Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000090
Apply for DE FOA 0000090
- The Golden Field Office in the energy recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry" 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 23, 2009 and posted on Jun 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 2009 In order to meet programmatic requirements.. (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 $12,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility is restricted to consortia led by an institution of higher learning. The consortia must include at least one four year institution of higher learning that has at least one engineering program that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000090) is a U.S. Department of Energy grant competition administered through the Golden Field Office. It was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with an emphasis on near-term economic impact (preserving and creating jobs and supporting economic recovery) while also making longer-term investments to expand U.S. wind energy research and development capacity. The program is designed to fund organized consortia that bring universities and industry together to tackle high-priority technical barriers in wind energy, not as isolated academic projects but as coordinated, industry-informed research efforts with practical outcomes.
Eligibility is tightly restricted. Applications can only be submitted by consortia led by an institution of higher learning, and every consortium must include at least one four-year institution that has at least one ABET-accredited engineering program. In practice, DOE is signaling that it wants teams with credible engineering depth, the ability to run serious testing and modeling work, and a structure that can collaborate effectively with commercial wind partners. Cost sharing is required, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources alongside DOE funds, which further reinforces the expectation of committed partners and real-world buy-in from industry and other stakeholders.
Program funding is positioned around two complementary topic areas that are meant to work together rather than function as separate, choose-only-one tracks. Topic Area 1 focuses on partnerships for wind research and turbine reliability, with a particular encouragement for universities located in regions with strong and consistent wind resources (Power Class 3 at 50 meters or greater). DOE is looking for proposals where universities and industry partners jointly build or strengthen the facilities, equipment, and research agenda needed to study core challenges facing the wind industry. Proposals in this area must tie their work to one or more challenges highlighted in the "20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030" report, and they must explain concretely how required wind hardware and software will be obtained. Turbine reliability is specifically highlighted as a highly encouraged research focus, reflecting the operational and cost impacts that reliability improvements can have across the wind fleet.
Topic Area 2 targets broader wind energy research and development activities that improve the technology pipeline and operational performance of wind systems. This includes advancing materials design, performance measurements and testing methods, and analytical models, as well as using industry partnerships to improve power systems operations, maintenance and repair strategies, manufacturing of turbines or components, and interdisciplinary system integration. DOE explicitly allows the use of fellowships, internships, and similar workforce-development mechanisms to support the research agenda, and it encourages universities to collaborate with industry not only on R&D priorities but also on curriculum development and internship pathways. That combination shows the program is trying to strengthen both the technology base and the talent pipeline that supports wind deployment.
Awards are sizable, with an anticipated award floor of $8,000,000 and a ceiling of $12,000,000 per award, indicating DOE expected robust, multi-institution efforts with meaningful infrastructure, testing capability, and sustained research plans. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, using a grant instrument, and it aligns with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). The posting date was June 2, 2009, with a closing date of July 29, 2009, and an archive date of September 29, 2009.
The application process is centered on FedConnect, and the FOA instructs applicants to locate the full announcement by searching within FedConnect under the issuing office "Golden Field Office." Submission through FedConnect is required to be considered for award, although organizations with system-to-system submission capabilities through Grants.gov could continue to submit through Grants.gov and still be accepted. Because access to FedConnect requires administrative setup, the FOA stresses early registration and planning. Applicants needed a DUNS number (including the plus-4 extension if applicable), an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (the predecessor to today’s SAM registration), and in some cases the CCR MPIN to establish the organization’s FedConnect account. The guidance warns to allow at least 21 days to complete CCR and FedConnect registration if not already registered, and notes that CCR registrations must be updated annually.
Questions about the substance of the FOA were required to be submitted through the FedConnect portal, which also required registration so applicants could be recognized as interested parties and view posted answers. DOE indicated it would typically respond within three business days unless the answer had already been posted. For technical issues with submission, FedConnect support was available by email and phone, while DOE contact information was also provided for opportunity-related access issues. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a large-scale, Recovery Act-funded push to accelerate wind R&D by building durable university-industry consortia, with a strong preference for work that improves turbine reliability, advances engineering methods and materials, and creates the facilities and workforce connections needed to sustain U.S. wind innovation.
FAQs: Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry (DE-FOA-0000090)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant competition titled "Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry" under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000090. It is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office and was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to fund organized consortia that bring universities and industry together to address high-priority technical barriers in wind energy. The focus is on coordinated, industry-informed research with practical outcomes, not isolated academic projects.
How does the Recovery Act context affect this program?
Because it is a Recovery Act program, it emphasizes near-term economic impact (preserving and creating jobs and supporting economic recovery) while also making longer-term investments that expand U.S. wind energy research and development capacity.
Who can apply?
Eligibility is tightly restricted. Applications may only be submitted by consortia led by an institution of higher learning.
Are there specific institutional requirements for the consortium?
Yes. Every consortium must include at least one four-year institution that has at least one ABET-accredited engineering program.
Does the opportunity require industry participation?
Yes. The program is designed specifically around university-industry consortia, and DOE signals a strong preference for teams that can collaborate effectively with commercial wind partners and produce industry-relevant outcomes.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, meaning the applicants must contribute non-federal resources alongside DOE funds.
What does DOE appear to be looking for in the project structure?
Based on the eligibility and topic framing, DOE is looking for organized, coordinated consortia with credible engineering depth, the ability to conduct serious testing and modeling work, and committed partners that provide real-world buy-in (reinforced by the cost-share requirement).
What are the topic areas, and do applicants choose only one?
The opportunity is positioned around two complementary topic areas that are meant to work together rather than operate as separate, choose-only-one tracks.
What is Topic Area 1?
Topic Area 1 focuses on partnerships for wind research and turbine reliability. DOE encourages proposals where universities and industry partners jointly build or strengthen facilities, equipment, and the research agenda needed to study core challenges facing the wind industry.
Is turbine reliability a major emphasis?
Yes. Turbine reliability is specifically highlighted as a highly encouraged research focus, reflecting the operational and cost impacts that reliability improvements can have across the wind fleet.
Are certain university locations encouraged under Topic Area 1?
Yes. Topic Area 1 particularly encourages universities located in regions with strong and consistent wind resources (Power Class 3 at 50 meters or greater).
Does Topic Area 1 require alignment with any specific report?
Yes. Proposals under Topic Area 1 must tie their work to one or more challenges highlighted in the "20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030" report.
What must proposals explain about hardware and software needs?
Topic Area 1 proposals must explain concretely how required wind hardware and software will be obtained.
What is Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 targets broader wind energy research and development activities that strengthen the technology pipeline and improve operational performance of wind systems.
What kinds of activities are included under Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 includes advancing materials design, performance measurements and testing methods, and analytical models. It also includes using industry partnerships to improve power systems operations, maintenance and repair strategies, manufacturing of turbines or components, and interdisciplinary system integration.
Does the program support workforce development activities?
Yes. DOE explicitly allows the use of fellowships, internships, and similar workforce-development mechanisms to support the research agenda.
Does DOE encourage curriculum-related collaboration with industry?
Yes. DOE encourages universities to collaborate with industry not only on R&D priorities but also on curriculum development and internship pathways.
How much funding is available per award?
Awards are anticipated to range from $8,000,000 (floor) to $12,000,000 (ceiling) per award.
What do the award sizes suggest about the expected scope?
The expected award range indicates DOE anticipated robust, multi-institution efforts that include meaningful infrastructure and testing capability, along with sustained research plans.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a grant instrument.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity aligns with CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was June 2, 2009. The closing date was July 29, 2009. The archive date was September 29, 2009.
Where do applicants find the full announcement?
The FOA instructs applicants to locate the full announcement in FedConnect by searching under the issuing office "Golden Field Office."
How must applications be submitted?
Submission through FedConnect is required to be considered for award. However, organizations with system-to-system submission capabilities through Grants.gov could continue to submit through Grants.gov and still be accepted.
Why does the FOA emphasize early registration?
Access to FedConnect requires administrative setup, so the FOA stresses early registration and planning to avoid delays that could prevent timely submission.
What registrations or identifiers are required to submit?
Applicants needed a DUNS number (including the plus-4 extension if applicable) and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (the predecessor to today's SAM registration). In some cases, the CCR MPIN was needed to establish the organization's FedConnect account.
How long should applicants allow for CCR and FedConnect setup?
The guidance warns applicants to allow at least 21 days to complete CCR and FedConnect registration if not already registered.
Do CCR registrations need to be maintained?
Yes. The FOA notes that CCR registrations must be updated annually.
How were questions about the FOA handled?
Questions about the substance of the FOA were required to be submitted through the FedConnect portal. Registration was needed so applicants could be recognized as interested parties and view posted answers.
How quickly did DOE expect to respond to questions submitted in FedConnect?
DOE indicated it would typically respond within three business days unless the answer had already been posted.
Where could applicants get help with technical submission problems?
For technical issues with submission, FedConnect support was available by email and phone.
Was there DOE contact support for access or opportunity-related issues?
Yes. DOE contact information was provided for opportunity-related access issues, in addition to FedConnect technical support for submission problems.
What is the overall takeaway for what this program funds?
It is best understood as a large-scale, Recovery Act-funded push to accelerate wind R&D by building durable university-industry consortia, with strong emphasis on turbine reliability, improved engineering methods and materials, stronger testing and research facilities, and workforce connections that support ongoing U.S. wind innovation.
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