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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Research and Development for Hydrogen Storage (DE FOA 0000421)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal grant solicitation titled "Research and Development for Hydrogen Storage" under Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0000421. It is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Which DOE office is running this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered through the Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT) Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and it is handled by the DOE Golden Field Office.

What types of projects is DOE trying to fund?

DOE is looking to support applied research and development projects that move hydrogen and fuel cell technologies closer to broad commercial deployment. The emphasis is on practical R and D that can translate into real-world performance gains, cost reductions, and improved market readiness.

Is this opportunity meant for basic science research?

No. The stated intent is not basic science for its own sake. The focus is applied R and D aimed at outcomes that can help accelerate commercialization and adoption.

Is hydrogen storage the main focus?

Hydrogen storage improvements are explicitly called out as a specific focus. At the same time, the solicitation is situated within a broader program context that views hydrogen storage alongside production, delivery, and end-use fuel cell performance and cost.

How does this opportunity fit into DOE's broader hydrogen and fuel cell strategy?

The announcement describes the FCT Program as a mix of applied research, technology development, and demonstration activities. In practical terms, DOE is looking for efforts that push technical boundaries and also prove out solutions in ways that accelerate adoption by industry and end users.

What strategic goals are highlighted in the announcement?

The opportunity highlights several program goals, including: maintaining rapid progress in fuel cell technology; expanding markets where fuel cells can compete; enabling access to lower-cost hydrogen from diverse and environmentally beneficial sources; enabling highly efficient centralized hydrogen production; reducing hydrogen delivery costs; expanding hydrogen-powered fuel cell use across multiple applications; and improving hydrogen storage technologies.

What is the funding activity area for this grant?

The funding activity area is listed as Energy.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 81.087, labeled "Renewable Energy Research and Development."

Is cost sharing (matching) required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning recipients are expected to contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources, consistent with typical DOE applied R and D funding structures.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. This generally suggests that a wide range of applicant types may apply (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, and other entities), as long as they comply with any specific eligibility details or limitations in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 17, 2011.

When was the opportunity created in the system?

The listing indicates it was created in the system on April 22, 2011.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline shown is April 29, 2011.

Is this opportunity still open?

Based on the dates provided (including an application deadline of April 29, 2011), this listing reflects a past solicitation rather than an open, current deadline.

What is the archive date listed for this opportunity?

The archive date shown is August 30, 2011.

How much funding is available per award?

The summarized listing shows estimated total funding and award floor/ceiling as 0. This typically means the synopsis fields did not provide specific dollar amounts, and applicants would need to consult the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for actual budget ranges, expected number of awards, and any ceilings tied to subtopics.

Does the synopsis show an award minimum (floor) or maximum (ceiling)?

The listing shows award floor and ceiling as 0, which usually indicates the public summary did not include those amounts. Any real floor/ceiling information would be in the full FOA materials.

Where do applicants find the full announcement and submission instructions?

The announcement points to FedConnect as the primary platform for obtaining the full solicitation package electronically: https://www.fedconnect.net

Who should be contacted for access issues related to the announcement?

For access issues, the listing provides a contact: Thomas Nucci, identified as a Grants Management Specialist. FedConnect is referenced as the portal for obtaining the full announcement electronically.

Which office is handling the solicitation process?

The opportunity is handled by the DOE Golden Field Office, as stated in the description.

Does the announcement indicate what kinds of outcomes DOE expects?

Yes. The emphasis is on outcomes that support commercialization and deployment, such as performance improvements, cost reductions, and technology readiness that helps accelerate adoption.

Does the opportunity mention demonstrations, or only research?

The program context emphasizes a mix of applied research, technology development, and demonstration activities. This suggests the broader program values proving out solutions in real-world or deployment-relevant ways, though specific requirements would be found in the full FOA.

Why might the funding amounts appear as zero in the listing?

The synopsis fields show zeros for estimated total funding and award amounts, which commonly indicates that the summary record did not include those values. In such cases, the detailed FOA typically contains the actual funding ranges and topic-specific limits.