Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

The Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discretionary grant opportunity focused on advancing marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy technologies. The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000293, and it is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).

2) What kinds of technologies does this FOA support?

This FOA supports marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy technologies, meaning devices and supporting components that generate electricity from moving water resources such as waves, tides, ocean currents, and river currents.

3) What is the overall goal of the initiative?

The goal is to accelerate MHK technologies from early ideas into proven, deployable solutions that can contribute to a domestic supply of clean, affordable, environmentally responsible renewable energy.

4) How is DOE organizing the funding and project maturity expectations?

DOE uses Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) as the organizing framework. TRLs provide a consistent way to describe and measure maturity from basic concepts through full-scale demonstration and operational readiness. The FOA is structured to support progress across a wide span of TRLs while improving technical performance and operational readiness, with attention to environmental responsibility and cost effectiveness.

5) What are Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) in this FOA?

In this opportunity, TRLs are used to classify the maturity of a proposed MHK technology. The FOA spans TRLs 1 through 9, covering stages from early concept and feasibility work through validation, prototype development, testing, demonstration, and readiness for deployment.

6) How much funding is available?

DOE expects up to $15.36 million in total funding for fiscal year (FY) 2010 under this opportunity.

7) Is future funding guaranteed beyond FY 2010?

No. DOE notes the possibility (not a guarantee) of continued funding at or near FY 2010 levels for up to two additional years.

8) What type of award instrument will be used?

The award instrument is a grant.

9) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is energy.

10) Is cost sharing required?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly lists a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants should expect cost sharing to be required.

11) How is the FOA structured?

The FOA is divided into two Topic Areas aligned to different maturity stages: Topic Area 1 focuses on early-stage concept development (TRLs 1-3), and Topic Area 2 focuses on advancing readiness and maturity (TRLs 4-9).

12) What is Topic Area 1 (MHK Technologies Concept Development)?

Topic Area 1 targets TRLs 1 through 3, which generally correspond to early-stage research, feasibility assessment, and proof-of-concept work.

13) What is Topic Area 2 (MHK Technology Readiness Level Advancement)?

Topic Area 2 targets TRLs 4 through 9, which generally cover validation in relevant environments, prototype development, testing, demonstration, and steps toward commercial-scale readiness.

14) Does DOE fund complete systems only, or can components be proposed?

Both are eligible for support under this FOA. Funding may support either complete MHK systems or individual components.

15) What does the FOA mean by the term "device"?

The FOA uses the term "device" to refer to the technology being proposed, whether that is a full MHK system or an individual component.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted at a high level (open to any type of entity). However, the FOA indicates applicants must check the specific eligibility criteria tied to each Topic Area for any additional conditions or limitations.

17) Are there Topic Area-specific eligibility rules?

Possibly. While overall eligibility is described as unrestricted, applicants are instructed to review the eligibility criteria associated with each Topic Area for any additional conditions or limitations.

18) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posted date is April 20, 2010. The creation date is May 12, 2010. The closing date is June 7, 2010.

19) Is this announcement a modification to an earlier FOA?

Yes. This notice is a modification to the original FOA.

20) What changed in the modified FOA?

The change is narrowly focused on how applicants must present their responses to the merit review criteria. DOE revised language in Section V.C (Merit Review Criteria Discussion) to require applications to be formatted to address each merit review criterion and each sub-criterion listed in Section IV.A, separately, for each Topic Area.

21) What is the practical impact of the merit review formatting change?

Applicants should not submit a blended or general narrative response. DOE states it will evaluate and consider only those applications that separately address each listed criterion and sub-criterion for each Topic Area.

22) Does the modification change anything else in the FOA?

DOE states that all other parts of the FOA remain unchanged, and the modified sections are highlighted within the FOA.

23) Where can applicants find the full announcement and submission details?

The FOA points to FedConnect as the additional information link for accessing the full announcement and submission details.

24) Who should be contacted if there are problems accessing the full announcement?

For access problems with the full announcement, the listed contact is Fania K. Gordon at fania.gordon@go.doe.gov.

25) Which DOE office administers this grant?

This grant opportunity is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.

26) What CFDA program is associated with this FOA?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.