Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001208
Apply for DE FOA 0001208
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEXT GENERATION ELECTRIC MACHINES MEGAWATT CLASS MOTORS" 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 Mar 18, 2015 and posted on Mar 18, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 3, 2015 A mandatory Concept Paper is due 04/16/2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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 "Next Generation Electric Machines - Megawatt Class Motors" funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0001208) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort, run through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), aimed at pushing industrial motor and drive technology to a noticeably higher performance level. The basic premise is that manufacturing is a major part of the U.S. economy and energy use, so improving the efficiency and competitiveness of core industrial equipment like motors and drives can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening domestic manufacturing capability and supply chains. AMO is investing in research, development, and demonstration (RDD) work that can translate into broadly usable, crosscutting technologies with real industrial impact, not just one-off prototypes.
Within AMO, the Next Generation Electric Machines (NGEM) program targets medium-voltage (MV) integrated drive systems that combine advanced power electronics with high-performance electric motors. The FOA specifically focuses on integrated MV drive systems that take advantage of state-of-the-art power electronics, particularly wide bandgap semiconductor devices, and pair them with energy-efficient, high-speed, direct-drive, megawatt (MW) class motors. The objective is to deliver major improvements in two key outcomes that matter in heavy industry: higher efficiency (less electricity wasted as heat and losses) and higher power density (more power output for a given size and weight). In practical terms, that means drive systems that can be smaller, lighter, and more efficient than conventional systems, making them easier to integrate, potentially cheaper to operate, and better suited for demanding industrial duty cycles.
The technical direction described in the announcement emphasizes several enabling technology areas that applicants might use to achieve these gains. These include wide bandgap power devices (which can operate at higher switching frequencies and temperatures with lower losses), advanced magnetic materials, improved insulation systems suitable for MV and high-speed operation, aggressive cooling approaches, high-speed bearing designs, and improved electrical conductors, including the possibility of superconducting materials. The FOA frames these as building blocks for a step change in performance rather than incremental tweaks, and it also highlights building lasting U.S. capabilities in motor materials development, design, and analysis in partnership with industry through cost sharing.
The program targets three application areas where MW-class motors and MV drive systems are widely used and where efficiency improvements can translate into large energy and cost savings: (1) chemical and petroleum refining industries, (2) natural gas infrastructure, and (3) general industrial applications. These sectors were selected because they represent a large installed base of motors, high electricity consumption, and meaningful opportunities for U.S. technology leadership and manufacturing competitiveness. The underlying message is that better MV integrated drives for these segments can have a sizable national impact due to the scale of equipment deployment and energy use in these industries.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, meaning DOE expects to be substantially involved during project execution rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The FOA anticipated about 6 awards, with total estimated funding of $20 million. Individual awards were expected to fall between $3 million (floor) and $5 million (ceiling). Cost sharing is required, consistent with DOE's approach to ensuring industry stakeholders have financial participation and that projects are aligned with real commercialization and deployment needs. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA.
The key dates in the posting indicate it was posted March 18, 2015, with an original and current closing date of June 3, 2015. A mandatory concept paper was due April 16, 2015, making the concept paper an initial gate that applicants had to pass through before submitting a full application. The administering office is listed as the Golden Field Office. The FOA also notes an informational webinar intended to explain the application process and answer general questions; it was scheduled for April 1, 2015, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT. Attendance was explicitly stated as optional and not a factor in proposal evaluation, and participants were cautioned not to share proprietary project-specific information during the open session.
Finally, the submission process ran through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system, which enforces hard deadlines by disabling submission buttons at the cutoff times. For technical submission issues prior to deadlines, applicants were directed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. The FOA is associated with CFDA number 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), reflecting its placement within DOE's broader clean energy RDD portfolio even though the immediate targets are industrial motor and drive systems rather than, for example, power generation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Next Generation Electric Machines - Megawatt Class Motors (DOE FOA 0001208)
What is DOE FOA 0001208 about?
DOE FOA 0001208, titled "Next Generation Electric Machines - Megawatt Class Motors," is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity managed through EERE's Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). It supports research, development, and demonstration work intended to push industrial motor and drive technology to a noticeably higher performance level, with an emphasis on solutions that can translate into broadly usable, crosscutting technologies with real industrial impact.
What program is this FOA part of?
This opportunity falls under AMO's Next Generation Electric Machines (NGEM) program, which targets medium-voltage (MV) integrated drive systems that combine advanced power electronics with high-performance electric motors.
What is the main technical focus of the FOA?
The FOA focuses on integrated medium-voltage drive systems that pair state-of-the-art power electronics (especially wide bandgap semiconductor devices) with energy-efficient, high-speed, direct-drive, megawatt (MW) class motors.
What outcomes is DOE trying to improve with this funding?
The stated objective is major improvements in two outcomes that matter in heavy industry: higher efficiency and higher power density. In practical terms, the goal is drive systems that are smaller, lighter, and more efficient than conventional systems, making them easier to integrate and potentially cheaper to operate under demanding industrial duty cycles.
What kinds of technologies does the FOA highlight as enabling areas?
The FOA points to several enabling technology areas that applicants might use to achieve step-change performance, including wide bandgap power devices, advanced magnetic materials, improved insulation systems for MV and high-speed operation, aggressive cooling approaches, high-speed bearing designs, improved electrical conductors, and potentially superconducting materials.
Is DOE looking for incremental improvements or bigger performance leaps?
The FOA frames the highlighted technology areas as building blocks for a step change in performance rather than incremental tweaks.
What industries or application areas are being targeted?
The program targets three application areas where MW-class motors and MV drive systems are widely used and where efficiency improvements can produce large energy and cost savings: (1) chemical and petroleum refining industries, (2) natural gas infrastructure, and (3) general industrial applications.
Why were these sectors selected?
They were selected because they represent a large installed base of motors, high electricity consumption, and meaningful opportunities for U.S. technology leadership and manufacturing competitiveness.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. something else)?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements. That means DOE expects to be substantially involved during project execution, rather than issuing funding and stepping back.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the total funding?
The FOA anticipated about 6 awards with total estimated funding of $20 million.
What was the expected award size for individual projects?
Individual awards were expected to range from $3 million (floor) to $5 million (ceiling).
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, consistent with DOE's approach to ensuring industry stakeholders have financial participation and that projects align with real commercialization and deployment needs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The posting date was March 18, 2015. The original and current closing date listed was June 3, 2015.
Was a concept paper required?
Yes. A mandatory concept paper was required as an initial gate before submitting a full application.
When was the concept paper due?
The mandatory concept paper due date was April 16, 2015.
Which DOE office administered this opportunity?
The administering office is listed as the Golden Field Office.
Was there an informational webinar, and was attendance required?
Yes, an informational webinar was scheduled to explain the application process and answer general questions. Attendance was explicitly stated as optional and not a factor in proposal evaluation.
When was the webinar scheduled?
The webinar was scheduled for April 1, 2015, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Could applicants discuss proprietary details during the webinar?
Participants were cautioned not to share proprietary project-specific information during the open session.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system.
How strict are submission deadlines in EERE eXCHANGE?
The eXCHANGE system enforces hard deadlines by disabling submission buttons at the cutoff times.
Who should applicants contact for technical submission issues?
For technical submission issues prior to deadlines, applicants were directed to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov.
What is the CFDA number associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with CFDA number 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
How does this FOA relate to clean energy if it focuses on industrial motors?
Even though the immediate targets are industrial motor and drive systems, the opportunity is positioned within DOE's broader clean energy research, development, and demonstration portfolio because improving industrial efficiency can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at scale.
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