Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000015
Apply for DE FOA 0000015
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy recovery act science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Carbon Capture and Sequestration..." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089 Fossil Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2009 and posted on Jun 8, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 7, 2009. (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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Carbon Capture and Sequestration from Industrial Sources and Innovative Concepts for Beneficial CO2 Use funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000015) was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is structured as a cost-shared cooperative agreement program, meaning applicants were expected to contribute a portion of project costs and to work closely with DOE during execution. The overall purpose is to accelerate real-world deployment and investment in cleaner industrial technology by demonstrating carbon dioxide capture, transport, and long-term storage (and, in a separate track, beneficial use concepts), with an emphasis on projects that are large enough to credibly inform commercial-scale decisions.
The announcement is organized into two DOE “Technology Areas,” and applicants had to clearly state which area their proposal addressed. Technology Area 1 focuses on large-scale industrial carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) demonstrations that capture CO2 from industrial sources and inject it into underground geologic formations for storage. These projects are expected to integrate the full CCS chain: capture at the facility, transportation to the storage site (as needed), and geologic sequestration accompanied by comprehensive monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) to track injected CO2 and confirm storage performance. Proposals could also include plant efficiency upgrades when those improvements directly support or enable integration of the capture system, recognizing that capture equipment can affect overall plant energy use and operations.
Eligible industrial sources under Technology Area 1 were broad and included facilities such as cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, steel and aluminum plants, other manufacturing operations, and certain power plants that use “opportunity fuels” like petroleum coke or municipal waste. However, the FOA carved out an important ineligibility condition aimed at excluding conventional coal-dominant power generation: plants where electric power output is greater than 50 percent of total energy output and that operate on more than 55 percent coal as a feedstock could not apply under this industrial CCS area. In other words, DOE was targeting industrial emitters and non-traditional fuel situations rather than primarily coal-fired electric generators.
On the storage side, the FOA emphasizes demonstrating sequestration across a range of geologic settings to evaluate cost, operational practices, and technical performance in different real-world conditions. Storage options mentioned include deep saline formations as well as other deep geologic systems such as basalts, operating oil and gas fields, depleted oil and gas fields, and unmineable coal seams. The FOA also acknowledges commercial pathways that can help support projects financially, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and enhanced methane recovery from unmineable coal seams, which can provide revenue or offtake demand for captured CO2 while still requiring rigorous accounting and monitoring.
DOE set clear performance and scale expectations to keep projects anchored in commercial relevance. The stated objective is to operate capture and storage technologies at commercial scale in an industrial setting and to demonstrate progress toward capturing and sequestering 75 percent of the CO2 from a treated gas stream that would otherwise be emitted, where that treated stream contains at least 10 percent CO2 by volume. This framing signals that DOE was looking for projects where CO2 concentration and throughput are sufficient to test equipment in realistic industrial conditions and to measure the full operational and economic impacts on the host plant (for example, how the capture system affects reliability, energy consumption, maintenance, and overall production).
A major metric in the FOA is the capture quantity target: DOE’s Industrial Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ICCS) target was one million tons of CO2 per plant per year, with an emphasis on achieving amounts approaching or exceeding that level (noted in the FOA as a target for 2015). The merit review and selection process was designed to give greater weight to proposals that come close to or surpass that million-tons-per-year scale as an integral part of commercial operation, not merely as a short pilot run. In addition, DOE signaled that applications would be stronger if they included long-term commitments involving CO2 suppliers, purchasers, or end users, because those arrangements reduce market risk and improve the likelihood of sustained operation. One suggested way to show this kind of long-term participation was coordination with a large-scale sequestration test site (including EOR), though the FOA also states that other credible sequestration approaches would receive equal consideration in review.
Administratively, the opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding within the Energy/Recovery Act and R&D space (CFDA 81.089, Fossil Energy Research and Development). Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply as long as it met the FOA’s specific requirements and clarifications. The FOA was posted June 8, 2009, with an application closing date of August 7, 2009, and it was later archived on October 8, 2009. The point of contact listed was Raymond Johnson at NETL (johnson@netl.doe.gov), with FedConnect support information provided for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement or linking to the opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the "Recovery Act Carbon Capture and Sequestration from Industrial Sources and Innovative Concepts for Beneficial CO2 Use" funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000015), issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
What is the overall purpose of the FOA?
The purpose is to accelerate real-world deployment and investment in cleaner industrial technology by demonstrating carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, transport, and long-term storage, and (in a separate track) innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 use. The emphasis is on projects large enough to meaningfully inform commercial-scale investment and deployment decisions.
What kind of award structure does this program use?
The FOA is structured as a cost-shared cooperative agreement program. That means applicants were expected to contribute a portion of total project costs (cost share) and to work closely with DOE during project execution (cooperative agreement).
What are the main topic areas (Technology Areas) in the announcement?
The FOA is organized into two DOE "Technology Areas." Applicants had to clearly state which Technology Area their proposal addressed:
- Technology Area 1: Large-scale industrial carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) demonstrations (capture from industrial sources and inject into geologic formations for storage).
- Technology Area 2: Innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 use (mentioned as a separate track in the opportunity description).
What does Technology Area 1 focus on?
Technology Area 1 focuses on large-scale industrial CCS demonstrations that capture CO2 from industrial sources and inject it into underground geologic formations for long-term storage. These projects are expected to integrate the full CCS chain: capture, transportation (as needed), and geologic sequestration with comprehensive monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA).
What does DOE mean by integrating the "full CCS chain"?
In this FOA, integrating the full CCS chain means the project should address:
- CO2 capture at the industrial facility,
- CO2 transportation to the storage site (if needed), and
- Geologic sequestration (injection into an underground formation) supported by monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) to track injected CO2 and confirm storage performance.
Is monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) required?
Yes. For Technology Area 1, the FOA emphasizes comprehensive MVA as part of geologic sequestration to track injected CO2 and confirm storage performance.
Can proposals include plant efficiency upgrades?
Yes. Proposals could include plant efficiency upgrades when those improvements directly support or enable integration of the CO2 capture system, acknowledging that capture equipment can affect overall plant energy use and operations.
What types of industrial facilities are eligible under Technology Area 1?
Eligible industrial sources were described broadly and included facilities such as cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, steel and aluminum plants, other manufacturing operations, and certain power plants that use "opportunity fuels" like petroleum coke or municipal waste.
Are conventional coal-dominant power plants eligible under the industrial CCS area?
Not under the ineligibility condition described in the FOA. Plants where electric power output is greater than 50 percent of total energy output and that operate on more than 55 percent coal as a feedstock could not apply under Technology Area 1. This reflects DOE's focus on industrial emitters and non-traditional fuel situations rather than primarily coal-fired electric generators.
What storage settings or geologic formations are mentioned for CO2 sequestration?
The FOA emphasizes demonstrating sequestration across a range of geologic settings to evaluate cost, operational practices, and technical performance. Storage options mentioned include:
- Deep saline formations
- Basalts
- Operating oil and gas fields
- Depleted oil and gas fields
- Unmineable coal seams
Does the FOA allow projects involving enhanced oil recovery (EOR)?
Yes. The FOA acknowledges commercial pathways that can help support projects financially, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR). It also notes enhanced methane recovery from unmineable coal seams. These pathways can provide revenue or offtake demand for captured CO2, while still requiring rigorous monitoring and accounting.
What capture performance is DOE looking for?
The FOA states an objective to operate capture and storage technologies at commercial scale in an industrial setting and to demonstrate progress toward capturing and sequestering 75 percent of the CO2 from a treated gas stream that would otherwise be emitted, where that treated stream contains at least 10 percent CO2 by volume.
What is the minimum CO2 concentration requirement mentioned for the treated gas stream?
The FOA describes an objective tied to a treated gas stream containing at least 10 percent CO2 by volume.
What CO2 capture quantity/scale is DOE targeting?
A major metric in the FOA is DOE's Industrial Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ICCS) target of one million tons of CO2 per plant per year, with an emphasis on achieving amounts approaching or exceeding that level as part of commercial operation.
How does project scale affect merit review and selection?
The FOA indicates that merit review and selection were designed to give greater weight to proposals that come close to or surpass the million-tons-per-year capture scale as an integral part of commercial operation, rather than a short pilot run.
Are long-term CO2 supply or offtake commitments considered important?
Yes. DOE signaled that applications would be stronger if they included long-term commitments involving CO2 suppliers, purchasers, or end users, because those arrangements can reduce market risk and improve the likelihood of sustained operation.
Does DOE require coordination with a large-scale sequestration test site?
The FOA suggests that one way to demonstrate long-term participation is coordination with a large-scale sequestration test site (including EOR). However, it also states that other credible sequestration approaches would receive equal consideration in review.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.089, Fossil Energy Research and Development.
What type of funding category is this listed under?
It was categorized as discretionary funding within the Energy/Recovery Act and R&D space.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply as long as it met the FOA's specific requirements and clarifications.
When was the FOA posted, and what were the key dates?
The FOA was posted on June 8, 2009. The application closing date was August 7, 2009. The FOA was later archived on October 8, 2009.
Who is the point of contact for this opportunity?
The point of contact listed was Raymond Johnson at NETL. The email provided is johnson@netl.doe.gov.
Where could applicants get help if they had trouble accessing the announcement?
The FOA included FedConnect support information for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement or linking to the opportunity.
What does DOE want to learn from these projects?
Based on the FOA description, DOE is looking for demonstrations that credibly inform commercial-scale decisions by showing performance across the full CCS chain in real industrial conditions, including operational impacts on the host plant (such as reliability, energy consumption, maintenance, and overall production), and by testing sequestration in different geologic settings.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy Recovery Act Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: BDJV Special Research Need
Previous opportunity: Recovery Act Funds Environmental Internships
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0000015
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000015) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Recovery Act Clean Coal Power Initiative Round 3 Apply for DE FOA 0000042 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000042 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Recovery Act Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Recovery Act Geologic Sequestration Training and Research Apply for DE FOA 0000032 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000032 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Recovery Act Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0000015", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.