Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001155

  • The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI Acceleration of Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems" 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 Aug 11, 2014 and posted on Aug 11, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Not Applicable. (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.
Apply for DE FOA 0001155

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Opportunity Summary:

The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its Wind Program (Golden Field Office), issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Acceleration of Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001155). The central purpose is to gather public input on a major shift in how "distributed wind" is defined. Instead of classifying distributed wind mainly by turbine size (for example, only "small wind"), DOE is framing it by how and where the technology is used: any wind technology deployed in distributed applications can fall under distributed wind, whether it is small, medium, or large. DOE is using this RFI to test and refine that perspective, identify gaps, and shape future research priorities.

The RFI lays out several research and development focus areas where DOE wants feedback. These include wind resource characterization and assessment (improving understanding of local wind conditions and how to measure or model them for distributed sites), turbine technology (hardware, performance, reliability, controls, and designs appropriate for distributed use cases), distributed grid integration (interconnection, power quality, grid services, and how distributed wind operates with distribution systems), and soft cost reduction (non-hardware costs such as permitting, zoning, interconnection processes, customer acquisition, installation, and other project development barriers). DOE is essentially asking stakeholders to comment on whether these categories reflect the most important needs, what barriers remain, and what R&D activities would have the highest impact in accelerating deployment of distributed wind.

Even though it is posted under a "funding opportunity" identifier, this notice is explicitly not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). That means DOE is not accepting grant applications, no awards are being offered, and there is no money attached to this posting (estimated total funding is listed as 0, with award ceiling and floor also 0). The intent is information-gathering: DOE wants written responses that it can use to evaluate its updated framing of distributed wind and to inform possible future program decisions. The document also emphasizes that DOE may or may not issue a future FOA based on what it learns here, and that responding to the RFI does not create any advantage or disadvantage if a later competition is announced. Any future funding, if it occurs, would depend on Congressional appropriations and direction.

Eligibility is effectively open, with the posting indicating "unrestricted" eligible applicants, meaning any type of entity can submit comments (subject to any clarifications in the full RFI text). Because it is an RFI rather than a competitive grant solicitation, the practical audience includes industry, manufacturers, project developers, utilities, researchers, national labs, universities, state and local governments, standards organizations, and other stakeholders who can provide useful technical or market insight.

Submission instructions are straightforward and time-bound. Responses had to be submitted electronically by email to DistributedGenerationRFI@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on September 25, 2014. DOE required responses as attachments in PDF or Microsoft Word format (.docx). For large files over 25 MB, it recommended compressing them (zipping) to improve deliverability. Only electronic submissions were accepted. For access issues related to the full announcement on EERE Exchange, DOE provided the EERE Exchange support contact (EEREExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov) and referenced the EERE Exchange site as the source for additional information.

In short, this opportunity is best understood as a DOE listening exercise aimed at shaping the federal R&D agenda for distributed wind by broadening the definition beyond small turbines and focusing on practical deployment applications. It invites detailed stakeholder input on technical needs, grid integration challenges, and cost and permitting barriers, with the possibility (but no promise) that DOE could later translate those insights into a future funding program.

FAQs: DOE RFI "Acceleration of Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems" (DE-FOA-0001155)

What is DE-FOA-0001155?

DE-FOA-0001155 is the Funding Opportunity Number tied to a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Acceleration of Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems." It was issued by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Wind Program through the Golden Field Office.

Is this a grant or funding opportunity I can apply to?

No. This notice is explicitly not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOE is not accepting grant applications under this posting, no awards are being offered, and no funding is attached.

How much funding is available under this notice?

None. The posting lists estimated total funding as 0, with an award ceiling of 0 and an award floor of 0.

If there is no funding, what is DOE asking for?

DOE is asking for written public input. The purpose is information-gathering: DOE wants stakeholder feedback to evaluate and refine a new way of framing "distributed wind" and to inform possible future research priorities and program decisions.

What is the main idea DOE is testing in this RFI?

DOE is testing a major shift in how "distributed wind" is defined. Instead of focusing mainly on turbine size (for example, only "small wind"), DOE is framing distributed wind based on how and where the technology is used. Under this framing, any wind technology deployed in distributed applications could qualify as distributed wind, whether the turbine is small, medium, or large.

Why is DOE changing the definition of distributed wind?

Based on the RFI description, DOE is exploring whether a use- and location-based definition better reflects real-world distributed applications and helps identify the most important barriers and research needs for accelerating deployment.

What topics does DOE want feedback on?

The RFI highlights several research and development focus areas and asks stakeholders to comment on whether these reflect the most important needs, what gaps remain, and what R&D activities would have the highest impact. The focus areas listed are: wind resource characterization and assessment, turbine technology, distributed grid integration, and soft cost reduction.

What does "wind resource characterization and assessment" mean in this RFI?

It refers to improving understanding of local wind conditions at distributed sites and improving ways to measure or model wind resources for those locations.

What does "turbine technology" cover for distributed applications?

In this RFI, turbine technology includes hardware, performance, reliability, controls, and designs that are appropriate for distributed wind use cases.

What does DOE mean by "distributed grid integration"?

Distributed grid integration topics include interconnection, power quality, grid services, and how distributed wind systems operate with distribution systems.

What are "soft costs" in the context of this RFI?

Soft costs are non-hardware costs and barriers such as permitting, zoning, interconnection processes, customer acquisition, installation, and other project development hurdles.

Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?

The posting indicates eligibility is "unrestricted," meaning any type of entity can submit comments (subject to any clarifications in the full RFI text).

Who is the intended audience for this RFI?

Because this is an RFI rather than a competitive solicitation, the practical audience includes stakeholders able to provide useful technical or market insight, such as industry, manufacturers, project developers, utilities, researchers, national labs, universities, state and local governments, standards organizations, and others.

Does submitting an RFI response improve my chances in any future DOE competition?

No. The RFI states that responding does not create any advantage or disadvantage if a later competition is announced.

Will DOE definitely release a future funding opportunity based on this RFI?

No. The RFI notes DOE may or may not issue a future FOA based on what it learns. Any future funding would also depend on Congressional appropriations and direction.

How were responses supposed to be submitted?

Responses had to be submitted electronically by email.

What email address was used for submitting responses?

Responses were submitted to DistributedGenerationRFI@ee.doe.gov.

What was the deadline for submissions?

The deadline was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on September 25, 2014.

What file formats did DOE accept for responses?

DOE required responses as attachments in PDF or Microsoft Word (.docx) format.

Were paper copies or other submission methods accepted?

No. Only electronic submissions were accepted.

What should responders do if their email attachments are large?

For files over 25 MB, DOE recommended compressing them (zipping) to improve deliverability.

Where could applicants find the full announcement and additional details?

The RFI referenced EERE Exchange as the source for additional information.

Who should be contacted for access issues related to the EERE Exchange posting?

DOE provided the EERE Exchange support contact: EEREExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov.

What is the overall purpose of this RFI in plain terms?

This RFI is a DOE listening exercise aimed at shaping the federal R&D agenda for distributed wind. It seeks detailed stakeholder input on technical needs, grid integration challenges, and cost and permitting barriers, while DOE evaluates a broader, application-based definition of distributed wind.

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