Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001950
Apply for DE FOA 0001950
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0001836: “Innovative Design Concepts for Standard Modular Hydropower and Pumped Storage Hydropower”" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 25, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a Notice of Intent only. Applications are not being accepted through this Notice of Intent.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- 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 Notice of Intent (NOI) for DE-FOA-0001836 signals that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its Water Power Technologies Office, was planning to release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement focused on early-stage, innovative design work for two related areas: standard modular hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH). In practical terms, the government is flagging an upcoming competitive funding opportunity aimed at pushing new concepts that could make hydropower cheaper, faster to deploy, and more environmentally compatible, while also modernizing and expanding the role of pumped storage as a major grid-scale energy storage resource. The full details were to be hosted on the EERE Exchange website, which is DOE's primary platform for EERE funding announcements.
The motivation for the planned FOA is rooted in DOE's broader assessment of U.S. hydropower potential and the barriers holding it back. DOE's Hydropower Vision work identified about 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of conventional hydropower potential at currently undeveloped sites and waterways, and suggested that an additional 15 GW could become viable if the industry adopts innovative, potentially transformational technologies and designs. The NOI frames the main challenge as not simply finding new sites, but developing hydropower in ways that cut costs and meet environmental performance expectations. A central theme is that unlocking new "stream-reach" resources (smaller or more distributed opportunities in waterways that are not traditionally developed like big dam projects) requires designs that are standardized and modular, meaning components and facility layouts can be repeated, manufactured, and installed with less custom engineering for every project, and with fewer environmental tradeoffs.
A second motivation is the continuing importance of pumped storage hydropower to the U.S. electric grid. The notice points out that 43 PSH plants provide more than 95 percent of utility-scale electrical energy storage in the United States, which underscores how dominant pumped storage has been historically for large-scale, long-duration storage. At the same time, the NOI indicates DOE sees a need to broaden PSH's value in a changing electricity system that is increasingly shaped by variable renewable generation, evolving market structures, and the need for flexible capacity and grid services. To do that, DOE highlights the need for research into storage technology designs as well as better tools for optimization and modeling, so PSH can be evaluated and operated as a modern, multi-service asset rather than only a traditional peak-shaving resource.
The anticipated FOA was described as soliciting new design concepts plus the modeling and analysis needed to support and evaluate those concepts. The NOI lays out two main topic areas. Topic Area 1 focuses on "Facility Designs for Standard Modular Hydropower Development," which implies an emphasis on rethinking how hydropower facilities are configured and built so they can be deployed more like repeatable infrastructure modules. While the notice does not list specific technical requirements, the clear direction is toward standardized designs that reduce site-specific complexity, shorten development timelines, and improve environmental compatibility, which can include fish passage considerations, sediment and water quality impacts, and minimizing disturbance to river function.
Topic Area 2 focuses on "New Use Cases for Pumped Storage Hydropower" and is split into two sub-topics. Sub-topic 2.1 calls for innovative conceptual designs for pumped storage systems, suggesting interest in fresh configurations or approaches that could reduce cost, expand feasible siting options, or enhance operational flexibility. Sub-topic 2.2 targets modeling and analysis to understand PSH's role in asset and system optimization, which points to grid-level and portfolio-level studies, operational simulations, and analytical tools that can quantify PSH value streams (such as energy arbitrage, capacity, reserves, frequency regulation, ramping support, and integration of renewables) under different market and grid scenarios.
Several administrative details in the posting clarify what this notice is and is not. This is an NOI only, meaning DOE was not accepting applications at the time of the notice and was not committing to any specific final funding structure. The notice explicitly states that EERE may issue a FOA as described, may issue a FOA that is significantly different, or may not issue a FOA at all. It also emphasizes that all information is subject to change and that DOE would not respond to questions about the NOI; a formal questions process would only be provided after an actual FOA release. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the energy area (CFDA 81.087) and lists eligibility as "unrestricted," meaning it was broadly open to many applicant types (universities, private companies, nonprofits, and others), subject to any additional constraints that would later appear in the finalized FOA text.
Overall, the NOI communicates DOE's near-term intent to fund forward-looking concepts that could reshape how hydropower and pumped storage projects are designed, evaluated, and justified. For standard modular hydropower, the underlying goal is to make smaller or less conventional hydropower deployments more practical by emphasizing repeatability and environmental fit. For pumped storage, the goal is to expand design innovation and improve modeling tools so PSH can be better optimized and more fully valued in a modern grid that needs flexible, long-duration storage and multiple reliability services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is DE-FOA-0001836?
DE-FOA-0001836 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) identifier referenced in a Notice of Intent (NOI). The NOI signals DOE's intent to potentially release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Water Power Technologies Office, focused on early-stage innovative design work for standard modular hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH).
Is this a current funding opportunity I can apply to right now?
No. The posting described is a Notice of Intent (NOI) only. DOE was not accepting applications at the time of the notice, and there is no application package to submit based on the NOI alone.
What is the purpose of issuing a Notice of Intent (NOI)?
The NOI is an advance signal that DOE was planning a potential future competitive funding opportunity. It helps the public understand the general direction DOE was considering (topic areas, goals, and motivation), but it is not a solicitation and does not provide final requirements.
Could DOE change or cancel the planned FOA?
Yes. The NOI explicitly states DOE/EERE may issue a FOA as described, may issue a FOA that is significantly different, or may not issue a FOA at all. The NOI also notes that all information is subject to change.
Where would the full FOA details be posted if it is released?
The NOI indicates the full details were to be hosted on the EERE Exchange website, which is DOE's primary platform for EERE funding announcements.
Which DOE offices are associated with this planned opportunity?
The NOI references DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and EERE's Water Power Technologies Office as the entities planning the future FOA.
What technologies or project types does this planned opportunity focus on?
The NOI describes two related focus areas: (1) standard modular hydropower (early-stage innovative facility design concepts) and (2) pumped storage hydropower (PSH), including both new conceptual designs and modeling/analysis for new use cases and grid value.
What is meant by "standard modular hydropower" in this notice?
In the context of the NOI, standard modular hydropower refers to designs that emphasize standardization and modularity, meaning repeatable components and facility layouts that could be manufactured and installed with less custom engineering for each site. The goal is to reduce cost and time to deploy while improving environmental compatibility.
Why is DOE interested in modular and standardized hydropower designs?
The NOI frames a key challenge as developing hydropower in ways that cut costs and meet environmental performance expectations. It highlights that unlocking new "stream-reach" resources (smaller or more distributed opportunities) will likely require standardized and modular designs to reduce site-specific complexity and shorten development timelines.
What are "stream-reach" resources as described in the notice?
The NOI uses "stream-reach" to describe smaller or more distributed hydropower opportunities in waterways that are not traditionally developed like large dam projects. The notice suggests these opportunities may become more practical if projects can be deployed using repeatable, modular approaches with fewer environmental tradeoffs.
What environmental considerations are mentioned for modular hydropower designs?
While the NOI does not provide detailed technical requirements, it signals an emphasis on improved environmental compatibility. Examples mentioned include fish passage considerations, sediment and water quality impacts, and minimizing disturbance to overall river function.
What is pumped storage hydropower (PSH) and why is it emphasized?
PSH is highlighted as a major grid-scale energy storage resource. The NOI notes that 43 PSH plants provide more than 95 percent of utility-scale electrical energy storage in the United States, underscoring PSH's historical dominance in large-scale, long-duration storage.
What is DOE trying to achieve for pumped storage hydropower under this planned FOA?
The NOI suggests DOE wanted to broaden PSH's value in a changing electricity system shaped by variable renewable generation, evolving market structures, and a growing need for flexible capacity and grid services. The planned FOA topics include both innovative PSH conceptual designs and improved modeling/analysis so PSH can be evaluated and operated as a modern, multi-service asset.
What are the two main topic areas described in the NOI?
The NOI lays out two main topic areas: Topic Area 1, "Facility Designs for Standard Modular Hydropower Development," and Topic Area 2, "New Use Cases for Pumped Storage Hydropower."
What does Topic Area 1 cover?
Topic Area 1 focuses on facility designs for standard modular hydropower development. The direction described is toward standardized designs that reduce site-specific complexity, shorten development timelines, lower costs, and improve environmental compatibility.
What does Topic Area 2 cover?
Topic Area 2 focuses on new use cases for pumped storage hydropower (PSH) and includes two sub-topics: (2.1) innovative conceptual designs for PSH systems and (2.2) modeling and analysis to understand PSH's role in asset and system optimization.
What is Sub-topic 2.1 about?
Sub-topic 2.1 calls for innovative conceptual designs for pumped storage systems. The NOI suggests interest in fresh configurations or approaches that could reduce cost, expand feasible siting options, or enhance operational flexibility.
What is Sub-topic 2.2 about?
Sub-topic 2.2 targets modeling and analysis related to PSH. The NOI points to grid-level and portfolio-level studies, operational simulations, and analytical tools that can quantify PSH value streams under different market and grid scenarios.
What kinds of PSH value streams does the NOI mention?
The NOI lists examples of PSH value streams such as energy arbitrage, capacity, reserves, frequency regulation, ramping support, and integration of renewables.
Does the NOI specify award sizes, cost share, deadlines, or submission requirements?
No. The NOI does not provide final funding structure details such as award amounts, cost-sharing requirements, submission deadlines, or application formatting. Those details would only be available in a released FOA.
What is the funding category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The NOI categorizes the opportunity as discretionary funding in the energy area and references CFDA 81.087.
Who is eligible to apply based on the NOI?
The NOI lists eligibility as "unrestricted," meaning it was broadly open to many applicant types (for example, universities, private companies, nonprofits, and others), subject to any additional constraints that would appear in the finalized FOA text if released.
Can I ask DOE questions about the NOI or proposed topics?
No. The NOI states DOE would not respond to questions about the NOI. A formal questions process would only be provided after an actual FOA release.
What is the broader motivation DOE cites for focusing on hydropower innovation?
The NOI references DOE's Hydropower Vision work, which identified about 1.7 GW of conventional hydropower potential at currently undeveloped sites and waterways, and suggested an additional 15 GW could become viable if innovative, potentially transformational technologies and designs are adopted. The notice emphasizes overcoming cost and environmental barriers through improved designs.
Is the planned work focused on early-stage concepts or fully developed projects?
The NOI describes the anticipated FOA as focused on early-stage, innovative design work, along with the modeling and analysis needed to support and evaluate those design concepts.
What is meant by "modeling and analysis" in this notice?
In the NOI, modeling and analysis refers to the analytical work needed to support and evaluate proposed concepts, especially for PSH. Examples mentioned include optimization and modeling tools, operational simulations, and studies that help quantify PSH services and value under different grid and market conditions.
What does DOE mean by operating PSH as a "multi-service asset"?
The NOI contrasts traditional PSH use (such as peak-shaving) with a broader role where PSH can provide multiple grid services. The notice implies the planned FOA would support tools and evaluations that better capture and optimize these multiple services.
Does the NOI describe specific technical performance requirements?
No. The NOI does not list detailed technical requirements. It communicates direction and priorities (standardization, modularity, lower cost, faster deployment, environmental compatibility, and better PSH valuation through modeling), with specifics to be defined in any future FOA.
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