Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001108

  • The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES)" 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 Mar 9, 2015 and posted on Oct 29, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 26, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • 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 0001108

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Opportunity Summary:

Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative funding opportunity focused on pushing solar photovoltaics beyond simply adding more PV capacity and toward making PV a more flexible, grid-friendly resource. The program centers on developing and demonstrating integrated solutions that tightly combine solar PV with energy storage and advanced power electronics so that PV systems can reliably support both customer needs (like on-site energy management and resilience) and grid needs (like voltage support, ramping, and smoothing variability). The basic problem SHINES is trying to solve is that as solar deployment grows at both utility-scale and distributed levels, the variable nature of sunlight creates operational challenges for distribution systems and the bulk power system. By pairing PV with storage and smarter controls, the intent is to reduce those challenges and enable higher penetrations of solar without sacrificing reliability.

Technically, SHINES emphasizes systems that are scalable and cost-effective, meaning projects should not just work in a lab but also be designed with real-world deployment and replication in mind. A key element is the use of smart inverters and coordinated controls. Smart inverters can provide grid services (for example, reactive power support and voltage regulation) and can be coordinated with storage dispatch so that PV output becomes controllable rather than purely weather-driven. The FOA also highlights interoperability with smart buildings, smart appliances, and utility communications and control systems, reflecting a broader goal: solar-plus-storage should integrate cleanly into modern grid operations, including utility monitoring, command-and-control, and potentially automated responses to grid conditions or price signals.

From an administrative standpoint, this announcement (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001108) offered awards through cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the period of performance (for instance, technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active project management). The opportunity fell under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) domain, with CFDA number 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), and it required cost sharing, so recipients were expected to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA text, which commonly include rules around teaming arrangements, subrecipients, and specific entity types.

This particular notice references Modification 000002, which did not change the technical thrust of the program but updated specific administrative sections of the FOA. The changes were targeted at Section II.B.2 (covering funding agreements involving FFRDCs, Government-Owned Government-Operated facilities, federal agencies, and federal instrumentalities) and Section III.E.2 (requirements when DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are included as subrecipients). In practical terms, that kind of modification usually clarifies how federal or quasi-federal research entities can participate, what contracting or funding mechanisms are allowable, and what documentation or approvals are needed when such organizations are part of a project team.

Key dates and funding details included an estimated total program funding of $15,000,000. The FOA was originally posted October 29, 2014, created in the system March 9, 2015, and had its closing date extended from March 19, 2015 to March 26, 2015, with an archive date of June 1, 2015. The listing shows award ceiling and floor as 0, which often indicates that specific award size ranges were described in the full FOA rather than captured in the summarized metadata fields.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through EERE eXCHANGE (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov), and applicants were required to register and create an account before submission. The notice also points applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE user guide and indicates that the full FOA hosted on the portal provides the official instructions for submission, as well as where to direct questions about the announcement content or technical issues with submission. The agency office associated with the opportunity is the Golden Field Office, and the listed grants management contact is Jeremey J. Mikrut via SISHINES@ee.doe.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES)

What is the SHINES funding opportunity?

Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative funding opportunity focused on advancing solar photovoltaics (PV) beyond simply adding capacity. It targets integrated solar-plus-storage solutions with advanced power electronics and controls so PV can operate as a more flexible, grid-friendly resource.

What problem is SHINES intended to address?

SHINES is aimed at reducing operational challenges that arise as solar deployment grows at both utility-scale and distributed levels. Because sunlight is variable, increasing PV penetration can create issues for distribution systems and the bulk power system. By pairing PV with storage and smarter controls, SHINES seeks to enable higher solar penetrations without sacrificing reliability.

What types of solutions does SHINES emphasize?

SHINES emphasizes integrated solutions that tightly combine solar PV with energy storage and advanced power electronics. The program highlights coordinated controls (including smart inverter functionality and storage dispatch) so PV output becomes more controllable and capable of supporting both customer needs and grid needs.

What customer needs are highlighted in the SHINES description?

The opportunity notes customer-focused benefits such as on-site energy management and resilience. The intent is for solar-plus-storage systems to reliably support customer operations, not just generate energy when the sun is shining.

What grid services are mentioned as targets for SHINES projects?

The program description references grid needs such as voltage support, ramping, and smoothing PV variability. It also notes that smart inverters can provide services such as reactive power support and voltage regulation, particularly when coordinated with storage and advanced controls.

How do smart inverters fit into the SHINES concept?

Smart inverters are called out as a key element because they can provide grid services (for example, reactive power support and voltage regulation) and can be coordinated with storage dispatch. This coordination is intended to make PV output more controllable rather than purely weather-driven.

Does SHINES require interoperability with other systems?

The FOA highlights interoperability with smart buildings, smart appliances, and utility communications and control systems. This reflects a broader goal that solar-plus-storage systems integrate cleanly into modern grid operations, including utility monitoring, command-and-control, and potentially automated responses to grid conditions or price signals.

Is SHINES focused on lab research or real-world deployment?

SHINES emphasizes systems that are scalable and cost-effective, meaning projects should not only work in a lab but also be designed with real-world deployment and replication in mind.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for SHINES?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0001108.

What type of funding agreement was used for SHINES awards?

Awards were offered through cooperative agreements. This typically means DOE anticipated substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active project management.

Which DOE program area is associated with this FOA?

The opportunity fell under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) domain.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).

Was cost sharing required?

Yes. The FOA required cost sharing, meaning recipients were expected to contribute a portion of the total project costs from non-federal sources.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full FOA text. The summary notes that full FOAs commonly include rules related to teaming arrangements, subrecipients, and specific entity types.

What is Modification 000002 and what did it change?

The notice references Modification 000002. It did not change the technical thrust of the program, but it updated specific administrative sections of the FOA. The changes targeted Section II.B.2 and Section III.E.2, which address requirements for projects involving FFRDCs, Government-Owned Government-Operated (GOGO) facilities, federal agencies, federal instrumentalities, and situations where DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are included as subrecipients.

Why would the modification matter to applicants?

Based on the summary, the modification generally clarifies how federal or quasi-federal research entities can participate, what contracting or funding mechanisms may be allowable, and what documentation or approvals may be needed when such organizations are part of a project team.

What was the estimated total funding available under the program?

The estimated total program funding was $15,000,000.

When was the FOA posted and when did it close?

The FOA was originally posted on October 29, 2014. The closing date was extended from March 19, 2015 to March 26, 2015. The archive date listed is June 1, 2015.

Why do the award ceiling and award floor show as 0?

The listing shows an award ceiling and floor of 0, which often indicates that the specific award size ranges were described in the full FOA rather than captured in the summarized metadata fields.

How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through EERE eXCHANGE at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.

Do applicants need an account to apply through EERE eXCHANGE?

Yes. Applicants were required to register and create an account in EERE eXCHANGE before submitting an application.

Where can applicants find the official submission instructions?

The notice indicates that the full FOA hosted on the EERE eXCHANGE portal provides the official instructions for submission.

Where can applicants find help using EERE eXCHANGE?

The notice points applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE user guide and indicates that the portal includes information on where to direct questions about technical issues with submission.

Which DOE office is associated with this opportunity?

The agency office associated with the opportunity is the Golden Field Office.

Who is the grants management contact for this opportunity?

The listed grants management contact is Jeremey J. Mikrut, and the contact email provided is SISHINES@ee.doe.gov.

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