Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000032
Apply for DE FOA 0000032
- 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 Geologic Sequestration Training and Research" 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 31, 2009 and posted on Jun 29, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2009. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education.
- Eligibility restricted to the 2 following applicant categories (1) All universities, colleges, and college affiliated research institutions (2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions (HBCU/OMI)
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Opportunity Summary:
The "Recovery Act Geologic Sequestration Training and Research" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000032) was a U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) grant program released under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Because Recovery Act funding was designed to stimulate the economy and create or retain jobs, the solicitation emphasized projects that could be launched quickly and completed on an expedited timeline. Applications that clearly supported near-term workforce impacts and broader economic recovery goals were positioned for special consideration, reflecting the Recovery Act preference for activities that move fast and show tangible outcomes.
At its core, the FOA sat within DOE's Carbon Sequestration Program in the Office of Fossil Energy's Coal Program, and it aligned with DOE's two-part approach to carbon sequestration technology development: (1) core research and development and (2) supporting infrastructure such as large-scale efforts and the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs). The core R&D component highlighted five technical focal areas: carbon capture, geologic carbon storage, monitoring/verification/accounting (often called MVA), carbon dioxide (CO2) use, and simulation and risk assessment. The message to applicants was that proposed training and research should not occur in isolation; it needed to fit into the larger federal CCS portfolio, complementing ongoing and completed projects so that new work added value rather than duplicating existing efforts.
The main purpose of the funding was workforce development tied directly to carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment. DOE framed CCS as a major pathway for reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating climate change, but noted that successful deployment would require a larger, better-prepared U.S. workforce across disciplines that were not sufficiently represented at the time. For that reason, the FOA focused on education and training activities intended to build the next generation of geologists, scientists, and engineers who could plan, implement, operate, and evaluate CCS systems. Rather than treating training as separate from technical progress, the program encouraged training through participation in fundamental research, so students would gain hands-on experience while also contributing to the scientific foundation needed for safe and effective CO2 storage.
The research topics emphasized were those that support reliable long-term geologic storage and credible accounting of stored CO2. The FOA called out fundamental research needs in simulation and risk assessment, monitoring/verification/accounting methods, geological and analytical tools, approaches to interpreting geophysical models, and practical issues such as well completion and well integrity for long-term CO2 storage. It also referenced CO2 capture as part of the broader CCS chain. In practical terms, a strong proposal would typically combine student training with research outputs that improve the ability to predict subsurface behavior, detect and quantify CO2 movement, assess and manage leakage risk, and ensure wells remain secure over long time horizons.
Eligibility was restricted to higher-education-focused institutions: (1) universities, colleges, and college-affiliated research institutions, and (2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Institutions (HBCU/OMI). The intent was to direct funding toward programs that could deliver structured training opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students, while also strengthening participation from institutions that play a key role in broadening the STEM pipeline. The funding instrument was a discretionary grant under CFDA 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development), and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, reducing barriers to participation for academic applicants.
In terms of award size, the FOA listed a funding floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of $300,000 per award. Key dates reflected its Recovery Act urgency: it was posted June 29, 2009, with an original and final closing date of August 11, 2009, and it was later archived on October 29, 2009. The opportunity fell under an energy-related Recovery Act science and technology and broader R&D activity category, reinforcing that it was both a stimulus measure and a technical capacity-building investment.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed to do two things at once: accelerate economic activity and job-related outcomes in the near term, and build the specialized talent pipeline needed for CCS to scale in the United States. It encouraged universities and minority-serving institutions to train students by engaging them in research that advances the technical underpinnings of geologic sequestration, particularly the modeling, monitoring, risk, and well integrity questions that determine whether CO2 can be stored safely and verifiably over decades.
Recovery Act Geologic Sequestration Training and Research (DE-FOA-0000032) - FAQs
What is the "Recovery Act Geologic Sequestration Training and Research" opportunity?
It was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) funding opportunity released under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program supported education/training tied to carbon capture and storage (CCS), alongside research that strengthens the technical foundation for safe, long-term geologic CO2 storage.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number was DE-FOA-0000032.
Who sponsored and administered this funding opportunity?
The sponsor was the U.S. Department of Energy, and the opportunity was associated with DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What legislation or program was this funding tied to?
The funding was released under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (often referred to as the Recovery Act).
Why did the solicitation emphasize speed and quick project start-up?
Recovery Act funding was intended to stimulate the economy and create or retain jobs. Because of that, projects that could be launched quickly and completed on an expedited timeline were emphasized, and proposals showing near-term workforce impacts and tangible outcomes were positioned for special consideration.
What was the main purpose of the program?
The main purpose was workforce development directly tied to CCS deployment, with training opportunities designed to build the next generation of geologists, scientists, and engineers who could plan, implement, operate, and evaluate CCS systems.
How did the FOA connect training and research?
The FOA encouraged training through participation in fundamental research. The idea was that students would gain hands-on experience while also contributing to research outputs that improve the scientific and technical basis for safe and effective CO2 storage.
Which DOE program area did this FOA fall under?
It sat within DOE's Carbon Sequestration Program in the Office of Fossil Energy's Coal Program.
How did DOE describe its broader approach to carbon sequestration technology development?
DOE described a two-part approach: (1) core research and development and (2) supporting infrastructure such as large-scale efforts and the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs).
What technical focal areas were highlighted as part of core R&D?
The FOA referenced five technical focal areas: carbon capture, geologic carbon storage, monitoring/verification/accounting (MVA), CO2 use, and simulation and risk assessment.
Did proposed work need to align with existing federal CCS efforts?
Yes. The FOA emphasized that training and research should fit into the larger federal CCS portfolio and complement ongoing and completed projects, adding value rather than duplicating existing efforts.
What kinds of research topics were emphasized?
Research topics emphasized were those that support reliable long-term geologic storage and credible accounting of stored CO2. The FOA called out needs in simulation and risk assessment, MVA methods, geological and analytical tools, interpreting geophysical models, and practical well-related issues such as well completion and well integrity for long-term CO2 storage.
What is MVA in the context of this FOA?
MVA refers to monitoring, verification, and accounting. In this FOA, MVA-related work was emphasized as part of ensuring CO2 storage can be tracked, verified, and credibly accounted for over time.
Was carbon capture included, or was the FOA only about storage?
The FOA referenced CO2 capture as part of the broader CCS chain, while emphasizing research and training that support long-term geologic storage and credible accounting.
What student populations were the training activities intended to support?
The intent was to deliver structured training opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was restricted to higher-education-focused institutions: universities, colleges, and college-affiliated research institutions, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Institutions (HBCU/OMI).
Why were HBCU/OMI institutions specifically included?
The FOA aimed to strengthen participation from institutions that play a key role in broadening the STEM pipeline, while supporting structured CCS-related training and research experiences.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a discretionary grant.
What CFDA number was associated with the opportunity?
The opportunity was under CFDA 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What was the award size range?
The FOA listed a funding floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of $300,000 per award.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The FOA was posted on June 29, 2009. The original closing date and final closing date were both August 11, 2009. It was later archived on October 29, 2009.
Was this opportunity still open after it was archived?
No. The FOA was archived on October 29, 2009, and the application closing date was August 11, 2009.
What kinds of proposals were positioned for special consideration under the Recovery Act framing?
Applications that clearly supported near-term workforce impacts and broader economic recovery goals were positioned for special consideration, reflecting a preference for activities that move fast and show tangible outcomes.
What category of Recovery Act activity did this opportunity fall under?
It fell under an energy-related Recovery Act science and technology and broader research and development activity category.
What outcomes was DOE trying to achieve with this funding?
The program was designed to do two things at once: accelerate economic activity and job-related outcomes in the near term, and build a specialized talent pipeline needed for CCS to scale in the United States.
What is an example of what a strong proposal would typically include, based on the FOA description?
Based on the FOA description, a strong proposal would typically combine student training with research outputs that improve the ability to predict subsurface behavior, detect and quantify CO2 movement, assess and manage leakage risk, and ensure wells remain secure over long time horizons.
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