Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001616
Apply for DE FOA 0001616
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the disaster prevention and relief, energy, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sensor and Modeling Approaches for Enhanced Observability and Controllability of Power Systems with Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.122.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 26, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 10, 2016. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- 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 Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), issued Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001616 to support research, development, and demonstration projects focused on improving how electric power systems with distributed energy resources (DERs) are monitored and controlled. The core idea is that better, cheaper sensing and better models that make intelligent use of sensor data can give grid operators a clearer, more real-time picture of what is happening on distribution and edge-of-grid portions of the system, where DERs like solar PV, small wind, and energy storage are increasingly connected. With that improved visibility (observability) and the ability to act on it (controllability), utilities and grid operators can safely integrate more DERs without sacrificing reliability, power quality, or operational flexibility, effectively increasing DER hosting capacity.
The opportunity emphasizes two tightly linked technical thrusts: low-cost sensors and improved modeling approaches that use sensor inputs. Low-cost sensors matter because widespread, high-resolution monitoring across distribution feeders and DER-rich areas is often limited by the price and complexity of traditional utility-grade instrumentation. By driving down cost and simplifying deployment, the FOA aims to enable denser measurement coverage, which in turn supports more accurate state estimation, event detection, and operational decision-making. On the modeling side, the FOA highlights the need for models that can ingest sensor data to better represent real-world system behavior, including the variability and intermittency associated with DERs and the dynamic behavior of inverter-based resources and storage. In practical terms, this points toward data-informed or data-calibrated models that can improve forecasting, situational awareness, and control actions at speeds and granularities appropriate for modern distribution systems.
A major motivation behind the FOA is to capture the commonly discussed benefits of DERs and microgrids, such as improved efficiency, flexibility, local resilience, and the ability to support critical loads during disturbances. At the same time, the FOA explicitly calls out interest in establishing "new value propositions" enabled by these sensing and modeling improvements. Examples mentioned include reducing or mitigating ancillary service requirements, which can mean lowering the need for additional balancing resources by using better information and more responsive control at the distribution level. Another highlighted value area is supporting reliable and resilient grid operations against outages under all-hazards conditions, implying that improved detection, diagnostics, and controllability could help prevent outages, limit their spread, speed restoration, and maintain service to critical infrastructure during extreme events.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary federal funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, in technical direction, milestone reviews, and coordination). The activity categories span energy, disaster prevention and relief, regional development, and research and development, reflecting the dual emphasis on grid modernization and resilience. The catalog number listed is CFDA 81.122. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement). The FOA was created on September 26, 2016, with an original application closing date of November 10, 2016.
In terms of scale, the announcement indicated an award ceiling of $1,500,000 per award and anticipated making about six awards. Overall, the FOA is best understood as an effort to push practical, field-relevant sensing and analytics forward so that distribution systems can operate with higher confidence even as DER penetration rises, enabling both day-to-day operational improvements and stronger performance during disturbances and emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001616?
DE-FOA-0001616 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity announcement issued through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE). It supports research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects aimed at improving how electric power systems with distributed energy resources (DERs) are monitored and controlled.
Which DOE offices and organizations are involved?
The opportunity is issued by DOE, implemented through NETL, and sponsored on behalf of DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).
What problem is this FOA trying to solve?
The FOA focuses on the limited visibility and control utilities often have on distribution and edge-of-grid portions of the power system, especially as more DERs (such as solar PV, small wind, and energy storage) connect to distribution feeders. The goal is to improve grid operators' real-time understanding (observability) and ability to act (controllability) so that more DERs can be integrated without reducing reliability, power quality, or operational flexibility.
What are distributed energy resources (DERs) in the context of this FOA?
DERs referenced in this opportunity include resources connected on the distribution side and at the grid edge, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), small wind, and energy storage. The FOA also references inverter-based resources and storage dynamics as important to represent in models.
What are the two main technical thrusts emphasized by the FOA?
The FOA emphasizes two tightly linked areas: (1) low-cost sensors for widespread, high-resolution monitoring; and (2) improved modeling approaches that intelligently use sensor inputs to better represent real-world system behavior and support operational decision-making.
Why does the FOA emphasize low-cost sensors?
Traditional utility-grade instrumentation can be expensive and complex to deploy, which can limit measurement coverage on distribution feeders and DER-rich areas. By lowering cost and simplifying deployment, the FOA aims to enable denser measurement coverage and better monitoring, supporting functions like state estimation, event detection, and operational decision-making.
What does the FOA mean by "improved modeling approaches that use sensor inputs"?
It points toward models that can ingest sensor data to more accurately reflect real operating conditions, including DER variability and intermittency and the dynamic behavior of inverter-based resources and storage. These models are intended to improve forecasting, situational awareness, and control actions at the speed and granularity needed for modern distribution systems.
What outcomes is DOE aiming for by improving observability and controllability?
The FOA aims to help utilities and grid operators integrate higher levels of DERs safely while maintaining reliability, power quality, and operational flexibility. A key intended outcome is increasing DER hosting capacity by operating distribution systems with higher confidence and better real-time awareness.
What is meant by increasing "DER hosting capacity" in this announcement?
In this FOA's framing, increasing DER hosting capacity means enabling the distribution system to accommodate and operate reliably with more DERs connected, supported by better sensing, better system visibility, and improved control enabled by data-informed models.
Does the FOA address microgrids and resilience?
Yes. The FOA cites commonly discussed benefits of DERs and microgrids, including improved efficiency, flexibility, local resilience, and the ability to support critical loads during disturbances.
What "new value propositions" does the FOA mention?
The FOA expresses interest in establishing new value propositions enabled by sensing and modeling improvements. Examples include reducing or mitigating ancillary service requirements (potentially lowering the need for additional balancing resources) and supporting reliable and resilient operations against outages under all-hazards conditions.
How does the FOA connect sensing and modeling to ancillary services?
It suggests that better information and more responsive control at the distribution level could reduce or mitigate ancillary service requirements, potentially decreasing the need for additional balancing resources by improving distribution-level awareness and action.
What does "all-hazards conditions" imply in this FOA?
It implies interest in supporting reliable and resilient grid operations against outages under a broad range of disturbance scenarios. The FOA indicates that improved detection, diagnostics, and controllability could help prevent outages, limit their spread, speed restoration, and maintain service to critical infrastructure during extreme events.
What type of funding instrument is used for awards under this FOA?
The FOA is described as a discretionary federal funding opportunity using cooperative agreements.
What does a cooperative agreement mean for project execution?
Cooperative agreements typically involve substantial DOE involvement during the project period. The FOA notes this can include DOE participation in technical direction, milestone reviews, and coordination.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA lists activity categories spanning energy, disaster prevention and relief, regional development, and research and development, reflecting an emphasis on grid modernization alongside resilience and emergency performance.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The catalog number listed for the opportunity is CFDA 81.122.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement.
When was the FOA created and what was the application deadline?
The FOA was created on September 26, 2016, and the original application closing date was November 10, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The announcement indicated an award ceiling of $1,500,000 per award.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
The FOA anticipated making about six awards.
What kinds of projects is this FOA best suited for?
Based on the description, this FOA is best suited for practical, field-relevant projects that advance sensing and analytics for distribution systems with high or growing DER penetration, with emphasis on real-time monitoring, data-driven or data-calibrated modeling, and improved operational control that supports both day-to-day reliability and performance during disturbances.
What parts of the grid does this FOA focus on?
The FOA focuses on distribution systems and edge-of-grid portions of the electric power system where DERs are increasingly interconnected, and where improved monitoring and control can materially improve operational awareness and action.
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