Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000965
Apply for DE FOA 0000965
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Next Generation Photovoltaics Technology RFI" 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 Aug 1, 2013 and posted on Aug 1, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 Photovoltaics Technology RFI" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000965) is a U.S. Department of Energy request for information, not a direct call for grant applications. Through this RFI, DOE is collecting input from academia, national laboratories, and industry to help shape and prioritize future research directions in next-generation photovoltaic (PV) cell technologies. The central goal is to identify innovative and potentially transformative research topics that could meaningfully close the gap between theoretical efficiency limits and real-world device performance, including approaches that can exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit by overcoming key materials and manufacturing process barriers. DOE is especially focused on research that could matter at large scale over a 10 to 20 year horizon, with an emphasis on breakthroughs that would support terawatt-level deployment of solar energy.
At a practical level, DOE is seeking ideas and technical information on PV concepts that could reduce the cost of solar electricity by increasing cell efficiencies and/or enabling the use of more cost-effective materials and fabrication methods. The RFI frames next-generation PV as an area where progress is constrained not only by physics-based efficiency ceilings but also by real manufacturing constraints such as materials quality, device stability, scalable processing, yield, and integration challenges. Responses are intended to help DOE understand which research pathways appear most promising, what the major bottlenecks are, and what kinds of foundational or applied R&D might unlock step-change improvements.
This notice was posted by DOE's Golden Field Office under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could provide input, subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full RFI text on EERE Exchange. The opportunity category is discretionary and the listed funding instrument type is cooperative agreement; however, the RFI itself does not provide funding. The estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor are all shown as $0, reinforcing that this is an information-gathering effort rather than an active funding solicitation.
DOE also makes a key point that participation in this RFI may inform DOE planning and could lead to a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), but there is no commitment or guarantee that a FOA will be issued or that any funding will result. In other words, the RFI is meant to help DOE evaluate the landscape and shape potential future programs, not to select awardees.
Key dates show the RFI was posted on August 1, 2013, with responses due by August 30, 2013, and an archive date of October 1, 2013. The complete RFI was made available through the EERE Exchange website (eere-exchange.energy.gov). For access issues or questions, DOE provided a point of contact via email at NextGenPV@ee.doe.gov.
Next Generation Photovoltaics Technology RFI (DE-FOA-0000965) - FAQs
1) What is the "Next Generation Photovoltaics Technology RFI" (DE-FOA-0000965)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on next-generation photovoltaic (PV) cell technologies. It is not a grant application or a funding solicitation. DOE is gathering technical input to help shape and prioritize possible future research directions.
2) Is this an active grant or funding opportunity?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a call for proposals. The listing shows $0 for estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor, which indicates no funding is being awarded through this RFI.
3) What is DOE trying to accomplish with this RFI?
DOE is collecting ideas and technical information to identify innovative and potentially transformative PV research topics. The aim is to help close the gap between theoretical efficiency limits and real-world device performance, including concepts that could exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit by addressing key materials and manufacturing process barriers.
4) Who is DOE looking to hear from?
DOE is seeking input from academia, national laboratories, and industry. The eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could provide input, subject to any additional details in the full RFI text.
5) What kinds of topics or ideas is DOE seeking?
DOE is seeking ideas related to next-generation PV concepts that could reduce the cost of solar electricity. This includes approaches that improve cell efficiencies and/or enable more cost-effective materials and fabrication methods, along with technical insights on the research barriers that currently limit progress.
6) What are the main challenges DOE highlights for next-generation PV?
The RFI emphasizes that progress is limited not only by physics-based efficiency ceilings, but also by real-world manufacturing constraints. Examples called out include materials quality, device stability, scalable processing, yield, and integration challenges.
7) What does DOE mean by "closing the gap between theoretical limits and real-world performance"?
DOE is interested in research directions that can move PV devices closer to their theoretical efficiency potential in practical, deployable systems, and also in concepts that may exceed conventional limits such as the Shockley-Queisser limit.
8) Does responding to this RFI lead to a grant award?
No. DOE notes that RFI participation may inform planning and could contribute to a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), but there is no commitment or guarantee that a FOA will be issued or that any funding will result.
9) What is the time horizon DOE is considering for impact?
DOE is especially focused on research that could matter at large scale over a 10 to 20 year horizon, with an emphasis on breakthroughs that would support terawatt-level deployment of solar energy.
10) What is the funding instrument type shown, and does it apply here?
The notice lists "cooperative agreement" as the funding instrument type, but this RFI itself does not provide funding. The instrument type would only become relevant if DOE later issued a funding opportunity based on insights from the RFI.
11) Which DOE office posted this notice?
The notice was posted by DOE's Golden Field Office.
12) What category and program classification is this associated with?
The funding activity category is Energy, and it is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
13) Where was the full RFI made available?
The complete RFI was made available through the EERE Exchange website at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
14) What were the key dates for this RFI?
The RFI was posted on August 1, 2013. Responses were due by August 30, 2013. The archive date is October 1, 2013.
15) Who should be contacted for access issues or questions?
DOE provided an email point of contact: NextGenPV@ee.doe.gov.
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