Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000033
Apply for DE FOA 0000033
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Site Characterization of Promising Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage" 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 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Site Characterization of Promising Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000033) was a National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) funding opportunity designed to accelerate carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) readiness by paying for detailed regional characterization of geologic formations that could store large volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) safely and permanently. It was funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, meaning the program was explicitly tied to near-term economic stimulus goals, including creating and retaining jobs. Because of those Recovery Act requirements, DOE signaled that it would give special consideration to projects that could start quickly, move efficiently, and deliver results on an expedited timeline while still advancing long-term climate and energy objectives.
The core purpose of the FOA was to generate high-quality, comprehensive public data packages for CO2 storage site selection by characterizing at least 10 distinct, high-potential geologic formations across different regions. Applicants were expected to propose work on at least one specific site, formation, or area, preferably one that had not already been characterized using public data. If the target formation had been studied previously, the applicant needed to make a strong case that important data gaps or deficiencies remained and that further characterization was justified. DOE anticipated making a minimum of 10 awards so that, collectively, the funded portfolio would cover at least 10 different promising formations or reservoirs and materially improve the national understanding of where and how CO2 can be stored at commercial scales.
To qualify as a "distinct high potential" formation under this solicitation, a target had to be representative of regional geology that could realistically serve as a storage sink for CO2 captured from major emission sources and transported economically to the injection area. A key screening requirement was scale: the site needed the potential to store at least 30 million tons of CO2 and to accept CO2 from a large commercial source over that source's operating lifetime. Beyond capacity, the formation needed appropriate geologic structure and sealing units (caprock or other confining layers) that would limit upward migration and protect overlying formations, including Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs), as well as reduce risks to the surface. Applicants had to demonstrate that the formation represented a meaningful regional storage opportunity with plausible commercial development potential in the future, not just a theoretical sink.
The technical emphasis of the work was on building robust formation characterization data sets that inform both feasibility and safety. The FOA highlighted the kinds of subsurface properties DOE expected teams to measure, compile, and interpret, including porosity, permeability, injectivity, mineralogy, fluid saturations where relevant, reservoir architecture, and caprock integrity. In practice, these parameters support estimates of storage capacity and deliverability (how fast and how much CO2 can be injected), help predict plume migration and trapping mechanisms, and provide evidence that the confining system will remain effective. DOE also framed these projects as a way to augment existing datasets and refine best practices used to evaluate and approve storage site selection, effectively strengthening the technical foundation for later demonstration or commercial projects.
A range of storage settings was considered eligible. The FOA allowed characterization of saline formations, depleting or depleted oil fields, and coal seams. It also clarified that oil fields could be included, but not specifically or primarily for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), reinforcing that the program focus was geologic storage rather than oil production. The solicitation also contemplated "stacked reservoirs," meaning multiple storage intervals within the same regional setting (for example, combinations of oil reservoirs and brine-filled formations, or formations plus coal seams). If stacked storage was proposed, applicants were expected to discuss the broader regional extent of those stacked units and explain how representative they were of the region's overall storage potential, rather than treating them as isolated pockets.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expected substantial involvement during the project (for example, in reviewing work plans, deliverables, or technical direction). Cost sharing was required. The award floor was listed as $3,000,000, signaling that DOE expected relatively substantial, field-relevant characterization efforts rather than small desktop studies. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entities could apply (universities, companies, nonprofits, state agencies, and others), subject to any clarifications in the full FOA text.
The solicitation had a tight timeline typical of Recovery Act programs. It was posted June 2, 2009, and later amended one time to extend the application deadline. The original closing date was August 3, 2009, and the amended closing date was August 10, 2009. Applications had to be submitted through FedConnect, and DOE emphasized that applicants needed to follow the detailed instructions in the full FOA document accessible through FedConnect. Questions were required to be submitted through FedConnect as well, which centralized communication and ensured an auditable process consistent with federal procurement and assistance requirements.
Finally, DOE positioned the FOA within broader national policy goals at the time: advancing near-zero-emission coal technologies, strengthening U.S. leadership on climate change, enabling global technology transfer of CCS, supporting long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets (including an 80 percent reduction by 2050), and increasing CCS funding and readiness. In short, this opportunity was meant to quickly mobilize teams to produce the hard geologic evidence needed to identify, de-risk, and eventually permit and develop large-scale CO2 storage sites, while simultaneously delivering Recovery Act economic benefits through rapid project execution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity and who offered it?
This opportunity is titled "Recovery Act Site Characterization of Promising Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage" and it was offered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000033.
What was the main purpose of DE-FOA-0000033?
The main purpose was to accelerate carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) readiness by funding detailed, regional-scale characterization of geologic formations that could store large volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) safely and permanently. A central goal was to produce high-quality, comprehensive public data packages that could be used for CO2 storage site selection.
How did the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 affect this FOA?
The FOA was funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act). Because Recovery Act programs were tied to near-term economic stimulus goals (including creating and retaining jobs), DOE signaled that it would give special consideration to projects that could start quickly, move efficiently, and deliver results on an expedited timeline.
How many awards did DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipated making a minimum of 10 awards so the overall portfolio would cover at least 10 different promising formations or reservoirs and improve the national understanding of commercial-scale CO2 storage potential.
How many formations was the program trying to characterize in total?
The FOA aimed to characterize at least 10 distinct, high-potential geologic formations across different regions, with the funded projects collectively achieving that minimum coverage.
Did an applicant need to propose a specific site or formation?
Yes. Applicants were expected to propose work on at least one specific site, formation, or area.
Were previously studied formations allowed, or did they have to be new?
Previously studied formations could be proposed, but applicants were expected to prefer sites that had not already been characterized using public data. If a formation had been studied previously, the applicant needed to make a strong case that important data gaps or deficiencies remained and that additional characterization was justified.
What qualified as a "distinct high potential" formation under this solicitation?
To qualify as a distinct high-potential formation, the target needed to be representative of regional geology and realistically capable of serving as a storage sink for CO2 captured from major emission sources and transported economically to the injection area. The formation also needed plausible future commercial development potential, not just theoretical capacity.
Was there a minimum CO2 storage capacity requirement?
Yes. A key screening requirement was scale: the site needed the potential to store at least 30 million tons of CO2 and be able to accept CO2 from a large commercial source over that source's operating lifetime.
What safety and containment considerations were emphasized?
The FOA emphasized that the formation should have appropriate geologic structure and sealing units (such as caprock or other confining layers) to limit upward migration, protect overlying formations (including Underground Sources of Drinking Water, or USDWs), and reduce risks to the surface.
What kinds of geologic and reservoir properties was DOE expecting projects to evaluate?
DOE highlighted characterization of subsurface properties and data sets such as porosity, permeability, injectivity, mineralogy, fluid saturations where relevant, reservoir architecture, and caprock integrity. These parameters support storage capacity and deliverability estimates, plume migration and trapping predictions, and evidence that confining systems remain effective.
What was the intended output of the funded characterization work?
The intended output was robust formation characterization data that could be compiled into comprehensive public data packages to inform CO2 storage site selection, feasibility, and safety, and to augment existing datasets and best practices used for evaluating storage sites.
What types of geologic storage settings were eligible?
The FOA allowed characterization of saline formations, depleting or depleted oil fields, and coal seams.
Did the FOA fund enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects?
Oil fields could be included as storage targets, but not specifically or primarily for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The stated focus was geologic storage rather than oil production.
What are "stacked reservoirs," and were they allowed?
"Stacked reservoirs" refers to multiple storage intervals in the same regional setting (for example, combinations of oil reservoirs and brine-filled formations, or formations plus coal seams). The FOA allowed stacked storage proposals, but applicants were expected to describe the broader regional extent of the stacked units and explain how representative they were of regional storage potential.
What type of federal funding instrument was used?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, which typically indicates substantial DOE involvement during the project, such as review of work plans, deliverables, and technical direction.
Was cost sharing required?
Yes. The FOA stated that cost sharing was required.
What was the minimum award size mentioned in the opportunity?
The award floor was listed as $3,000,000, indicating DOE expected substantial, field-relevant characterization efforts rather than small desktop-only studies.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entities could apply (such as universities, companies, nonprofits, and state agencies), subject to any clarifications contained in the full FOA text.
When was the FOA posted?
The solicitation was posted on June 2, 2009.
What were the application due dates, and was the deadline extended?
The original closing date was August 3, 2009. The FOA was amended one time to extend the deadline, and the amended closing date was August 10, 2009.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted through FedConnect, and DOE emphasized following the detailed instructions in the full FOA document available through FedConnect.
How were questions about the FOA handled?
Questions were required to be submitted through FedConnect, centralizing communication and supporting an auditable process consistent with federal procurement and assistance requirements.
Why did DOE emphasize quick starts and expedited delivery?
Because the FOA was tied to Recovery Act goals, DOE prioritized projects that could begin quickly, proceed efficiently, and deliver results on an accelerated timeline, while still supporting longer-term climate and energy objectives.
How did DOE frame this FOA within broader national policy goals?
DOE positioned the FOA as supporting near-zero-emission coal technologies, U.S. leadership on climate change, global CCS technology transfer, long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets (including an 80 percent reduction by 2050), and increased CCS funding and readiness.
What was the practical role of these characterization projects in the CCS development pathway?
The FOA was intended to mobilize teams to generate the geologic evidence needed to identify, de-risk, and ultimately permit and develop large-scale CO2 storage sites, strengthening the technical foundation for later demonstration or commercial projects.
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