Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001016
Apply for DE FOA 0001016
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Low Temperature Geothermal Mineral Recovery Program" 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 4, 2014 and posted on Feb 4, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 2, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Low Temperature Geothermal Mineral Recovery Program (DE-FOA-0001016) is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity designed to make geothermal power more broadly viable by adding a second value stream: recovering valuable minerals from geothermal brines. The central problem the program targets is that many geothermal power systems typically require high-temperature resources (often around 150C) to be economical, which limits where geothermal can be deployed and narrows the number of projects that can pencil out financially. By developing technologies that can pull strategic materials out of the hot, mineral-laden fluids produced during geothermal operations, the DOE aims to improve project economics, reduce overall geothermal energy costs, and expand geothermal development into more geographically diverse, lower-temperature resource areas, while also supporting domestic supply chains for materials that are increasingly critical to modern manufacturing and clean energy technologies.
A major motivation behind the program is supply risk for rare earth elements and other strategic or near-critical minerals, especially as demand rises for technologies like lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The opportunity narrative highlights lithium demand as a clear example, noting rapid growth in battery use and projecting sharply higher lithium carbonate demand. In practical terms, the program is trying to address two challenges at once: helping geothermal projects become more financially attractive by monetizing what is currently largely treated as a waste or management burden (brines), and strengthening the reliability and diversity of U.S.-relevant sources of critical materials by enabling recovery from domestic geothermal resources.
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, with the DOE anticipating about 8 awards (the description also references seeking up to ten projects) for feasibility and/or applied research and development efforts lasting roughly 1 to 2 years. The intent is not purely exploratory science; projects are expected to move toward technologies that can be commercialized. The technical focus is geothermal mining and extraction approaches for rare earth and near-critical metals from geothermal fluids, including the methods and process concepts needed to recover these materials effectively enough to matter economically. Because geothermal brines vary widely in composition, projects under this program would typically need to address how to selectively capture target elements, how to integrate recovery processes with geothermal operations without harming power production, and how to handle scaling, corrosion, and other operational challenges that come with brine processing.
The total estimated funding amount for the opportunity is $3,000,000, with individual awards expected to fall between $200,000 (floor) and $500,000 (ceiling). Cost sharing is not required, which reduces a common barrier for early-stage teams or smaller organizations. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any applicant type as long as they comply with any clarifications in the full announcement. The program is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office and aligned with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which supports initiatives that reduce risk and cost for bringing geothermal power online and help speed deployment of renewable energy technologies.
Key timeline details listed in the source include a posted and creation date of February 4, 2014, with an original and current closing date of May 2, 2014, and an archive date of August 1, 2014. The associated CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). For additional details, the opportunity references the EERE Exchange portal and provides a point of contact: Ryan N. McCleary at MineralRecoveryFOA@go.doe.gov for questions or access issues related to the full announcement.
Low Temperature Geothermal Mineral Recovery Program (DE-FOA-0001016) - FAQs
What is the Low Temperature Geothermal Mineral Recovery Program (DE-FOA-0001016)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity focused on making geothermal power more broadly viable by adding a second value stream: recovering valuable minerals from geothermal brines (the hot, mineral-rich fluids produced during geothermal operations). The program targets feasibility and/or applied research and development efforts that move toward commercialization.
What problem is DOE trying to solve with this program?
Many geothermal power systems are typically most economical with higher-temperature resources (often around 150C), which limits where geothermal can be deployed and which projects can be financially viable. DOE is aiming to improve project economics and reduce overall geothermal energy costs by enabling recovery of strategic materials from geothermal brines, potentially expanding geothermal development into more geographically diverse, lower-temperature resource areas.
Why does mineral recovery matter for geothermal power projects?
Mineral recovery can create an additional revenue stream by monetizing geothermal brines that are often treated mainly as a waste or management burden. By extracting valuable materials from these fluids, geothermal projects may become more financially attractive and better able to "pencil out" economically.
What types of minerals or materials is the program interested in?
The program focuses on rare earth elements and other strategic or near-critical metals that may be present in geothermal fluids. The opportunity narrative specifically highlights lithium as an example due to rapidly growing demand tied to lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
How does this program relate to critical mineral supply chains?
A major motivation is supply risk for rare earth elements and other strategic materials. By enabling recovery from domestic geothermal resources, the program aims to strengthen the reliability and diversity of U.S.-relevant sources of materials that are increasingly important to modern manufacturing and clean energy technologies.
What kinds of projects does DOE want to fund under this opportunity?
DOE is looking for feasibility and/or applied research and development projects focused on geothermal mining and extraction approaches for rare earth and near-critical metals from geothermal fluids. Projects are expected to move beyond purely exploratory science and make progress toward technologies that can be commercialized.
Is this program focused on basic research or commercialization?
The stated intent is not purely exploratory science. Projects are expected to move toward technologies that can be commercialized, aligning with applied R&D and practical feasibility work.
What are the key technical challenges projects may need to address?
Based on the opportunity description, projects would typically need to address how to selectively capture target elements from brines that vary widely in composition, how to integrate recovery processes with geothermal operations without harming power production, and how to manage operational issues such as scaling and corrosion that come with brine processing.
Why does brine composition matter for mineral recovery?
Geothermal brines can vary widely in chemical composition. That variability affects which target elements are present, how concentrated they are, and what extraction or separation methods are likely to work effectively and economically.
What is meant by "low temperature" in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity narrative notes that many geothermal systems typically require higher temperatures (often around 150C) to be economical. The program is positioned to help expand geothermal viability into lower-temperature resource areas by improving economics through mineral recovery.
What is the total estimated funding available for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding amount listed is $3,000,000.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipates about 8 awards. The description also references seeking up to ten projects.
What is the expected award size for individual projects?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $500,000 (ceiling).
What is the expected project period of performance?
The opportunity describes efforts lasting roughly 1 to 2 years.
What funding instrument will DOE use?
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements.
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any applicant type as long as the applicant complies with any clarifications in the full announcement.
Which DOE office administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office and is aligned with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 81.087, titled Renewable Energy Research and Development.
Where can applicants find the full announcement and submission details?
The opportunity references the EERE Exchange portal for additional details and access to the full announcement.
What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The posted and creation date is February 4, 2014. The original and current closing date is May 2, 2014. The archive date is August 1, 2014.
Who can be contacted for questions about the opportunity?
The listed point of contact is Ryan N. McCleary. Questions or access issues related to the full announcement can be sent to MineralRecoveryFOA@go.doe.gov.
What kinds of operational concerns might mineral recovery introduce at geothermal sites?
The opportunity description highlights operational challenges that can come with brine processing, including scaling and corrosion, and the need to integrate recovery processes without harming geothermal power production.
Does the opportunity specify that projects must work with geothermal brines?
Yes. The program is centered on recovering valuable minerals from geothermal brines (hot, mineral-laden fluids produced during geothermal operations).
What does DOE mean by adding a "second value stream"?
It refers to generating additional economic value beyond electricity production by recovering strategic materials from geothermal fluids, which can improve the financial performance of geothermal projects.
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