Question 16:
Are CSP balance of systems concepts appropriate for this funding opportunity?
Answer 16:
Yes.
For Topic Area 3, this FOA is addressing system-wide manufacturing, assembly, installation and commissioning of CSP systems.
For Topic Area 4, this FOA is specifically targeting BOS components which will enable the integration of advanced CSP systems such as those which operate at higher temperatures than state of the art.
Question 34:
Is the webinar still scheduled for this Wednesday?
Answer 34:
The optional Second Informational Webinar is scheduled for this Wednesday, March 26 at 12:00pm ET.
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/498380793
Question 37:
My concept paper was “Discouraged” followed by “To be determined” and a link to “Edit a Full Application for this FOA”. I understand what discouraged means but what does “To be determined” mean?
Answer 37:
Please double check your status in Exchange as all applicants who submitted Concept Papers have been encouraged or discouraged at this time.
As per the FOA, an applicant who receives a “discouraged” notification may still submit a Full Application. EERE will review all compliant and responsive Full Applications. However, by discouraging the submission of a Full Application, EERE intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project in an effort to save the Applicant the time and expense of preparing an application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.
Question 40:
SolarMat2 Administrator, we are interested in submitting an application under the SolarMat2 program. One quick question: if we won the award, would our company be obligated to manufacture in the United States beyond what was proposed in the application. For example, if we propose to build 15MW of capacity in the US, would there be any reason why we couldn’t do our next 15MW overseas?
Answer 40:
The U.S. Manufacturing Plan submitted with the application
would be the limit of the U.S. manufacturing commitment for any award resulting
from the application. However, additional U.S. manufacturing
requirements may apply to an invention made under the award (i.e., “subject
invention”) for which the awardee retains title.
All awardees must agree to 35 U.S.C. 204, Preference for
United States Industry, under which each awardee must require their exclusive
licensees to substantially manufacture the following products in the United
States for any use or sale in the United States: (1) articles embodying subject
inventions, and (2) articles produced through the use of subject inventions.
This requirement does not apply to articles that are manufactured for use or
sale overseas.
DOE has issued a class waiver that applies to this
FOA. Under this class waiver, domestic large businesses may elect title
to their subject inventions similar to the right provided to the domestic small
businesses, education institutions, and nonprofits, by law. In order to
avail itself of the class waiver, a domestic large business must agree to
substantially manufacture products embodying or produced through the use of a
subject invention in the U.S. unless DOE agrees that commitments proposed in
the U.S. Manufacturing Plan is sufficient.
Question 43:
Is there a specific tool or procedure that DOE requires for economic analysis that leads to a estimation of levelized cost of energy (LCOE)? This would be for the purpose of validating a Go/No-go milestone.
Answer 43:
The methodology of calculating LCOE is documented in the Solar Advisor Model (SAM) and based on published NREL material on calculating LCOE for renewable energy systems: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/tech_lcoe_documentation.html
While this methodology is generally accepted for the type of systems and analysis that SAM performs, it does not address more complex financial considerations for manufacturing equipment capital costs, production volumes, etc.
In any case, the applicant is expected to provide justification for the methodology and the assumptions used for the calculation in estimating LCOE. There is not a specific tool or procedure that DOE requires for economic analysis that leads to a estimation of LCOE.
Question 51:
What is the page limit and content requirements for the US Manufacturing Plan? Where should the “US Manufacturing Plan” be uploaded and how long should this description be?
Answer 51:
The US Manufacturing Plan is a required document and therefore must be uploaded as a separate file from the Technical Volume. There is no page limit for the US Manufacturing Plan. Please see Q&A 48 on the FAQ page for this FOA for more information.
Question 52:
The FOA states that the Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications is August 1, 2014, and that the Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations is September 4, 2014. Does DOE expect that Award Negotiations will start on Sept. 4th, or that Award negotiations will be finished by Sept. 4th?
Answer 52:
DOE expects to negotiate awards between August 1 and the end of September with project start dates in October and November.