Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000085
Apply for DE FOA 0000085
- The Golden Field Office in the energy recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act High Penetration Solar Deployment" 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 Jul 21, 2009 and posted on May 27, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 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 $5,000,000.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act High Penetration Solar Deployment funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000085) is a U.S. Department of Energy program administered through the Golden Field Office that aims to speed up the safe, reliable, and cost-effective rollout of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the electric distribution grid at much higher levels than were common at the time. The central focus is not simply installing more PV, but solving the technical and operational challenges that show up when many PV systems are connected to the same distribution circuits, including voltage regulation issues, protection coordination, power quality impacts, and the need for better visibility and control by utilities and grid operators. The opportunity is tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) and aligns with the Solar Energy Technology Program mission of accelerating the commercialization and adoption of clean solar energy technologies across the United States.
The FOA lays out three main technical objectives. First, it seeks the development of modeling tools and a practical database of lessons learned from real-world high-penetration PV scenarios on distribution systems. In plain terms, DOE wanted applicants to improve the ability to predict and plan for what happens when PV penetration becomes significant, using credible models supported by field data and documented operational experience. Second, the FOA calls for monitoring, control, and integration systems that make widespread deployment of small, modular PV systems more affordable and manageable. That includes technologies and approaches that help utilities observe PV output and grid conditions in near real time, coordinate PV behavior with grid needs, and reduce the cost and complexity of interconnection at scale. Third, it emphasizes demonstrations that combine PV with energy storage within Smart Grid applications, highlighting the role storage can play in smoothing variability, supporting local voltage and frequency needs, enabling peak shaving, improving reliability, and making PV behave more like a controllable resource on distribution networks.
From a funding and award structure standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning DOE expected substantial involvement during the project period (for example, technical collaboration, milestones, and active federal oversight rather than a hands-off grant). The program includes a cost sharing requirement, so recipients would need to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources, which is typical for many DOE technology development and demonstration efforts. The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000, indicating the maximum federal share per award under this announcement, though actual award sizes could vary depending on the selected scope and proposed work.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from a wide range of entity types, such as private companies, utilities, universities, national-lab partners, state or local entities, and nonprofits, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA text. The activity category is Energy, and the associated CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), which is commonly used for DOE funding supporting R&D and technology advancement in renewables.
On logistics and submission requirements, DOE directed applicants to retrieve the full Funding Opportunity Announcement through FedConnect and required that applications be submitted through FedConnect to be considered for award. Applicants were also warned that it was their responsibility to confirm successful transmission prior to the deadline. An exception was provided for organizations with system-to-system capabilities using Grants.gov, allowing those submissions to be accepted as well. Key dates included a posted date of May 27, 2009, an original closing date of June 30, 2009, and an updated closing date of July 30, 2009, with an archive date of September 27, 2009. For access issues or technical problems, the announcement lists FedConnect support (support@fedconnect.net) and a DOE contact, Andrea Lucero (Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov), along with guidance to contact the FedConnect HelpDesk for linking or platform issues.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a grid-integration push: it funds the tools, controls, and demonstrations needed to move from isolated PV installations to distribution systems where PV is present at high enough levels to materially affect grid operations, while proving out approaches that let utilities integrate PV (and PV plus storage) into smarter, more responsive distribution networks.
Recovery Act High Penetration Solar Deployment (DE-FOA-0000085) - FAQs
What is the Recovery Act High Penetration Solar Deployment funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000085)?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity, administered through the Golden Field Office, designed to accelerate the safe, reliable, and cost-effective deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on electric distribution grids at much higher penetration levels than were common at the time of the announcement.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The central purpose is not simply to install more PV. It is to address the technical and operational challenges that arise when many PV systems are connected to the same distribution circuits, including voltage regulation, protection coordination, power quality impacts, and improved utility visibility and control.
How does this FOA relate to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?
The opportunity is tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), and it aligns with the DOE Solar Energy Technology Program mission to accelerate commercialization and adoption of clean solar energy technologies across the United States.
What kinds of grid issues is DOE trying to solve with this program?
Based on the FOA description, the issues include voltage regulation challenges, protection coordination complications, power quality impacts, and the need for utilities and grid operators to have better visibility into PV behavior and better operational control as PV penetration increases on distribution circuits.
What are the three main technical objectives in the FOA?
The FOA describes three main objectives: (1) develop modeling tools and a practical database of lessons learned from real-world high-penetration PV scenarios; (2) develop monitoring, control, and integration systems to make large-scale deployment of small, modular PV systems more affordable and manageable; and (3) demonstrate PV combined with energy storage within Smart Grid applications.
What does the FOA mean by "modeling tools" and a "database of lessons learned"?
DOE is seeking improved ability to predict and plan for high PV penetration on distribution systems using credible models supported by field data, along with documented operational experience from real-world deployments compiled into a practical lessons-learned resource.
What is meant by monitoring, control, and integration systems for PV?
These are technologies and approaches intended to help utilities observe PV output and distribution grid conditions in near real time, coordinate PV behavior with grid needs, and reduce the cost and complexity of interconnection when many PV systems are deployed across distribution networks.
What role does energy storage play in this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes demonstrations that combine PV with energy storage within Smart Grid applications, highlighting storage benefits such as smoothing variability, supporting local voltage and frequency needs, enabling peak shaving, improving reliability, and helping PV function more like a controllable distribution resource.
Is this opportunity focused on research, demonstrations, or deployment?
It is a grid-integration oriented effort that spans modeling/tools development, monitoring and control solutions, and demonstrations (including PV plus storage in Smart Grid contexts). The emphasis is on solving integration challenges that appear at high PV penetration, rather than simply deploying PV capacity.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The announcement uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally indicates substantial DOE involvement during the project period (for example, technical collaboration, milestones, and active federal oversight), rather than a hands-off award.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. The FOA includes a cost sharing requirement, meaning recipients must contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.
What is the maximum award amount under this FOA?
The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000, which represents the maximum federal share per award under this announcement. Actual award sizes could vary depending on the proposed scope and work selected.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from a wide range of entity types, such as private companies, utilities, universities, national-lab partners, state or local entities, and nonprofits (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA text).
What is the program area and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy, and the associated CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Which DOE office administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.
Where do applicants get the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?
DOE directed applicants to retrieve the full FOA through FedConnect.
How must applications be submitted?
DOE required that applications be submitted through FedConnect to be considered for award.
Are any submission methods besides FedConnect allowed?
An exception is provided for organizations with system-to-system capabilities using Grants.gov; those submissions could be accepted as well.
What is the applicant's responsibility regarding submission confirmation?
Applicants were warned that it was their responsibility to confirm successful transmission prior to the deadline.
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The FOA posted date was May 27, 2009. The original closing date was June 30, 2009, and the updated closing date was July 30, 2009. The archive date was September 27, 2009.
What should an applicant do if they have trouble accessing or using FedConnect?
The announcement lists FedConnect support at support@fedconnect.net and advises contacting the FedConnect HelpDesk for linking or platform issues.
Who is the DOE contact listed for this opportunity?
The FOA lists a DOE contact as Andrea Lucero at Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov.
Is this a discretionary or formula-based program?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
In plain terms, how should this FOA be understood?
It is best understood as a distribution-grid integration push: funding tools, controls, and demonstrations needed to move from isolated PV installations to distribution systems where PV is present at levels that materially affect grid operations, including approaches that help PV (and PV plus storage) integrate into smarter, more responsive distribution networks.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy Recovery Act
Next opportunity: Wildlife Society Annual Educational Conf. Support
Previous opportunity: Recovery Act National Laboratory Call for FoundationalPhotovoltaics and Concentrating Solar Power Research andDevelopment
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 0000085
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000085) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Recovery Act Solar Market Transformation Apply for DE FOA 0000078 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000078 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry Apply for DE FOA 0000090 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000090 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Advanced Energy Efficient Building Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0000115 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000115 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Recovery Act Community Renewable Energy Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0000122 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000122 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $21,450,000 |
| Recovery Act Development of Algal/Advanced BiofuelsConsortia Apply for DE FOA 0000123 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000123 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $50,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Geothermal TechnologiesProgram Apply for DE FOA 0000109 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000109 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Geothermal Technologies Program GroundSource Heat Pumps Apply for DE FOA 0000116 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000116 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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 0000085", 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.