Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000567

  • The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative High Operating Temperature Fluids" 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 Apr 11, 2012 and posted on Feb 2, 2012.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 19, 2012 Application Due Date 04/19/2012 500 pm Eastern Time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
Apply for DE FOA 0000567

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Opportunity Summary:

The Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) High Operating Temperature Fluids (HOT Fluids) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000567) is a U.S. Department of Energy competitive funding announcement run through DOE's Golden Field Office under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It supports renewable energy research and development (CFDA 81.087) using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The announcement also includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants should plan for non-federal contributions as part of the overall project budget.

The central technical goal is to fund university-led, multidisciplinary teams to develop next-generation heat transfer and thermal storage fluids for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. DOE is targeting fluid materials that can unlock integration with advanced energy conversion devices capable of thermal-to-electric conversion efficiencies above 50 percent, which is a significant step beyond conventional CSP power block performance. The desired breakthrough is the discovery and development of a liquid that remains stable as a liquid across an unusually wide operating range, from 0 degrees C up to 1300 degrees C. Importantly, this is not just a chemistry challenge; the fluid must also meet practical engineering requirements so it can be used within current CSP plant designs (for example, compatibility with existing receiver concepts, piping, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and operational practices). Successfully developing such a fluid is framed as a direct enabler for the SunShot Initiative cost target of delivering solar electricity at roughly $0.06 per kWh.

The program structure follows a MURI model, meaning proposals are expected to combine expertise from multiple disciplines and likely multiple institutions, bringing together different technical backgrounds to solve a tightly coupled problem that spans materials discovery, thermophysical property characterization, corrosion and compatibility, stability at extreme temperatures, and CSP system integration considerations. While the excerpt does not list specific topic areas in detail, the overarching intent is clear: create a high-temperature, wide-liquid-range working fluid that can function both as a heat transfer medium and/or thermal storage medium in CSP, enabling higher operating temperatures and therefore higher cycle efficiencies.

DOE indicated it anticipated up to $10 million total federal funding and planned to make up to two awards under this FOA. Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled universities and private universities. Applications were required to be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal, which requires applicant registration and account creation, with supporting submission guidance available through the EERE eXCHANGE user manuals. The opportunity listed an application due date of April 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, and it shows an archive date of April 20, 2012, indicating the competition is historical rather than currently open.

This particular notice is an amendment rather than a brand-new solicitation. The only change described is a revision and expansion of information in Section V, "Application Review Information," specifically under "Review and Selection Process," within the "Selection Process" subsection, and more precisely the "Pre-Selection Clarification" step (referenced as page 31 in the FOA). In practical terms, that kind of amendment usually clarifies how DOE may contact applicants to resolve questions, request minor clarifications, or address ambiguities before a final selection decision is made. The amendment explicitly states that all other parts of the FOA remain unchanged, and that changes are highlighted in yellow in the updated FOA document.

For questions, the point of contact listed is Uriel Trujillo, and technical or submission questions were directed to HOTFluids@go.doe.gov. The full announcement and submission portal were hosted on the EERE eXCHANGE website.

FAQs: MURI High Operating Temperature Fluids (HOT Fluids) - DOE Funding Opportunity DE-FOA-0000567

What is the MURI High Operating Temperature Fluids (HOT Fluids) funding opportunity?

It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) competitive funding announcement focused on university-led research and development to create next-generation heat transfer and thermal storage fluids for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. The program follows a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) model, emphasizing teams that bring multiple disciplines together to solve tightly linked scientific and engineering challenges.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000567.

Which DOE office is running this opportunity?

The announcement is run through DOE's Golden Field Office under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

What program area or assistance listing is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity supports renewable energy research and development under CFDA 81.087.

What type of award mechanism is used?

This FOA uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning DOE expects substantial involvement during the project rather than operating as a hands-off grant.

Is cost sharing (matching) required?

Yes. The announcement includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are expected to plan for non-federal contributions as part of the overall project budget.

What is the central technical goal of the HOT Fluids program?

The central goal is to fund multidisciplinary university teams to discover and develop advanced working fluids for CSP that can serve as heat transfer and/or thermal storage media, enabling higher operating temperatures and improved overall system performance.

What operating temperature range is DOE targeting for the fluid?

DOE is targeting a breakthrough liquid that remains stable as a liquid across a very wide range, from 0 degrees C up to 1300 degrees C.

Why is DOE interested in such high-temperature fluids for CSP?

Higher-temperature working fluids can enable integration with advanced energy conversion devices capable of thermal-to-electric conversion efficiencies above 50 percent, which is beyond conventional CSP power block performance described in the opportunity summary.

Does the program focus only on chemistry or materials discovery?

No. The opportunity emphasizes that this is not only a chemistry challenge. The fluid must also meet practical engineering requirements so it can be used within current CSP plant designs and operational practices.

What kinds of CSP engineering compatibility considerations are mentioned?

The fluid is expected to be compatible with current CSP plant designs, including existing receiver concepts and common balance-of-plant components such as piping, pumps, valves, and heat exchangers, as well as operational practices.

How does this FOA relate to DOE's SunShot Initiative?

Successfully developing the targeted fluid is framed as a direct enabler for the SunShot Initiative cost target of delivering solar electricity at roughly $0.06 per kWh.

What does the MURI model imply for proposal teams?

Under a MURI model, proposals are expected to combine expertise from multiple disciplines and likely involve multiple institutions. The intent is to address an integrated problem that spans materials discovery, thermophysical property characterization, corrosion and compatibility, stability at extreme temperatures, and CSP system integration considerations.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled universities and private universities.

How much federal funding did DOE expect to make available?

DOE indicated it anticipated up to $10 million in total federal funding under this FOA.

How many awards did DOE plan to make?

DOE planned to make up to two awards under this FOA.

How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications were required to be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal, which requires applicant registration and account creation.

Where could applicants find submission help for the EERE eXCHANGE portal?

The opportunity notes that supporting submission guidance was available through the EERE eXCHANGE user manuals.

What was the application due date and time?

The application due date listed was April 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Is this opportunity currently open?

The opportunity appears to be historical rather than currently open. It shows an archive date of April 20, 2012, which indicates the competition has been archived.

Is this notice a brand-new solicitation or an amendment?

This particular notice is an amendment to the FOA rather than a brand-new solicitation.

What changed in the amendment?

The only described change is a revision and expansion of information in Section V, "Application Review Information," specifically under "Review and Selection Process," within the "Selection Process" subsection, and more precisely the "Pre-Selection Clarification" step (referenced as page 31 in the FOA).

What does "Pre-Selection Clarification" mean in this context?

Based on the amendment description, the change clarifies how DOE may contact applicants to resolve questions, request minor clarifications, or address ambiguities before a final selection decision is made.

Did any other part of the FOA change?

No. The amendment explicitly states that all other parts of the FOA remain unchanged.

How could applicants identify changes in the updated FOA document?

The amendment states that changes are highlighted in yellow in the updated FOA document.

Who was the point of contact for questions?

The point of contact listed is Uriel Trujillo.

What email address was provided for technical or submission questions?

Technical or submission questions were directed to HOTFluids@go.doe.gov.

Where were the full announcement and submission portal hosted?

The full announcement and submission portal were hosted on the EERE eXCHANGE website.

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