Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001327
Apply for DE FOA 0001327
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geothermal Concepts and Approaches to Validate Mineral Recovery" 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 May 11, 2015 and posted on May 11, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 8, 2015. (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 $1.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The opportunity titled "Geothermal Concepts and Approaches to Validate Mineral Recovery" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001327) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) request for information (RFI) aimed at gathering market, technical, and resource input on extracting dissolved high-value and critical materials from geothermal fluids and related process streams. It is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), it does not accept applications, and it does not commit DOE to making awards. In other words, DOE is using this RFI to shape its understanding of the state of the art, identify promising validation pathways, and strengthen its data foundation for future geothermal-plus-minerals work.
The RFI focuses on three main categories of input. First, DOE is asking for ideas and feedback on engineering validation testing for practical technologies or process concepts that can capture, concentrate, and/or purify valuable dissolved materials present in geothermal brines or other geothermal process streams. The emphasis is on approaches that can work efficiently and cost-effectively in real operating conditions, not just in lab-scale settings. DOE specifically signals interest in methods that could be adapted or transferred from other extractive sectors, including oil and gas and mining, such as chemical separation techniques, specialized resins or sorbents, and other processing strategies used to selectively isolate target elements from complex fluids.
Second, DOE is looking for concepts that combine or cross-leverage technologies already used (or nearing commercial use) in the geothermal and mining industries. This includes integrated approaches that bring together geothermal drilling methods, reservoir and rock stimulation methods associated with enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and mineral extraction techniques like those used in solution mining. The core idea is that co-developing geothermal energy production and mineral recovery could improve project economics and accelerate geothermal deployment, particularly if the extraction steps can be designed to fit into geothermal operations without creating prohibitive operational risk, downtime, scaling/corrosion issues, or environmental burdens.
Third, DOE wants to broaden and improve the underlying data on what valuable materials actually exist in U.S. geothermal fluids, and at what concentrations. This part of the RFI is essentially about resource characterization and building a stronger national picture of mineral potential in produced fluids, including geothermal brines and potentially lower-temperature process streams from other operations such as oil and gas production. DOE is interested in both site-specific data (for example, measured concentrations of target elements at particular fields or wells) and broader assessments that estimate the size and distribution of the U.S. resource base contained in geothermal or other produced waters.
Administratively, responses were required to be submitted electronically as email attachments to LowTValidation@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday, June 8, 2015. The posting date was May 11, 2015, and the information was hosted through EERE Exchange. The listing describes the instrument type as a cooperative agreement and places it under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), but it also clearly states that this notice is only an RFI with no awards expected and no application process. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could provide input, as long as they follow any specific instructions in the full RFI text on EERE Exchange.
Overall, the RFI is best understood as DOE gathering practical, industry-informed guidance on (1) which mineral-recovery technologies are ready for rigorous validation in geothermal settings, (2) how geothermal development methods and solution-mining style extraction could be paired in commercially relevant ways, and (3) what the real U.S. mineral-in-brines resource looks like based on actual measurements and credible assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Geothermal Concepts and Approaches to Validate Mineral Recovery" opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on extracting dissolved high-value and critical materials from geothermal fluids and related process streams.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0001327.
Is this a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?
No. The notice is explicitly an RFI, not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
Does this RFI accept grant applications?
No. It does not accept applications and does not provide an application process.
Will DOE make awards or provide funding based on this RFI?
No. The RFI states that it does not commit DOE to making awards, and no awards are expected under this notice.
Why is DOE issuing this RFI?
DOE is using the RFI to gather market, technical, and resource input to shape its understanding of the state of the art, identify promising validation pathways, and strengthen the data foundation for future geothermal-plus-minerals work.
What kinds of materials is DOE interested in recovering?
DOE is interested in dissolved high-value and critical materials present in geothermal brines and other geothermal process streams, as well as potentially produced waters from other operations (such as oil and gas) where relevant.
What are the main topic areas DOE is asking about in this RFI?
The RFI focuses on three main categories: (1) engineering validation testing concepts for mineral recovery technologies in geothermal settings, (2) integrated approaches that cross-leverage geothermal and mining technologies, and (3) data and assessments that characterize the presence and concentrations of valuable materials in U.S. geothermal fluids and related produced waters.
What does DOE mean by "engineering validation testing" in this context?
DOE is looking for ideas and feedback on practical validation testing of technologies or process concepts that can capture, concentrate, and/or purify valuable dissolved materials under real operating conditions, emphasizing efficient and cost-effective performance beyond lab-scale demonstrations.
What types of mineral recovery approaches does DOE highlight as potentially relevant?
DOE signals interest in methods that could be adapted or transferred from other extractive sectors such as oil and gas and mining, including chemical separation techniques, specialized resins or sorbents, and other strategies that selectively isolate target elements from complex fluids.
Is DOE only interested in laboratory research?
No. The RFI emphasizes approaches that can work in real operating conditions and be validated in practical settings, not only in lab-scale environments.
What does DOE mean by integrating geothermal and mining technologies?
DOE is looking for concepts that combine or cross-leverage technologies used (or nearing commercial use) in geothermal and mining. Examples noted include integrating geothermal drilling and reservoir/rock stimulation methods (including those associated with enhanced geothermal systems, EGS) with mineral extraction techniques such as solution-mining style methods.
Why does DOE care about pairing geothermal energy production with mineral recovery?
The RFI indicates that co-developing geothermal energy production and mineral recovery could improve project economics and accelerate geothermal deployment, particularly if extraction can be incorporated without creating prohibitive operational risks or burdens.
What operational or environmental concerns does DOE flag for integrated concepts?
DOE notes the need to avoid prohibitive operational risk, downtime, scaling/corrosion issues, or environmental burdens when designing mineral extraction steps that fit into geothermal operations.
What kind of resource data is DOE trying to collect?
DOE wants to broaden and improve data on what valuable materials exist in U.S. geothermal fluids and at what concentrations, including both site-specific measurements (such as concentrations at particular fields or wells) and broader assessments estimating the size and distribution of the U.S. resource base contained in geothermal or other produced waters.
Does the RFI mention non-geothermal fluids?
Yes. While centered on geothermal fluids and geothermal process streams, the RFI also references potentially lower-temperature process streams from other operations, such as oil and gas production, in the context of produced waters.
Who was eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could provide input, provided they followed any specific instructions in the full RFI text on EERE Exchange.
How were responses submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted electronically as email attachments.
What email address was used to submit RFI responses?
Responses were submitted to LowTValidation@hq.doe.gov.
What was the deadline to respond to the RFI?
The deadline was 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday, June 8, 2015.
When was this RFI posted?
The posting date was May 11, 2015.
Where was the opportunity information hosted?
The information was hosted through EERE Exchange.
Which DOE office is associated with this RFI?
The notice is associated with the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO).
Why does the listing mention "cooperative agreement" if it is an RFI?
The listing describes the instrument type as a cooperative agreement, but it also clearly states this notice is only an RFI, with no awards expected and no application process.
What CFDA program is referenced in the listing?
The listing references CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
What is the practical takeaway for organizations interested in funding?
This notice is best understood as a request for input rather than a funding opportunity. DOE is collecting information to inform and shape potential future geothermal-plus-minerals activities, rather than soliciting proposals for awards under this notice.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy
Next opportunity: Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism
Previous opportunity: Regional Conservation Partnership Program
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0001327
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0001327) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| RFI Facilitating the Development of the Offshore Wind Industry in the United States Apply for DE FOA 0001350 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001350 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SOLAR BANKABILITY DATA TO ADVANCE TRANSACTIONS AND ACCESS (SB DATA) Apply for DE FOA 0001319 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001319 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Request for Information (RFI) Gas Clean Up for Fuel Cell Applications Workshop Report Apply for DE FOA 0001331 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001331 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER CONCENTRATING OPTICS FOR LOWER LEVELIZED ENERGY COSTS (COLLECTS) Apply for DE FOA 0001268 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001268 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| RFI Solar PV on Commercial Buildings Apply for DE FOA 0001356 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001356 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technologies Directed at Capturing Carbon Dioxide from Low Concentration Sources to Support the Coal Industry Apply for DE FOA 0001342 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001342 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Request for Information (RFI) High Impact Commercial Building Technology 2016 Apply for DE FOA 0001352 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001352 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) Grant Apply for USDA FSA 2015 22 Funding Number: USDA FSA 2015 22 Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2 (No. DE FOA 0001320) Apply for DE FOA 0001343 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001343 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for information (RFI) Advanced Biofuel Blends in Small Engines Apply for DE FOA 0001373 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001373 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Opportunities to Develop High Performance, Economically Viable, and Environmentally Benign Technologies to Recover Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from Domestic Coal and Coal Byproducts Apply for DE FOA 0001202 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001202 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement titled Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification and Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration Apply for DE FOA 0001355 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001355 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| DOE Traineeship in Power Engineering (Leveraging Wide Bandgap Power Electronics) Apply for DE FOA 0001378 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001378 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent No. DE FOA 0001391 Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands Apply for DE FOA 0001391 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001391 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2016 Scientific Infrastructure Support for CINR Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0001282 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001282 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Request for Information Building Envelope Infiltration Diagnostic Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0001394 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001394 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Photovoltaics Research and Development (PVRD) Notice of Intent (NOI) Apply for DE FOA 0001379 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001379 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2 Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0001320 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001320 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Solar Decathlon Program Administrator Apply for DE FOA 0001371 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001371 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Small and Medium Commercial Buildings Apply for DE FOA 0001389 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001389 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0001327", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.