EERE Funding Opportunities

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office, a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) entitled “Fiscal Year 2025 Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement.”

The research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) activities to be funded under this NOFO will improve transportation by driving the innovation that can lead to the accelerated deployment of advanced technologies while also significantly improving U.S. competitiveness. This will lead to benefits including increased safety and reliability of batteries, more convenient travel options, decreased cost of driving, increased vehicle and system efficiency, and a more secure supply chain. Specifically, this NOFO is seeking innovative solutions for on-road and off-road vehicles in the areas of improved battery technology for both light- and heavy-duty applications, smart charging infrastructure, sustainable farming, workforce development, and demonstration and deployment of these new technologies.  Topics in this NOFO include:

• Topic Area 1: Technologies for Enhanced Lithium-ion Cell Safety
• Topic Area 2a: Low-Cost Production of Lithium
• Topic Area 2b: Lithium Metal Surface Protection
• Topic Area 3a: Ultra-Long-Cycle Life Li-Ion Batteries for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks
• Topic Area 3b: Standardized Battery Module Design for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks
• Topic Area 4: Thermal Technologies for Zero Emission Vehicles
• Topic Area 5: Optimized Grid Planning for Electric Vehicles Using Advanced Metering Infrastructure
• Topic Area 6: CROP - Co-located Renewable-Fuel and Off-road Vehicle Pilots
• Topic Area 7: Vehicle Life Cycle Analysis Baseline
• Topic Area 8: Quality Improvements of Battery Busbar Joining
• Topic Area 9: Electric Vehicle Workforce Development
• Topic Area 10: Vehicle Technology Integration-Open Topic

This teaming partner list is for DE-FOA-0003512, The Circular Supply Chains Accelerator.

Power electronics (PE) are essential to the conversion and control of electrical power in U.S. critical infrastructure. As this infrastructure—including grid-integrated power, industrial manufacturing, transportation, and digital networking and communications—brings more innovative technologies online to meet changing market demands and improve energy security and resiliency, it also places significantly higher performance demands on PE technologies. Silicon (Si) PE have been relied on for decades to meet infrastructure’s power conversion and control needs, but these intensifying performance requirements have surpassed what traditional Si PE can offer.

AMMTO is seeking input on its draft strategic framework, to improve its accuracy and value to the PE industry. This request for information (RFI) outlines the information DOE AMMTO is seeking from the public to inform the development of its Power Electronics Strategic Framework. Responses to this RFI will be used as input to update the draft framework. Both the RFI responses and the draft framework will be used by DOE to help shape key decisions concerning the future of the AMMTO Power Electronics program and its impact. AMMTO is specifically interested in feedback on the initial version of the power electronics strategic framework that accompanies this RFI.

This is solely a request for information and not a Notice of funding Opportunity (NOFO). AMMTO is not accepting applications.

The National Landscape of High-Impact Crosscutting Opportunities for Next Generation Harsh Environment Materials (HEMs) and Manufacturing Process Research, Development, and Demonstration identifies the highest impact investment opportunities for high-performance materials designed for harsh service environments. Advanced, high-performance HEM components with extended life and higher reliability are needed to achieve energy efficiency gains, emissions reductions, and lowered overall costs through improvements in electric energy production/conversion, energy storage, and energy utilization technologies.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure AMMTO’s technology assessments within this space are optimally positioned to allow investments that address the major opportunities and challenges.

This is solely a request for information and not a Notice of funding Opportunity (NOFO). AMMTO is not accepting applications.

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) supports the development of a globally competitive U.S. energy industrial base that drives supply chain resiliency and energy security through materials and manufacturing innovation. The development of circular supply chains that enable efficient use of materials through reuse, repair, remanufacture, and recycling is important toward accomplishing these goals. Efforts to achieve a robust and competitive manufacturing sector through innovation in circular supply chains cannot be successful without: (1) a comprehensive understanding of the landscape of technical and non-technical factors that could impact the adoption of emerging technologies and (2) strong connections across the circularity field to accelerate innovations from R&D-scale to commercial practice. This NOFO seeks to establish a new accelerator which will address this need through the development of a comprehensive technical and market analysis portfolio and stakeholder engagement activities.

The Accelerator’s analysis portfolio will establish a comprehensive understanding of both technical and non-technical factors impacting the adoption of emerging technologies for circular supply chains. Technical factors of interest include the state of emerging technologies in terms of performance and cost metrics. Awareness of these technical factors requires strong understanding of the R&D landscape as well as the state of industrial practice. Non-technical factors of interest include market conditions, supply chain dynamics, policy and regulatory landscape, workforce readiness, infrastructure capabilities, among others. These non-technical market factors may be region-specific and would be critical to inform a systems-level perspective of potential barriers and pathways to widespread commercial adoption. The Accelerator will leverage understanding of technical and non-technical factors to analyze market opportunity within specific product and material market segments. This will identify specific early adopter markets and sequential pathways to more broadly scale the deployment of emerging technologies for greater impact. Opportunities to leverage advancements in emerging technologies and market tools (e.g., standards, offtake agreements, verification frameworks, data systems, etc.) across product and material segments will also be identified.

The Accelerator’s stakeholder engagement activities will cultivate a range of stakeholders that are critical to both supporting the analysis portfolio and to facilitating the coordination needed for technology adoption for circular supply chains. These stakeholder engagement activities will strengthen relationships with industry members to support increased sharing of data and best practices as there are many synergistic technology needs across different product and material segments. These programs will enable enhanced diffusion of advancements in emerging technologies, business models and market tools throughout the circularity field. Most importantly, these stakeholder engagement activities will establish and cultivate relationships between potential performer groups that will strengthen the innovation ecosystem needed to deliver on other funded programs focused on building circular supply chain technologies.

Please see the full NOFO in the DOCUMENTS section below.

Questions regarding the NOFO must be submitted to Circularity.NOFO.FY25@ee.doe.gov.

Please note: In the event that an application experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks applications to address technical challenges in algal systems that currently limit expansion of algae as a domestic bioenergy resource. The MASY NOFO will support high-impact, applied R&D focused on relieving ‘pinch points’ in algal system cultivation and preprocessing, with the goal of improving process economics for biofuels and/or bioproducts.

Please see the full FOA document in the Documents section below.

Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to FY25BETOMASYNOFO@ee.doe.gov.

The required Concept Paper due date for this FOA is 2/21/2025 at 5PM ET. The Full Application due date for this FOA is 5/15/2025 at 5PM ET.

As stated in the Notice of Intent (search DE-FOA-0003517 in eXCHANGE), a Teaming Partner List has been compiled to encourage collaboration and facilitate the formation of new project teams. Visit: TPL-0000064 Teaming Partner List for DE-FOA-0003517 NOI to Publish DE-FOA-0003518 and DE-FOA-0003520

The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.

Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the FOA Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.

Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in a late submission: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission that results in a late submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing the submission on behalf of, and with the Applicant's concurrence). DOE will only accept late applications when the Applicant has a) encountered technical difficulties beyond their control; b) has contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance; and c) has submitted the application through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the FOA's posted deadline.

This NOFO supports BETO’s research and development (R&D) priorities in the areas of Conversion R&D. Specifically, it supports research and development of domestic chemicals and fuels from a variety of biomass and waste resources. Producing chemicals and propane/liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from renewable feedstocks helps to safeguard domestic supply chains, secure energy independence, support rural economies, and improve global competitiveness of the industry.

This NOFO contains two topics:

Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals

This Topic Area will support development and adoption of new production methods for value-added chemicals from biomass.

Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG

This Topic Area seeks to pursue new pathways for the production of sustainable liquefied propane and/or petroleum gases (LPG) from a variety of feedstocks including municipal waste, agricultural residues, forest resources, and fats, oils, and grease.

Please see the full FOA document in the Documents section below.

Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to SPARCNOFO@hq.doe.gov.

The required Concept Paper due date for this FOA is 3/14/2025 at 5PM ET. The Full Application due date for this FOA is 5/30/2025 at 5PM ET.

As stated in the Notice of Intent (search DE-FOA-0003517 in eXCHANGE), a Teaming Partner List has been compiled to encourage collaboration and facilitate the formation of new project teams. Visit: TPL-0000064 Teaming Partner List for DE-FOA-0003517 NOI to Publish DE-FOA-0003518 and DE-FOA-0003520

The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.

Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the FOA Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.

Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in a late submission: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission that results in a late submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing the submission on behalf of, and with the Applicant's concurrence). DOE will only accept late applications when the Applicant has a) encountered technical difficulties beyond their control; b) has contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance; and c) has submitted the application through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the FOA's posted deadline.

This teaming partner list is for DE-FOA-0003460, Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator NOFO. The teaming partner list allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

Private, for-profit manufacturing entities—the target applicants for this NOFO—would benefit greatly from developing strong partnerships within this ecosystem. As such, applicants are strongly encouraged to form teams for projects under this NOFO. Applicants are encouraged to partner with academia, national laboratories, other industry members, supply chain partners, equipment developers, and institutions representing a diversity of individuals, such as Tribal communities, minority-serving institutions, minority business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, or entities located in underserved communities. Applicants are particularly encouraged to partner with a diverse set of organizations for demonstration and field-testing activities.

SMASH Incubator seeks to address the lack of sufficient private investment that is available to successfully commercialize the output of research, development, and demonstration activities and bring innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to market.

Specifically, projects funded through this NOFO will encourage innovations in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing across the supply chain, with the aim of reducing U.S. reliance on imported materials and technologies. This NOFO also encourages the development of new solar hardware and technology for domestic use and potential export. These activities are expected to deliver jobs and economic growth in the clean energy sector, while increasing national energy security.

Topic Area 1 seeks to conduct early-stage pilot-scale testing and demonstration of innovative processes or products that can substantively increase domestic manufacturing in all segments of the crystalline silicon solar module supply chain. Each segment also includes the manufacturing equipment used in that segment, input materials for that segment, process control and characterization tools, and consumables used in that segment, which today are predominantly made outside the United States.

Topic Area 2 aims to support the cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV industry, an increasingly valuable part of the U.S. economy and leading domestic renewable energy technology. All segments of the CdTe PV module supply chain are of interest, including improvements in materials, processes, manufacturing, components, metrology, demonstration, recycling, and reclamation.

Topic Area 3 is focused on R&D and demonstration activities with the goal of de-risking new non-module PV components and manufacturing processes, while developing and validating a realistic pathway to commercial success. This includes structural and electrical components and tools that can be made domestically and improve performance, functionality, reliability, or ease of installation for PV systems.

This Lab Call covers opportunities to advance and optimize industrial processes across IEDO’s mission space. The topics covered in this Lab Call address priorities in one or more of the following IEDO Program Areas:

• Energy- and Emissions-Intensive Industries (EEII): Technology solutions tailored to the highest energy-and-emitting subsectors where novel technologies could have the greatest impact, including iron and steel, cement and concrete, chemical and petrochemicals, forest products, and food and beverage.
• Cross-Sector Technologies (CST): Technology solutions that address challenges common across all industrial subsectors, such as energy use associated with industrial heat.
• Technical Assistance & Workforce Development (TAWD): Tailored resources to foster the industrial workforce of the future and help manufacturers move cost-effective, market-ready technologies and energy savings practices to today’s factory floors.

This funding will be for a three-year term with the intention to renew funding in support of these activities in future multi-year terms in the form of core capabilities and centers or as competitive calls. The goal of this long-term program is to establish high-impact capabilities supporting the advancement of technology solutions for industry.

This Lab Call is part of DOE’s larger industrial strategy to invest in technologies across the innovation pipeline, from fundamental science and research to deployment and commercialization.

The activities of interest in this Lab Call are diverse and include establishing and expanding capabilities, centers, and other activities to advance IEDO’s goals at the national labs.

These activities can support accelerating transformational research and development (R&D) as well as new and increased demands for demonstration and deployment (D&D). Expanding the role of national laboratories in D&D is an important opportunity to leverage capabilities to accelerate the U.S. industrial sector.

DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this NOFO. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on EERE eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists. To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to invest in R&D, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement activities that improve the compatibility of large-scale solar (LSS) facilities with wildlife and ecosystems and facilitate the dual use of land for agricultural and solar energy production (agrivoltaics).

Projects selected in this NOFO will a) test strategies that mitigate adverse impacts and/or maximize benefits to wildlife and ecosystems at LSS facilities, b) provide technical assistance and engagement opportunities that enable stakeholders to improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife, or c) provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to agrivoltaics.

Topic Area 1 is focused on improving the ability of stakeholders to implement strategies that improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife and ecosystems. Projects will test new or existing strategies for mitigating adverse impacts on and/or maximizing benefits to wildlife and ecosystems from LSS development (e.g., wildlife-permeable fencing, native vegetation management, wildlife movement corridors). Projects will also provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities on wildlife-solar interactions to improve coordination and collaboration among stakeholders and make research findings and best practices more accessible.

Topic Area 2 is focused on disseminating agrivoltaic research, sharing best practices, and enabling cross-sector collaboration. Projects will provide technical assistance and engagement opportunities to entities involved in LSS development, including but not limited to solar industry members, agricultural practitioners, rural cooperatives, Tribal governments and communities, and local governments.

Applicants must include the team members needed to achieve the stated objectives, disseminate the project outputs, and convene the appropriate stakeholders, including those who can implement proposed solutions. Team member or partner willingness to participate in the project can be demonstrated by providing letters of commitment in project applications. Organizations that are eligible to apply or participate as project collaborators include but are not limited to private or for-profit entities, colleges and universities, state agencies, non‐profits, community‐based organizations, and federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs). Relevant stakeholder groups include solar developers, owners, and operators, environmental consultants, academic researchers with wildlife or agrivoltaics expertise, Tribal governments and communities, and state agencies and nonprofits working on wildlife, hunting, conservation, environmental, and agricultural issues.

MOD 000002:  Update Information Webinar Date

To apply, please register with the online application portal, HeroX, at https://www.herox.com/2025renewschoolsprize. Rules and required documents for application packages are available on the HeroX website.

2025 Renew America’s Schools PRIZE to Cooperative Agreement Overview:

The 2025 Renew America’s School Prize will provide up to $4.2M in cash prize awards of $300,000 each, followed by cooperative agreement awards between $7.5M and $15M.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE’s) Renew America’s Schools program provides investments to transform decaying public school infrastructure into healthier, more energy efficient learning environments. The program supports the implementation of infrastructure improvements in schools, with a focus on local educational agencies (LEAs) that qualify as rural and/or high poverty. Through Renew America’s Schools, DOE will help create healthier learning environments, lower utility costs, and redirect funds to support students and teachers.

The 2025 Renew America’s Schools Prize consists of the Prize competition (Phase 1) and a subsequent Cooperative Agreement (Phase 2 and Phase 3). Competitors submitting proposals should be organizations with the capacity to aggregate and manage portfolios of school facilities to receive energy assessments and improvements. Competitors should consider leveraging the Teaming Partner List, found on the HeroX prize page, to add additional capacity and expertise.

This Official Rules document outlines the components of the Renew America’s Schools Prize (Phase 1) and subsequent Cooperative Agreement process and funding (Phase 2 and Phase 3).

Submission Deadlines

Application Submission Deadline: Thursday, April 3^rd, 2025 by 5pm ET.

Applications must be submitted on HeroX, not through Exchange.

PRIZE (PHASE 1)

PHASE 1 (PRIZE): Portfolio + Team = Up to 14 Winners at $300,000 cash prize each

In Phase 1 (“Portfolio + Team”), competitors will identify a minimum of 10 schools/school facilities to be included in their application. The portfolio may span multiple LEAs. The portfolio should exhibit a high need for energy assessments and, ultimately, energy improvements. The goal of Phase 1 is for competitors to successfully assemble their project team, assemble their portfolio of school facilities, demonstrate the need for energy improvements at schools and school facilities in the defined portfolio, and outline their process to complete the tasks in Phase 2. Based on successful completion of Phase 1, winners will be invited to enter into negotiations with DOE for a Cooperative Agreement. Negotiations for Cooperative Agreement will require additional steps as outlined below.

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (PHASE 2 and PHASE 3)

PHASE 2 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Strategic Plan + Energy Audits = $500,000 to $1,000,000 per recipient

ONLY winners from the Phase 1 Prize will be eligible to negotiate with DOE to receive a Cooperative Agreement for Phase 2 and Phase 3 funding. The Selection Official reserves the right to down select the number of Phase 1 winners that will enter into negotiations with DOE for a Cooperative Agreement for Phase 2 and Phase 3 funding.

Phase 2 (“Strategic Plan + Energy Audits”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 1 of the Cooperative Agreement. Funding in Phase 2 will reimburse Recipients for costs associated with energy audits and strategic planning and design. DOE will^[1] allocate a set amount of funding per Recipient, determined by the number of schools or school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application [see Table 1 below]. In Phase 2, Recipients conduct The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 energy audits of all the schools/school facilities in the portfolio and develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan for implementing energy improvements. Energy audits and the Strategic Plan should provide schools with clear pathways to prioritize energy improvements, access private sector funding and/or tax credits, and realize high-impact health and safety benefits.

PHASE 3 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Implementation = $7,000,000 to $14,000,000 per recipient

Phase 3 (“Implementation”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 2 of the Cooperative Agreement. In Phase 3, DOE will allocate a set amount of funding per Recipient, determined by the number of schools/school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application [see Table 1]. In Phase 3, Recipients oversee implementation of the energy improvements identified at the end of Phase 2. DOE will work with Recipients to ensure high-priority energy improvements are implemented within the allotted budget for Phase 3. Phase 3 should directly advance the measurable goals of energy savings and high impact health and safety benefits outlined in Phase 1.

Webinar Details

DOE will Host the following Informational Webinars:

• Informational Webinar: Tuesday, January 7^th, 2025 @ 3pm ET (see HeroX for Zoom Link)
• Office Hours #1: Wednesday, February 12^th, 2025 @ 3pm ET (see HeroX for Zoom Link)
• Office Hours #2: Tuesday, March 4^th, 2025 @ 3pm ET (see HeroX for Zoom Link)

Please visit HeroX to register for upcoming events and view recordings of previous webinars.

Teaming Partner List

DOE is continuing to gather information for the “Teaming Partner List” to facilitate the formation of project teams for this Prize. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations who may wish to participate on an application to express their interest to other competitors, explore potential partnerships, and form project teams.

Updates to the Teaming Partner List will be available on the HeroX prize page. The Teaming Partner List will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Any organization that would like to be included on the Teaming Partner List should fill out this Microsoft form or email the information to Schools@doe.gov with the subject line “Teaming Partner Information.”

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating qualifications of individuals and organizations self-identifying themselves for placement on the Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any competitors or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Contact Information & Questions

Submit questions to Schools@DOE.gov. Please refer to the HeroX website to find the answer to your emailed question.

Documents

• Please refer to the HeroX website to find associated documents for this Prize to Cooperative Agreement.

An Action Plan for Maritime Energy and Emissions Innovation (Action Plan) calls for the Federal government to define Sustainable Maritime Fuel (SMF) in 2025. As described in the Action Plan, the maritime industry cannot rely solely on drop-in fuel replacements, so vessels must look towards alternative energy sources such as clean methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, electrification, and efficiency improvements as the industry moves towards zero- and near zero-emission fuels. This action is key to evaluating many subsequent goals in the plan pertaining to future production volumes of SMFs. It will also help to align community, industry, government, financiers, and other maritime stakeholders regarding what qualifies as a SMF. This alignment will help to advance technology and investment with a consistent understanding of future maritime fuels.

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to engage industry, government, and maritime stakeholders for feedback on how to define “Sustainable Maritime Fuel.”

While this RFI is being published by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), DOE is also working with other agencies to support the development of an SMF definition; these agencies include but are not limited to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of State, and the Environmental Protection Agency. This collaborative effort seeks feedback on a variety of aspects that may affect the eventual SMF definition, including but not necessarily limited to: minimum carbon intensity reductions, sustainability factors, criteria air pollutant inclusion (e.g. NOx, SOx, and particulate matter), acceptable feedstocks, how to align with global requirements (e.g. International Maritime Organization (IMO) and FuelEU), and whether accounting for emission reduction technologies (such as onboard carbon capture) should be included.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to DefiningSMF@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) on February 28, 2025. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email. It is recommended that attachments with file sizes exceeding 25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery. Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to the email, and no more than 3 pages in length, 12 point font, 1 inch margins. Only electronic responses will be accepted.

This is solely a request for information and not a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). EERE is not accepting applications.

Please see the full RFI document in the Documents section below.

TPL-0000064: Teaming Partner List for DE-FOA-0003517 Notice of Intent to Publish DE-FOA-0003518 and DE-FOA-0003520

1. DE-FOA-0003518, entitled “Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC)”; and

2. DE-FOA-0003520, entitled “Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY).”

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs):

1. DE-FOA-0003518, entitled “Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC)”; and

2. DE-FOA-0003520, entitled “Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY).”

These NOFOs support BETO’s research and development (R&D) priorities in the areas of (a) Conversion and (b) Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR).

It is anticipated that the NOFOs may include the following Areas of Interest:

DE-FOA-0003518 SPARC NOFO: Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals

SPARC NOFO Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals

Producing chemicals from renewable feedstocks helps to secure domestic supply chains, support rural economies, and improve sustainability in the industry. However, adoption of new chemical production pathways is challenging due to complex supply chains with many different stakeholders and the need for extensive product quality testing for new processes.

SPARC NOFO Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG

SPARC Topic Area 2 seeks to develop new production pathways to produce sustainable liquefied propane and/or petroleum gases from a variety of biomass and waste resources including municipal waste, agricultural residues, forest resources and fats, oils, and grease. Topic Area 2 will support multiple conversion routes to produce propane and LPG.

DE-FOA-0003520 MASY NOFO: Maximizing Algal System Yield

The MASY NOFO seeks applications to address ’pinch points’ in algal system operations that currently limit expansion of algae as a domestic bioenergy feedstock. Developing algal systems that use photosynthetic growth of algae (micro-, macro-, and cyanobacteria) is an important component of BETO’s strategy.

EERE plans to issue the NOFOs in or around January 2025 via the EERE eXCHANGE website https://eere-eXCHANGE.energy.gov/. If Applicants wish to receive official notifications and information from EERE regarding these NOFOs, they should register in EERE eXCHANGE. When the NOFOs are released, applications will be accepted only through EERE eXCHANGE.

Mod 002: the FOA will be amended on 1/22/25 to remove the Environmental Considerations Summary requirement.

Mod 001:

The purpose of this modification is to:

• Added information regarding cost share of Tribes and Tribal Nations pursuant to EERE's uniform cost share reduction.

The activities to be funded under this NOFO support BIL sections 41007(b)(2) and the broader government-wide approach to strengthen critical domestic manufacturing and supply chains and to maximize the benefits of the clean energy transition as the nation works to curb the climate crisis, empower workers, and advance environmental justice. This BIL section, through reference to section 3003(b)(4) of the Energy Act of 2020, addresses:

• Research and development projects to create innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of wind energy technologies, including—
• by increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the recovery of raw materials from wind energy technology components and systems
• by minimizing potential environmental impacts from the recovery and disposal processes;
• by advancing technologies and processes for the disassembly and recycling of wind energy devices;
• by developing alternative materials, designs, manufacturing processes, and other aspects of wind energy technologies and the disassembly and resource recovery process that enable efficient, cost effective, and environmentally responsible disassembly of, and resource recovery from, wind energy technologies; and
• strategies to increase consumer acceptance of, and participation in, the recycling of wind energy technologies

Please see the full FOA in the DOCUMENTS section below.

Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to WETOFOA@ee.doe.gov.

Please note: In the event that an application experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov.

OVERVIEW

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DE-FOA-0003439 on behalf of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), which coordinates hydrogen activities with offices across the Department of Energy (DOE) as described in the DOE Hydrogen Program Plan. These activities align with EERE’s mission, the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, and other DOE initiatives as described below.

The research, development, and demonstration activities to be funded under this NOFO support:

• The U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap's "whole-of-government" approach to addressing the challenges facing clean hydrogen and drive innovation leading to the deployment of clean energy technologies that are critical for emissions reduction.
• Enabling increased adoption of clean hydrogen across critical sectors, including heavy-duty vehicles, supporting the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization.
• The goals of the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot^TM targeting affordable, clean hydrogen production at $1/kg by 2031.
• The H2@Scale Initiative aiming to advance affordable hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization to enable decarbonization and revenue opportunities across multiple sectors.

NOFO TOPICS:

• Topic 1: Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Device Scale Up
• Topic 2: High-Performance Materials for Hydrogen Service, Including Cryogenic and/or High-Pressure Conditions
• Topic 3: Sustainable High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membranes and Ionomers for Heavy-Duty Transportation Applications
• Topic 4: Domestic Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Motorcoach Bus Development and Demonstration

Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5:00pm ET on the due date listed in the NOFO to be eligible to submit an Application.

Concept Papers and Applications will only be accepted through EERE eXCHANGE.

DOCUMENTS

The NOFO is separated into two parts to help applicants focus on the application requirements and review criteria in Part 1, with the full inventory of application, post-selection, and post-award requirements available in Part 2. The two-part NOFO is anticipated to simplify the application process and improve access to EERE funding opportunities from a more diverse applicant pool. Applicants should review both the NOFO Part 1 and NOFO Part 2 prior to applying.

DE-FOA-0003439_NOFO_Part_One includes specific programmatic goals, topic descriptions, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and other components specific to this NOFO.

DE-FOA-0003439_NOFO_Part_Two includes standard information for the application phase and describes expectations for award negotiations and post-award requirements for selected applications.

DE-FOA-0003439_Hydrogen_Q&A contains questions submitted to H2FCFOA@ee.doe.gov and their answers from HFTO. This list will be updated as answers are provided.

TEAMING PARTNER LIST

The Teaming Partner List is transferred from Notice of Intent DE-FOA-0003438. The list will remain open and will be updated at least weekly until the close of the Application period, to reflect new Teaming Partners who have provided their contact information.

SUPPORT

Questions regarding this NOFO must be submitted to H2FCFOA@ee.doe.gov.

Applicants that experience technical issues with submissions PRIOR to the submissions deadline should contact the EERE eXCHANGE Help Desk for assistance (EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov).

The EERE eXCHANGE system is designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Application submissions. The "APPLY" and "SUBMIT" buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intent of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all Applicants.

This lab call represents the combined effort of fourteen different U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program offices and the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT). This solicitation offers an opportunity for external parties to partner with DOE’s National Labs to advance energy-related National Lab-developed technology toward commercialization and to reduce the barriers to commercializing lab-developed energy-related technologies and IP. The intent is to increase the volume and speed to which energy-related lab-developed technologies are integrated into the market from an improved lab commercialization ecosystem.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), DOE continues to implement the previous year’s (FY24) approach for TCF Base Annual Appropriations addressing persistent barriers, bridging known gaps that deter the commercialization of laboratory technologies, and identifying where improvements are still needed. The intent of the Commercialization Enabling Topics (Topics 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of this lab call) is to fill in missing infrastructure pieces and strengthen existing components by addressing core commercialization challenges, barriers, and gaps, as well as their root causes (inside and outside of the labs). Additionally, the lab call will seek proposals from DOE’s National Labs to advance the commercialization of individual energy-related technologies (Topic 4), including supplemental project proposals for the Lab Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP).

Navigate to TPL-0000059 to access the Teaming Partner List for this solicitiation.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) has released Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials: A Draft Strategic Framework. The focus of this document is addressing and overcoming the unique challenges related to recirculation of products and materials at the end-of-use (EOU) or end-of-life (EOL) back into the economy. This document aims to describe EERE’s economic and environmental impact goals related to increasing product and material circularity and to communicate EERE’s work in advancing the approaches, strategies, and technologies that contribute to achieving those goals. It identifies opportunities, challenges, and enablers for advancing circularity as well as providing an overview of current efforts across EERE. Finally, this document provides a framework for prioritization of EERE funded research and development as well as a vision for future EERE activities related to product and material circularity.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials: A Draft Strategic Framework. This feedback will help to ensure EERE’s investments in this space are optimally positioned to address opportunities and challenges related to increasing circularity.

EERE is specifically interested in information on:

• Framework for prioritization of research and development as well as ways to maximize impact of the strategy
• Information related to significant opportunities, challenges, and enablers to increase product and material circularity
• Technology advancement needed to achieve EERE objectives
• Prioritization of future EERE investments

This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications.

This teaming partner list is for DE-FOA-0003373, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007(b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO), a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) entitled “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007(b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling”.

Mod 0003:

The purpose of this modification is to:

• Full application deadline extended. 

Mod 0002:

The purpose of this modification is to:

• Added information regarding cost share of Tribes and Tribal Nations pursuant to EERE's uniform cost share reduction.

Mod 0001:

The purposes of this modification are to:

• Updated direct link to Innovation Fund Denmark’s funding opportunity.
• Added information regarding 2024 revisions to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on behalf of the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO). This funding opportunity is coordinated with Innovation Fund Denmark to support U.S.-Danish consortia collaborating on shared research objectives. EERE funds will be used to support the U.S. entity work through this FOA. Innovation Fund Denmark funds will be used to support Danish entity work through Innovation Fund Denmark’s corresponding funding opportunity.

The goals of this FOA are to:

• Advance floating offshore wind energy mooring technologies and methods towards cost-effective commercialization and industry growth;
• Encourage bilateral collaboration to increase the impact of research in the United States and Denmark; and
• Support research at U.S. minority-serving colleges and universities^[1](MSI) and facilitate new relationships between MSIs, other researchers, and industry participants.

[1] Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Other Minority Institutions as educational entities recognized by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR's Department of Education U.S. accredited postsecondary minorities’ institution list. See https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

Please Note: In the event that an applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance at eere-exchangesupport@hq.doe.gov

The anticipated FOA and any related activities support BIL Section 40208, Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second-Life Applications Program aimed at "research, development, and demonstration of:

• second-life applications for electric drive vehicle batteries that have been used to power electrive drive vehicles; and
• technologies and processes for final recycling and disposal of the [electric drive vehicle batteries].

Through this RFI, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) seeks to gain a better understanding of photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technologies. SETO is looking to solicit information on PVT technology, including but not limited to business, state-of-the-art, regulatory statutes, and consumer opinion. SETO aims to summarize the information gathered from this RFI and will use the stakeholder feedback obtained to inform future program development.

Application Submission Deadline 12/31/2024

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. EERE will not pay for information provided under this RFI and no project will be supported as a result of this RFI. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives. EERE may or may not issue funding based on consideration of the input received from this RFI.

This program is meant to seek innovative and replicable solutions to support electrified medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), accelerate charging infrastructure deployment, reduce grid impacts through vehicle-grid integration (VGI) strategies, and drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in support of the Administration goals.

This FOA supports the administration goals laid out above by identifying potential solutions to address the current gaps in electrified MHDV charging infrastructure necessary to enable greater utilization of electrified fleets, and drastically reducing GHG emissions due to MHD trucks. The outcomes of this program will lead to accelerated deployment of large-scale EV charging infrastructure with clean energy resource technologies, as well as provide greater grid resiliency and reliability.

The teaming list is for FOA DE-FOA-0003371.

DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of new project teams for the FOA. All entities interested in participating as part of an applicant team can provide their contact information for the Teaming Partner List. The list allows organizations to express their interest and to explore potential partners.

• Updates to the Teaming Partner List will be available on the EERE eXCHANGE website. The Teaming Partner List will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who have provided their organization’s teaming partner information.

• SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Any organization that would like to be included on this list should submit their information to Teaming Partner List via EERE eXCHANGE.

• DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are self-identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List #TPL-0000060. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Amendment 000001:  Extend the Full Application submission deadline from January 16th, 2025 at 5:00PM ET to January 31st, 2025 at 5:00PM ET to allow sufficient time for development during end of calendar year activities. Adjusted all proceeding dates, such as Reply to Reviewer Comments, by an equal amount of time. Adjusted award notification dates for Research, Technology, and Economic Security review.• Updated Table 3 to align the Allowable Fuel Types with Table 1.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0003371 FY24 Scale-up of Integrated Biorefineries supports higher risk bioenergy technologies that are ready to scale, ultimately demonstrating feedstock-conversion variations, or production pathways, to support commercialization and meet the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge goal of 35 billion gallons per year of SAF production by 2050 and the Clean Fuels and Products Shot goal of 50% projected demand for maritime, rail, off-road, and renewable carbon-based chemicals by 2050.

The activities to be funded under this FOA will support the advancement of cost-shared research, development, and demonstration projects with partners in industry, academia, and the National Laboratories focused on the design, construction, operation, and validation of new technology and feedstock pathways for engineering scale integrated biorefineries. The intent of this FOA is to reduce technology uncertainty and risk through cost-shared pilot- and demonstration-scale biorefinery projects. The FOA would support BETO’s multi-year strategic goals to 1) decarbonize the transportation sector through the production of cost-effective SAF and other strategic fuels, and 2) decarbonize the industrial sector through cost-effective and sustainable chemicals, materials, and processes utilizing biomass and waste resources.

Topic Area 1 will identify, evaluate, and select applications proposing project definition, development, and execution plans for the scaling of pre-pilot (TRL 5) biofuel technologies to pilot scale (TRL 6).

Topic Area 2 will identify, evaluate, and select applications proposing project definition, development, and execution plans for the scaling of pilot (TRL 6) biofuel technologies to demonstration scale (TRL 7-8).

Topic Area 3 supports scale-up activities to produce organic chemicals from renewable biomass and waste feedstocks that can replace those currently derived from petroleum. Topic Area 3 will identify, evaluate, and select applications proposing project definition, development, and execution plans for the scaling of pre-pilot and pilot (TRL 5-6) biochemical technologies to pilot and demonstration scale (TRL 6-8).

Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to FY24BETOScale-Up@ee.doe.gov

See the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in the DOCUMENTS section below.

The required Concept Paper due date for this FOA is 11/07/2024 at 5PM ET. The Full Application due date for this FOA is 01/31/2025 at 5PM ET.

The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the FOA Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.

Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in a late submission: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission that results in a late submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing the submission on behalf of, and with the Applicant's concurrence). DOE will only accept late applications when the Applicant has a) encountered technical difficulties beyond their control; b) has contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance; and c) has submitted the application through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the FOA's posted deadline.