in the expected work?
Advanced characterization is highlighted for measuring carrier lifetimes, recombination mechanisms, interface energetics, and loss channels with high fidelity, helping isolate the dominant factors limiting performance.
What role does device physics play in the expected work?
Device physics is expected to translate measured and modeled materials properties into device-level performance understanding and to identify dominant loss mechanisms in the single-junction architecture.
What role do ab initio simulations play in the expected work?
Ab initio simulations are described as providing predictive modeling of materials and interfaces at the atomic level, supporting a coordinated approach to understanding and improving the selected model system.
What does "PV device integration" mean in this solicitation?
PV device integration refers to turning the model system concept into a fabricated junction device using reproducible processing, so the resulting performance and loss mechanisms can be interpreted with confidence.
What is the award mechanism for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is discretionary funding using cooperative agreements and grants.
What funding activity category is listed for this FOA?
The funding activity category is Energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The posting states that a cost sharing or matching requirement applies, and applicants should expect to provide non-federal cost share consistent with DOE rules and the specific requirements described in the full FOA.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), with a note that applicants should consult the full FOA text for any additional eligibility clarifications or conditions.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal.
Was registration required before submitting an application?
Yes. Registration in EERE eXCHANGE was required prior to submission.
Where can applicants find instructions for using EERE eXCHANGE?
The FOA directs applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE User Guide available through EERE resources after logging in to the system.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date is January 25, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date is April 8, 2013. The original and current closing dates are the same.
Which DOE office issued this solicitation?
The issuing agency office is DOE’s Golden Field Office.
Where are the official announcement details and points of contact provided?
The posting indicates that the full announcement, official instructions, and points of contact for both technical questions and submission questions are provided within the full FOA on the EERE eXCHANGE website.
What kinds of questions do the FOA points of contact cover?
The posting notes two types of support: technical questions (about the substance of the FOA) and submission questions (about the mechanics of applying through EERE eXCHANGE), with details provided in the full FOA.
What outcomes is DOE trying to achieve through this program?
DOE is aiming to establish high-performance, single-junction PV model devices that serve as rigorous testbeds for identifying and eliminating efficiency losses, and to produce clear, defensible explanations of why a specific material system can or cannot operate near its Shockley-Queisser limit and what mechanisms must be addressed to get closer.
Does this FOA focus on improving understanding as well as improving devices?
Yes. The description emphasizes not only better cells, but also clearer, defensible explanations for performance limits based on coordinated theory, characterization, and device engineering.
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