Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000923
Apply for DE FOA 0000923
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SUNSHOT INCUBATOR PROGRAM Round 9" 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 Nov 19, 2013 and posted on Nov 19, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only startup businesses are eligible to apply for funding as Standalone Applicants. For the purposes of eligibility to apply for funding through this Funding Opportunity Announcement, the term startup business is defined as For profit entity incorporated or otherwise formed under the Federal law or the laws of the individual United States with 500 or less employees not including the employees of any parent companies, subsidiaries or other affiliate companies.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SUNSHOT INCUBATOR PROGRAM Round 9 (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000923) is a U.S. Department of Energy opportunity run through DOE's Golden Field Office that targets one core goal: driving down the total cost of solar energy systems in the United States. The program is intentionally broad about what counts as a cost reduction lever, supporting both hardware innovations (like photovoltaics, concentrating solar power components, power electronics, and other physical system elements) and non-hardware improvements (often called "soft costs") such as customer acquisition, permitting, financing, interconnection, inspection, and other process-related barriers that add time and expense to solar adoption. The underlying focus is commercialization, not basic research, and the program is structured as an aggressive, pay-for-performance incubator intended to help young companies move quickly from a proven concept to a product or solution that can be deployed at scale.
This Round 9 funding is offered through cooperative agreements and is aimed specifically at solutions that reduce the cost of systems that convert solar energy into electric potential. Applicants are expected to propose technologies, business models, or streamlined processes that make solar more accessible and affordable for consumers, while demonstrating credible pathways to market. In practical terms, DOE is looking for startups that can show technical feasibility or a compelling operational plan, then use federal support to validate, refine, and commercialize their approach on an accelerated timeline.
A defining feature of the SunShot Incubator program is its tiered structure, which is designed to match funding amounts, timelines, and cost-sharing requirements to a startup's maturity level. For hardware-focused projects, there are three tiers. Hardware Tier 0 provides up to $500,000 for a 12-month period with a 20% cost share, and it is meant to help teams move from proof-of-concept of all critical components into an early-stage functional prototype. Hardware Tier 1 provides up to $1,000,000 over 12 months, also with a 20% cost share, and targets the next step: taking an early functional prototype and advancing it into a manufacturing- and commercially relevant lab prototype. Hardware Tier 2 is the largest hardware track, offering up to $4,000,000 over 18 months with a 50% cost share, and it is geared toward bridging the gap between a fully developed lab prototype and pilot-scale production by developing manufacturing processes and equipment.
For non-hardware (soft cost) solutions, the program offers two tiers that mirror the same commercialization logic but are tailored to software, services, financing tools, or process innovations. Non-Hardware Tier 1S provides up to $500,000 over 12 months with a 20% cost share, supporting the transition from a proof of concept or business plan into alpha capability and early customer trials. Non-Hardware Tier 2S provides up to $2,000,000 over 18 months with a 50% cost share, supporting the move from alpha capability through a beta launch and into full commercialization. Across both tracks, the staged progression makes it clear that DOE is funding milestone-driven advancement toward market readiness, not open-ended development.
Eligibility is restricted to startup businesses applying as standalone applicants. For this FOA, a startup is defined as a for-profit entity incorporated or otherwise formed under U.S. federal law or the laws of an individual U.S. state, with 500 or fewer employees, excluding employees of any parent companies, subsidiaries, or affiliates. The listing indicates a cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, consistent with the tier descriptions above, meaning applicants must plan to contribute a defined portion of total project costs depending on the tier.
Key administrative details include a posted date of November 19, 2013 and an application deadline of March 13, 2014. The activity category is Energy and the CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). While the summary record shows $0 for estimated total funding and $0 for award ceiling/floor, the actual award sizes are clearly specified within the tier descriptions, so applicants would rely on the FOA text for definitive totals, selection counts, and any topic-specific constraints.
Applications had to be submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE portal, which serves as the official submission and registration platform for the full Funding Opportunity Announcement and all required materials. DOE also planned to host two informational webinars led by Incubator program staff to explain program requirements and answer questions, with scheduling and updates provided in the FOA. For assistance accessing the announcement or for questions, the listed point of contact is Uriel Trujillo at SunShot.Incubator@ee.doe.gov.
SunShot Incubator Program Round 9 (DE-FOA-0000923) - FAQs
What is the SunShot Incubator Program Round 9?
The SunShot Incubator Program Round 9 (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000923) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity run through DOE's Golden Field Office. Its core purpose is to drive down the total cost of solar energy systems in the United States by supporting commercialization-focused projects.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is cost reduction for solar energy systems in the United States, especially solutions that reduce the cost of systems that convert solar energy into electric potential. The program is designed to help startups move quickly from a proven concept to a product or solution that can be deployed at scale.
Is this program focused on research or commercialization?
The focus is commercialization, not basic research. The program is described as an aggressive, pay-for-performance incubator intended to validate, refine, and commercialize solutions on an accelerated timeline.
What kinds of projects does the program support?
The program is intentionally broad about what counts as a cost-reduction lever. It supports both hardware innovations and non-hardware (soft cost) improvements that reduce time, complexity, or expense in solar adoption.
What counts as a hardware innovation under this program?
Examples of hardware innovations listed include photovoltaics, concentrating solar power components, power electronics, and other physical system elements that can reduce total system costs.
What counts as a non-hardware (soft cost) solution under this program?
Non-hardware solutions include improvements in customer acquisition, permitting, financing, interconnection, inspection, and other process-related barriers that add time and expense to solar adoption. These can include software, services, financing tools, or process innovations.
How is the funding structured?
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements. The program uses a tiered structure with different funding amounts, timelines, and cost-sharing requirements depending on whether the project is hardware-focused or non-hardware-focused and on the maturity level of the startup's solution.
What are the hardware tiers and what do they fund?
Hardware projects are organized into three tiers designed to move from proof-of-concept to pilot-scale production readiness:
- Hardware Tier 0: Up to $500,000 for 12 months, with a 20% cost share, to move from proof-of-concept of all critical components into an early-stage functional prototype.
- Hardware Tier 1: Up to $1,000,000 for 12 months, with a 20% cost share, to advance an early functional prototype into a manufacturing- and commercially relevant lab prototype.
- Hardware Tier 2: Up to $4,000,000 for 18 months, with a 50% cost share, to bridge from a fully developed lab prototype to pilot-scale production by developing manufacturing processes and equipment.
What are the non-hardware tiers and what do they fund?
Non-hardware (soft cost) projects are organized into two tiers designed to move from proof-of-concept and early trials into commercialization:
- Non-Hardware Tier 1S: Up to $500,000 for 12 months, with a 20% cost share, to move from a proof of concept or business plan into alpha capability and early customer trials.
- Non-Hardware Tier 2S: Up to $2,000,000 for 18 months, with a 50% cost share, to move from alpha capability through a beta launch and into full commercialization.
What does "pay-for-performance" and "milestone-driven" mean in this context?
Based on the description, the program is designed around milestone-driven advancement toward market readiness. In other words, the intent is not open-ended development, but accelerated progress toward commercialization, aligned to defined performance and progress expectations.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to startup businesses applying as standalone applicants.
How does this FOA define a "startup"?
For this funding opportunity, a startup is defined as a for-profit entity incorporated or otherwise formed under U.S. federal law or the laws of an individual U.S. state, with 500 or fewer employees. The employee count excludes employees of any parent companies, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
Are applicants required to provide cost share or matching funds?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies and varies by tier. The tiers described include either a 20% cost share (Tier 0, Tier 1, Tier 1S) or a 50% cost share (Tier 2, Tier 2S).
How much funding is available per award?
Per the tier descriptions in the opportunity summary:
- Up to $500,000 (Hardware Tier 0, Non-Hardware Tier 1S)
- Up to $1,000,000 (Hardware Tier 1)
- Up to $2,000,000 (Non-Hardware Tier 2S)
- Up to $4,000,000 (Hardware Tier 2)
Why does the listing show $0 for estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor?
The summary record indicates $0 for estimated total funding and for award ceiling/floor. However, the tier descriptions clearly specify funding amounts, so applicants are expected to rely on the FOA text for definitive totals, selection counts, and any topic-specific constraints.
What is the project period for each tier?
Most tiers have a 12-month period (Hardware Tier 0, Hardware Tier 1, Non-Hardware Tier 1S). The larger tiers have an 18-month period (Hardware Tier 2 and Non-Hardware Tier 2S).
When was this opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?
The posted date was November 19, 2013. The application deadline was March 13, 2014.
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Energy. The CFDA number is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications had to be submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE portal, which is the official submission and registration platform for the full Funding Opportunity Announcement and required materials.
Did DOE offer informational webinars for applicants?
Yes. DOE planned to host two informational webinars led by Incubator program staff to explain program requirements and answer questions, with scheduling and updates provided in the FOA.
Who is the point of contact for questions about this opportunity?
The listed point of contact is Uriel Trujillo. The contact email is SunShot.Incubator@ee.doe.gov.
What should a strong application emphasize based on the program description?
Based on the information provided, applicants are expected to propose a technology, business model, or streamlined process that credibly reduces total solar system costs and includes a credible pathway to market. DOE is looking for startups that can show technical feasibility (for technology solutions) or a compelling operational plan (for process and business model solutions), and then use federal support to validate, refine, and commercialize the approach quickly.
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