Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000429
Apply for DE FOA 0000429
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fuel Cell Technologies Early Market Opportunities" 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 Oct 18, 2010 and posted on Oct 18, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 18, 2010. (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 Department of Energy, through its Golden Field Office, issued the “Fuel Cell Technologies Early Market Opportunities†notice (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0000429) to gather structured feedback from industry and other stakeholders on how to accelerate real-world deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in near-term markets. Rather than focusing on basic research, the opportunity is centered on practical implementation: identifying workable project approaches, clarifying barriers to adoption, and outlining what is needed for early market projects to move from concept to deployment. The program sits under the Energy activity category and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). The funding instrument type is listed as “Other,†and the notice explicitly states that cost sharing or matching is not required, which lowers the barrier for participation.
DOE’s request for input is organized around three topic areas aimed at early market traction. The first topic is “Turnkey Project Management for Distributed Generation (DG) Fuel Cells in Federal Facilities.†Here, the emphasis is on using fuel cell systems for onsite power at federal buildings or campuses, paired with a turnkey delivery model. In practice, a turnkey model typically means a single entity (or integrated team) handles development end-to-end, such as site assessment, system design, permitting, procurement, installation, commissioning, operations planning, and maintenance arrangements. DOE’s interest suggests a desire to reduce complexity for federal facility owners and to standardize approaches that make DG fuel cell projects easier to replicate across multiple sites.
The second topic area is “Turnkey Project Management for Hydrogen Energy Storage to Support Renewable Power Generation.†This focuses on hydrogen as an energy storage medium that can help integrate variable renewable resources like wind and solar. The concept generally involves using surplus renewable electricity to produce hydrogen (often via electrolysis), storing that hydrogen, and then using it later to generate electricity or provide energy services when renewables are not producing. DOE’s attention to turnkey project management again signals interest in deployable, packaged solutions that address the full project lifecycle, including system integration with renewable generation, storage safety and codes compliance, operational controls, and the business/contracting structures that could make these systems viable for project developers and host sites.
The third topic area concerns “the feasibility of near commercial deployment of fuel cell powered Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for commercial and government operated airports.†Ground support equipment includes the vehicles and equipment used to service aircraft on the ground, such as baggage tractors, belt loaders, cargo loaders, ground power units, and related support assets. The focus on near-commercial feasibility implies DOE is looking for candid input on how close fuel cell GSE is to broad adoption, what performance and reliability requirements must be met in airport environments, what hydrogen fueling and maintenance infrastructure would be needed, and what operational or regulatory constraints airports face. This topic also reflects an interest in applications where zero- or low-emission technologies can deliver immediate local air quality and operational benefits.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010, with a closing date of December 18, 2010 (unchanged from the original close). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to any qualified entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may be contained in the full text of the announcement. For full details and official materials, DOE pointed applicants to FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net). The listed point of contact for access issues or questions is Thomas Nucci at the Golden Field Office, reachable at 303-275-6040 or thomas.nucci@go.doe.gov.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a deployment-oriented, market-engagement effort: DOE is asking stakeholders to help shape practical pathways for implementing fuel cells and hydrogen systems in federal facilities, renewable energy storage contexts, and airport ground operations, with an emphasis on turnkey execution models that can be repeated and scaled.
FAQs: Fuel Cell Technologies Early Market Opportunities (DE FOA 0000429)
What is this DOE opportunity about?
This notice, issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) through its Golden Field Office, is a request to gather structured feedback from industry and other stakeholders on how to accelerate real-world deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in near-term markets. It emphasizes practical implementation (moving projects from concept to deployment), rather than basic research.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0000429, titled "Fuel Cell Technologies Early Market Opportunities."
Which DOE office is associated with the notice?
The notice is associated with DOE's Golden Field Office.
Is this opportunity focused on research or deployment?
It is deployment-oriented. The notice highlights practical, workable project approaches, barriers to adoption, and what is needed for early market projects to move from concept to deployment, rather than focusing on basic research.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as "Other."
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice explicitly states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
Who is eligible to participate?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to any qualified entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may be contained in the full text of the announcement.
What are the main topic areas DOE is requesting input on?
DOE organized the request for input around three topic areas aimed at early market traction:
- Turnkey Project Management for Distributed Generation (DG) Fuel Cells in Federal Facilities
- Turnkey Project Management for Hydrogen Energy Storage to Support Renewable Power Generation
- Feasibility of near commercial deployment of fuel cell powered Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for commercial and government operated airports
What does "turnkey project management" mean in this context?
In this notice, "turnkey" generally refers to a delivery model where a single entity (or integrated team) manages end-to-end development and execution. Examples mentioned or implied include site assessment, system design, permitting, procurement, installation, commissioning, operations planning, and maintenance arrangements, with the goal of reducing complexity and improving replicability.
What is Topic 1 focused on?
Topic 1 is "Turnkey Project Management for Distributed Generation (DG) Fuel Cells in Federal Facilities." It emphasizes deploying fuel cell systems for onsite power at federal buildings or campuses using a turnkey delivery model, with an interest in reducing complexity for federal facility owners and standardizing approaches that can be replicated across multiple sites.
What kinds of project steps are typically included for DG fuel cells under a turnkey model?
The notice describes turnkey delivery as covering the full project lifecycle, such as site assessment, design, permitting, procurement, installation, commissioning, operations planning, and maintenance arrangements.
What is Topic 2 focused on?
Topic 2 is "Turnkey Project Management for Hydrogen Energy Storage to Support Renewable Power Generation." It focuses on hydrogen used as an energy storage medium to help integrate variable renewables like wind and solar, with interest in deployable packaged solutions that cover the full project lifecycle.
How is hydrogen energy storage described for renewable integration?
The concept described involves using surplus renewable electricity to produce hydrogen (often via electrolysis), storing the hydrogen, and later using it to generate electricity or provide energy services when renewable generation is not producing.
What kinds of considerations does DOE highlight for hydrogen storage turnkey projects?
The notice points to needs across the lifecycle, including system integration with renewable generation, storage safety and codes compliance, operational controls, and the business/contracting structures that could make these systems viable for developers and host sites.
What is Topic 3 focused on?
Topic 3 addresses the feasibility of near commercial deployment of fuel cell powered Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for commercial and government operated airports. DOE is looking for candid input on readiness for broad adoption and what is required for fuel cell GSE to work reliably in airport environments.
What is ground support equipment (GSE) in this notice?
GSE includes vehicles and equipment used to service aircraft on the ground, such as baggage tractors, belt loaders, cargo loaders, ground power units, and related support assets.
What kinds of issues does DOE want stakeholders to address for airport fuel cell GSE?
The notice indicates DOE is interested in how close fuel cell GSE is to broad adoption, what performance and reliability requirements must be met in airport environments, what hydrogen fueling and maintenance infrastructure would be needed, and what operational or regulatory constraints airports face.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010.
What is the closing date?
The closing date is December 18, 2010, and it is noted as unchanged from the original close.
Where are applicants directed to find full details and official materials?
DOE directed applicants to FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net for full details and official materials.
Who is the point of contact listed for access issues or questions?
The listed point of contact is Thomas Nucci at the Golden Field Office.
How can the point of contact be reached?
Thomas Nucci can be reached at 303-275-6040 or via email at thomas.nucci@go.doe.gov.
What is the overall purpose or intent of the notice?
The notice is best understood as a market-engagement and deployment-focused effort. DOE is asking stakeholders to help shape practical pathways for implementing fuel cells and hydrogen systems in federal facilities, renewable energy storage contexts, and airport ground operations, with an emphasis on turnkey execution models that can be repeated and scaled.
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