Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000566
Apply for DE FOA 0000566
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PV Manufacturing Initiative Part 2 SUNPATH (Scaling Up Nascent PV AT Home)" 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 Sep 15, 2011 and posted on Aug 2, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2011. (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 $25,000,000.00 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.
- All entities incorporated in the United States are eligible to apply for this FOA as prime recipients, except nonprofit organizations as described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.
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Opportunity Summary:
The PV Manufacturing Initiative Part 2, SUNPATH (Scaling Up Nascent PV AT Home) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000566) is a U.S. Department of Energy competitive grant program, administered through the Golden Field Office, aimed at pushing newer photovoltaic technologies into true industrial-scale U.S. manufacturing. The core purpose is to fund the first industrial-scale demonstration of an applicant's PV modules, cells, substrates, or key module components in a way that measurably lowers cost per watt compared with the current market-leading technology. DOE is looking for projects that can show credible near-term cost reductions over the next two years and that also support a longer-term trajectory toward roughly $1 per watt total system costs by 2020. In practical terms, this opportunity is focused on bridging the gap between promising PV innovations and the capital-intensive step of proving they can be manufactured at large scale with competitive cost and performance.
A central feature of the program is its emphasis on scale and real manufacturing impact. The amendment clarifies that proposals should support the first industrial-scale demonstration of 40 MW or more of PV, signaling that DOE is not looking for lab-scale pilots or small production runs, but rather a substantial manufacturing demonstration that can validate tooling, yields, throughput, supply chain readiness, and repeatable quality. This is positioned as an urgent need: a major investment to help launch first-of-a-kind industrial manufacturing of new PV technologies that otherwise might stall due to financing and scale-up risk.
Cost sharing is a major requirement and a defining aspect of the program. DOE expects significant non-federal cost share, meaning applicants must bring substantial matching funds and demonstrate strong partnerships with private capital as well as potential state and regional funding sources. The structure is intended to ensure that projects have real market backing and that federal dollars accelerate deployment rather than carry the full financial burden. Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which typically implies more active federal involvement in project oversight, milestones, and go/no-go decisions than a standard grant.
This particular document is an amendment to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement and mainly tightens the application package and review language rather than changing the underlying mission. Key changes include adding a mandatory Notification of Intent (NOI) step, due September 30, 2011 at 5:00 PM Eastern, which acts as an early heads-up to DOE about expected submissions. The amendment also adds a manufacturing cost summary requirement within the Project Narrative, pushing applicants to clearly present manufacturing economics, expected cost-down pathways, and how the proposed scale demonstration translates into lower cost per watt. Additional clarifying language was inserted into the Domestic Manufacturing Plan portion of the narrative and into the broader Domestic Manufacturing Requirement, reinforcing that DOE expects meaningful U.S.-based manufacturing commitments and credible plans to execute them. The merit review criteria were also adjusted and clarified, including a revision to Requirement 1 to explicitly reflect the 40 MW-or-more industrial demonstration threshold, and additional clarification under the criterion addressing commitment to domestic manufacturing.
Environmental documentation was strengthened as well. The amendment makes the Environmental Checklist (EF-1) a mandatory application document, indicating DOE wants applicants to address environmental and compliance considerations upfront as part of eligibility and readiness. The timeline was also updated, with expected selection notifications moved to January 2012 and expected award dates to February 2012. Finally, the amendment refreshes and updates various website links throughout the FOA and notes that changed areas are highlighted in yellow in the FOA document, while all other sections remain the same.
Eligibility is broadly open to entities incorporated in the United States, described as unrestricted with one explicit carve-out: certain 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded. The opportunity is categorized under renewable energy research and development (CFDA 81.087) and is posted and managed through the EERE eXCHANGE portal. Applications must be submitted electronically via EERE eXCHANGE, and prospective applicants must register and create an account in that system. The original closing date was October 14, 2011, and the amended closing date is October 28, 2011. The stated award ceiling is up to $25,000,000 per award, with a floor not specified, and total estimated program funding is not stated in the summary provided.
Overall, SUNPATH Part 2 is designed for teams that can credibly move a next-generation PV technology into a first industrial-scale U.S. production demonstration, prove a meaningful cost-per-watt advantage over incumbent products in the near term, and show a bankable path toward dramatic system cost reductions over the decade. The amendment mainly increases application structure and accountability: early intent notification, clearer manufacturing cost and domestic manufacturing planning expectations, mandatory environmental documentation, and refined review language to keep proposals anchored on large-scale, U.S.-centered manufacturing outcomes.
PV Manufacturing Initiative Part 2 (SUNPATH) Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0000566) - FAQs
What is the PV Manufacturing Initiative Part 2, SUNPATH funding opportunity?
PV Manufacturing Initiative Part 2, SUNPATH (Scaling Up Nascent PV AT Home) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) competitive funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000566) intended to help push newer photovoltaic (PV) technologies into true industrial-scale manufacturing in the United States. It focuses on bridging the gap between promising PV innovations and the high-cost, high-risk step of proving those innovations can be manufactured at large scale with competitive cost and performance.
Which DOE office administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core purpose is to fund the first industrial-scale demonstration of an applicant's PV modules, cells, substrates, or key module components in a way that measurably lowers cost per watt compared with the current market-leading technology.
What types of PV technologies or project outputs does DOE want to demonstrate?
Projects are expected to focus on PV modules, PV cells, PV substrates, or key PV module components, with an emphasis on demonstrating manufacturability at industrial scale and achieving measurable cost-per-watt reductions versus market-leading technology.
What does DOE mean by "industrial-scale demonstration" in this FOA?
The amendment clarifies that proposals should support the first industrial-scale demonstration of 40 MW or more of PV. This signals that DOE is looking for a substantial manufacturing demonstration rather than a lab-scale pilot or small production run, and one that can validate tooling, yields, throughput, supply chain readiness, and repeatable quality.
Is this FOA intended for pilot lines or early laboratory validation work?
Based on the emphasis in the amendment, DOE is not aiming this opportunity at lab-scale pilots or small production runs. The focus is a 40 MW-or-more first industrial-scale manufacturing demonstration.
What cost improvement is DOE looking for from funded projects?
DOE is seeking projects that can show credible near-term cost reductions over the next two years and that support a longer-term trajectory toward roughly $1 per watt total system costs by 2020. The funded work should demonstrate a measurable reduction in cost per watt compared with the current market-leading technology.
How quickly does DOE expect projects to show cost reductions?
DOE is looking for credible near-term cost reductions over the next two years, alongside a longer-term cost trajectory consistent with dramatic system cost reductions by 2020.
How is this opportunity different from earlier-stage PV R&D funding?
This opportunity emphasizes scale-up and real manufacturing impact. It targets the capital-intensive step of proving a new PV technology can be manufactured at industrial scale with competitive cost and performance, rather than focusing primarily on earlier lab-scale research.
What is the award type (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which typically implies more active federal involvement in project oversight, milestones, and potential go/no-go decisions than a standard grant.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is described as a major requirement and defining aspect of the program. DOE expects significant non-federal cost share.
What does DOE expect applicants to show regarding cost share and financing?
Applicants are expected to bring substantial matching funds and demonstrate strong partnerships with private capital, as well as potential state and regional funding sources. The intent is that federal dollars accelerate deployment rather than carry the full financial burden.
Is this document a brand-new FOA or an amendment?
The document described is an amendment to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). It mainly tightens the application package and review language rather than changing the underlying mission.
What are the key changes introduced by the amendment?
Key changes include: a mandatory Notification of Intent (NOI) step; a manufacturing cost summary requirement within the Project Narrative; clarifying language in the Domestic Manufacturing Plan and Domestic Manufacturing Requirement; adjustments/clarifications to merit review criteria including explicitly reflecting the 40 MW-or-more demonstration threshold; and strengthened environmental documentation requirements including a mandatory Environmental Checklist (EF-1). The timeline and various website links were also updated.
Is a Notification of Intent (NOI) required?
Yes. The amendment adds a mandatory Notification of Intent (NOI) step.
When is the Notification of Intent (NOI) due?
The NOI is due September 30, 2011 at 5:00 PM Eastern.
What is the purpose of the Notification of Intent (NOI)?
The NOI functions as an early heads-up to DOE about expected submissions.
What is the application submission deadline?
The original closing date was October 14, 2011, and the amended closing date is October 28, 2011.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal. Prospective applicants must register and create an account in that system.
What new application content does the amendment require regarding manufacturing costs?
The amendment adds a manufacturing cost summary requirement within the Project Narrative. This pushes applicants to clearly present manufacturing economics, expected cost-down pathways, and how the proposed scale demonstration translates into lower cost per watt.
What does DOE emphasize about domestic manufacturing?
The amendment reinforces expectations for meaningful U.S.-based manufacturing commitments. It adds clarifying language in the Domestic Manufacturing Plan portion of the narrative and in the broader Domestic Manufacturing Requirement, emphasizing credible plans to execute U.S.-centered manufacturing outcomes.
Did the merit review criteria change?
Yes. The merit review criteria were adjusted and clarified, including a revision to Requirement 1 to explicitly reflect the 40 MW-or-more industrial demonstration threshold, and additional clarification under the criterion addressing commitment to domestic manufacturing.
What environmental documentation is required?
The amendment makes the Environmental Checklist (EF-1) a mandatory application document, indicating that DOE wants environmental and compliance considerations addressed upfront as part of eligibility and readiness.
When does DOE expect to announce selections and make awards?
The updated timeline lists expected selection notifications in January 2012 and expected award dates in February 2012.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open to entities incorporated in the United States. It is described as unrestricted with one explicit carve-out related to certain nonprofit organizations.
Are any nonprofit organizations excluded from eligibility?
Yes. Certain 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.
What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under renewable energy research and development and is listed as CFDA 81.087.
What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling is up to $25,000,000 per award.
Is there a minimum (floor) award amount stated?
No. The floor is not specified in the summary provided.
Is total program funding (overall pot of money) stated?
No. The total estimated program funding is not stated in the summary provided.
What kinds of impacts should an industrial-scale demonstration validate?
The FOA emphasis described in the amendment points to validating manufacturing tooling, yields, throughput, supply chain readiness, and repeatable quality at a substantial scale (40 MW or more).
What is DOE trying to de-risk through this program?
DOE positions this as an urgent need to support first-of-a-kind industrial manufacturing of new PV technologies that might otherwise stall due to financing barriers and scale-up risk.
Where are changes in the amended FOA highlighted?
The amendment notes that changed areas are highlighted in yellow in the FOA document, and that all other sections remain the same.
Where is this FOA posted and managed?
The opportunity is posted and managed through the EERE eXCHANGE portal.
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