Engineering Design of Advanced H2 – CO2 Membrane Separations – In this funding opportunity announcement (FOA), research will focus on hydrogen separations technology, including advanced separation membranes (inorganic, metallic and both materials), that provide high purity hydrogen and/or offer a combination of hydrogen separation with low-cost removal of (Carbon Dioxide) CO2 and other trace impurities from hydrogen-CO2 mixtures. The latter may involve improved membrane or adsorption systems that build upon and improve current separation efficiencies or development of new separation strategies. The primary purpose of this effort is to demonstrate the separation of hydrogen from coal (or coal-biomass) derived syngas via membranes at the pre-engineering/pilot scale. Applications are sought for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) at the pre-engineering/pilot scale for innovative membrane materials, concepts and strategies which separate hydrogen from a coal (coal-biomass)-based syngas with performance that is sufficient to meet the DOE 2015 targets of flux, selectivity, cost and chemical and mechanical robustness. Total Funding: $20M; Award Ceiling: $2M (Phase I), $10M (Phase II, III). Closing Date: May 17, 2010.
Posted Date: March 30, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000215
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Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing: Advanced Simulation of Fusion Plasmas – The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) Program of the Office of Science (SC), DOE, hereby announces its interest in receiving Cooperative Agreement applications from interdisciplinary teams for the development and application of high performance scientific simulation codes under the SC Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC) program. The FES SciDAC portfolio focuses on the creation of high physics fidelity simulation codes that can advance scientific discovery in fusion plasma science and contribute to the FES goal of developing a validated predictive capability for magnetically confined plasmas by fully exploiting the emerging capabilities of petascale and beyond computing resources and associated progress in software and algorithm development. The specific areas of interest under this FOA are: 1. Electromagnetic waves in plasmas; 2. Magnetohydrodynamics; 3. Plasma turbulence and transport, and 4. Energetic particles in plasmas. Total Funding: $4.1M; Award Ceiling: $1.1M. Eligibility: All. Pre-Application Due Date: April 23, 2010. Application Due Date: May 20, 2010.
Posted Date: March 29, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000316
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U.S. China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) – On November 17, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA) agreed to develop a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). This Center will facilitate joint research and development on clean energy by teams of scientists and engineers from the U.S. and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. Priority topics to be addressed through CERC are: 1. Building energy efficiency; 2. Clean coal including carbon capture and storage; 3. Clean vehicles. These are areas in which the U.S. and China have a shared interest in further developing technology to help our countries meet clean energy and climate change goals. They are also areas in which the U.S. and China have complementary strengths and could benefit from internationally collaborative research. To operationalize CERC, the DOE intends to make an award under this FOA in each of these three issue areas. Awards will be made to consortia with the knowledge and experience to undertake first-rate collaborative research programs. These consortia will leverage existing resources and physical infrastructure and will not require new “bricks and mortar” facilities. To keep the focus on research and international collaboration, management and administrative expenses will be kept to a minimum. These consortia will help bring together top talent from both countries and are expected to generate key technological advancement through genuine collaboration between U.S. and Chinese researchers. Total Funding: $37.5M; $12.5M for each of the three issue areas. 50% cost sharing is required. Eligibility: All. Application Due Date: May 14, 2010.
Posted Date: March 29, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000324
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Nuclear Energy University Programs – Reactor Upgrades – This FOA is seeking proposals from U.S. universities and colleges with operating research reactors. The purpose of the program is to upgrade and improve the U.S. university nuclear research and training reactors and to contribute to strengthening the academic community’s nuclear engineering infrastructure. The infrastructure and capabilities requested by a university should be individual, discrete, and definable items or capabilities that will support, maintain, or enhance the university’s or college’s capacity to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies; build the university’s or college’s NS&E basic research or education capabilities; or enhance the university’s or college’s capability to perform R&D that is relevant to DOE-NE’s R&D mission. All equipment and instrumentation and associated facility upgrades requests that support nuclear energy-related R&D or education at university research reactors are welcomed. Infrastructure requests that support the sharing and use of equipment and instrumentation by multiple campuses of a university or multiple universities are encouraged. Equipment and associated upgrades specifically for general scientific laboratories are the subject of a separate FOA. Total Funding: $7M; Award Ceiling (major upgrades): $1.5M; Award Ceiling (minor equipment): $150K. Application Due Date: May 11, 2010.
Posted Date: March 24, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000322
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Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) General Scientific Infrastructure Support – This FOA is seeking proposals for equipment and instrumentation infrastructure to support nuclear energy-related engineering and science teaching and research laboratories. The infrastructure requested by a university should be individual, discrete, and definable items or capabilities that will support, maintain, or enhance the university’s or college’s capacity to attract and teach high quality students interested in nuclear energy-related studies; build the university’s or college’s NS&E basic research or education capabilities; or enhance the university’s or college’s capability to perform R&D that is relevant to DOE-NE’s R&D mission. All equipment and instrumentation and associated facility upgrades requests that support nuclear energy-related R&D or education are welcomed. This includes, but is not limited to, equipment and instrumentation for specialized facilities, classrooms and laboratories, and non-reactor NS&E research. Infrastructure requests that support the sharing and use of equipment and instrumentation by multiple campuses of a university or multiple universities are encouraged. Equipment and associated upgrades specifically for research reactors are the subject of a separate FOA (DE-FOA-0000322). Total Funding: $7.5M; Award Ceiling: $250K. Application Due Date: April 27, 2010.
Posted Date: March 24, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000321
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Molybdenum-99 – The DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) is soliciting applications that will result in the award of up to two cooperative agreements to demonstrate and achieve full-scale production of the medical isotope, Molybdenum-99, hereafter referred to as Mo-99, by commercial entities/institutions of higher education. The purpose of the FOA is to evaluate and select a single recipient for each of the two Mo-99 technologies: accelerator technology and low enriched uranium fission target technology projects to demonstrate technologies for commercial-scale production of Mo-99 without highly enriched uranium (HEU). The approach to establishing a non-HEU-based Mo-99 production capability in the United States is to stimulate successful commercial ventures. Potential suppliers are sought on the basis of advanced research efforts or demonstrated experience with isotope production without HEU, extensive research undertaken to produce Mo-99, and investments or established partnerships to pursue a commercially viable production capability for Mo-99. Total Funding: $25M/each technology matching grant. Eligibility: All. Closing Date: June 11, 2010.
Posted Date: March 24, 2010
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0000323
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Subsurface Biogeochemical Research – The Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces interest in receiving applications for research grants for Subsurface Biogeochemical Research (SBR), which is within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER). SBR seeks to advance fundamental science towards solutions to key DOE environmental challenges including carbon sequestration, contamination from past nuclear weapons production and a scientific basis for the long-term stewardship of nuclear waste disposal. The activity supports an integrated portfolio of research ranging from molecular to field scales with emphasis on the use of advanced computer models and multidisciplinary, iterative experimentation to understand and predict contaminant transport in complex subsurface environments. BER funds basic research to investigate the key processes affecting the mobility of subsurface contaminants found at DOE sites. The goal of this FOA is to support innovative, fundamental research investigating the coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the transport of subsurface contaminants at DOE sites. Applications should identify critical knowledge gaps and address hypothesis-driven research to better understand the significant physical, chemical, and biological processes influencing the form and mobility of DOE contaminants in the subsurface. Research projects should aim to provide the scientific basis for the long term stewardship of contaminated sites across the DOE complex and the development of new remediation concepts and strategies. Total Funding: $5m. Number of Awards: 15 to 20. Eligibility: All. Pre-Application Due Date: April 29, 2010. Application Due Date: July 15, 2010.
Posted Date: March 24, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000311
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Subsurface Biogeochemical Research – The Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces interest in receiving applications for research grants for Subsurface Biogeochemical Research (SBR), which is within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER). SBR seeks to advance fundamental science towards solutions to key DOE environmental challenges including carbon sequestration, contamination from past nuclear weapons production and a scientific basis for the long term stewardship of nuclear waste disposal. The activity supports an integrated portfolio of research ranging from molecular to field scales with emphasis on the use of advanced computer models and multidisciplinary, iterative experimentation to understand and predict contaminant transport in complex subsurface environments. The goal of this FOA is to support innovative, fundamental research investigating the coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the transport of subsurface contaminants at DOE sites. Applications should identify critical knowledge gaps and address hypothesis-driven research to better understand the significant physical, chemical, and biological processes influencing the form and mobility of DOE contaminants in the subsurface. Research projects should aim to provide the scientific basis for the long term stewardship of contaminated sites across the DOE complex and the development of new remediation concepts and strategies. Total Funding: $5M. Eligibility: All. Pre-Application Due Date: April 29, 2010. Application Due Date: July 15, 2010.
Posted Date: March 24, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000311
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Advancing Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis of Complex Systems – The Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving applications for research addressing the mathematical and computational challenges of uncertainty quantification in the modeling and simulation of complex natural and engineered systems. Simulation plays a key role in addressing scientific and technical issues concerning DOE mission-relevant complex systems such as climate, carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy, and other energy applications. A central challenge in the predictive modeling, simulation, and analysis of these complex systems is Uncertainty Quantification (UQ). Uncertainty quantification refers to the broad range of activities aimed at assessing and improving confidence in simulation. There are many different sources of uncertainty and error that arise in the modeling and simulation of complex systems. For increasing the confidence of simulations, it is important to accurately characterize and quantify the effects of uncertainties and errors on mathematical models and computational algorithms. This FOA calls for research in applied mathematics on Uncertainty Quantification in complex systems of interest to the DOE, scalable UQ methods, and UQ relevant to the simulation and analysis of complex systems on high-concurrency, extreme-scale computing architectures. Total Funding: $3M; Award Ceiling: $1M; Award Floor: $150K. Closing Date: April 26, 2010.
Posted Date: March 16, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000315
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University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) Program – The UTSR program addresses key technologies needed to enable the development of advanced turbines and turbine-based systems that will operate cleanly and efficiently when fueled with coal-derived synthesis gas and hydrogen fuels. Developing turbine technology to operate on coal-derived synthesis gas and hydrogen is critical to the development of advanced coal based power generation technologies such as integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and the deployment of IGCC power plants that capture and sequester carbon dioxide. The Advanced Turbine Program is an investment in secure U.S. electric power production that is clean, efficient, affordable, and fuel-flexible, and will make possible the continued use of coal; our Nation’s largest domestic fossil energy resource. The overall goal (2015) of the Advanced Turbine Program is to provide high efficiency, near-zero emissions and lower cost turbines for coal-based stationary power systems. Total Funding: $2.5M. Eligibility: Universities and Colleges. Closing Date: April 28, 2010.
Posted Date: March 15, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000248
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Notice of Intent to Issue a FOA for the Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative – This announcement is intended to provide potential applicants advance notice of the upcoming Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology FOA. Prospective applicants should begin developing partnerships, formulating ideas, and gathering data in anticipation of the issuance of this FOA. Please do not respond or submit questions in response to this Notice of Intent. DOE Golden Field Office (GO) intends to issue, on behalf of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (WHTP), a FOA entitled Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative. In this regard, DOE intends to solicit applications from industry-led partnerships that propose to advance the technology readiness of marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies (systems and/or components), using MHK-specific technology readiness level (TRL) definitions and guidelines, as devised by DOE. No applications will be accepted through this notice.
Posted Date: March 10, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000310
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Development of Innovative and Advanced Technologies for Geologic Sequestration – The objective of this FOA is to request applications for research leading to innovative and advanced technologies that address CO2 geologic storage in all reservoir types and all life cycle phases of CO2 geologic storage operations (Core R&D Focus Area (2), Geologic Storage). The primary objective of Program research is to develop technologies to cost-effectively and safely store and monitor CO2 in geologic formations and to ensure storage permanence. Research is concentrated on five types of geologic formations, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities. These formations include depleted oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline formations, unmineable coal seams, oil and gas rich organic shales, and basalts. The selected projects will support the Carbon Sequestration Programs efforts to develop technologies that demonstrate 99% storage permanence and estimate capacity within +30%. This FOA has two areas of interest aimed at addressing technology gaps in Core R&D Focus area, Geologic Storage. Each Area of Interest is identified as: Area of Interest 1 – Applied Science and Engineering Studies for Proof-of-Feasibility; and Area of Interest 2 – Prototype Development and Test. Eligibility: All. Closing Date: April 30, 2010.
Posted Date: March 10, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000250
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CO2 Utilization – The objective of this FOA is to secure applications that will support the Sequestration Programs efforts to develop technologies that utilize CO2 as a reactant to produce useful products at a net cost of less than $10 per metric ton. Research in this area is intended to develop or improve methods for producing commodities with CO2 as a feedstock. Applications are sought for bench- or lab-scale R&D projects that advance the chemical and physical processes of this technology area by expanding research or by investigating innovative technologies with the potential to meet the DOE net cost metric. It should be noted that the use of algae is not of interest for this FOA and applications that propose the use of algae will be declined. It should also be noted that CO2 mineralization based on methods to enhance natural weathering processes is not of interest for this FOA and this type of application will be declined unless an economically useful product is the result. All projects selected from this FOA are expected to have no significant environmental impacts due to both the scale and type of the research activities requested. Applications which propose activities that would require construction or significant field work will be declined. Total Funding: $5.6M; Award Range: $500K-$1M. Eligibility: All. Application Due Date: April 20, 2010.
Posted Date: March 8, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000253
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Atmospheric System Research – The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving applications to develop innovative laboratory and observational data analyses and to utilize the resulting knowledge from such analyses to improve cloud and aerosol formulations in global climate models. The intent is to improve the understanding and modeling of cloud and aerosol properties and processes and their impact on the atmospheric radiation balance. If the application is successful, the research would be part of the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) Program in the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD). Total Funding: $7.5M; Award Ceiling: $200K; Award Floor: $50K. Eligibility: All. Closing Date: June 1, 2010.
Posted Date: March 8, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000291
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Grid-Scale Rampable Intermittent Dispatchable Storage (GRIDS) – This program seeks to develop grid-scale energy storage technologies capable of addressing emerging intermittency and ramping challenges for the transmission of renewable electric energy, through cost-effective storage. Such energy storage should provide full power within 10 minutes for durations over 60 minutes. Ubiquitous, dispatchable and cost-effective grid-scale energy storage technologies are critical for accelerating adoption of renewable generation and reducing CO2 emissions from the electricity generation sector. Recipients of ARPA-E financial assistance awards may include a full range of R&D entities. The result of a successful ARPA-E project will be such that at the end of the project the transformational technology will be sufficiently advanced and well defined in terms of performance and risk to promote next-stage development or transfer of the project to next-stage developers. Projects under this FOA must be aimed at more than progress toward identified project goals; the project must be aimed at actual delivery of these project goals. The R&D effort on later stage technology development projects must carry the risk reduction process for the technology to the point at which entrepreneurial decisions can be made with confidence. Total Funding: $500K-$10M. Eligibility: All. Concept Paper Due: April 2, 2010. Full Application Due: Mid-May 2010.
Posted Date: March 2, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-000029
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Building Energy Efficiency Through Innovative Thermodevices (BEETIT) – There is an urgent need to accelerate research and development of cooling technologies for buildings, which can enhance overall energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, while reducing the cost incurred by the consumers. ARPA-E seeks innovative proposals for energy efficient cooling devices/air conditioners (AC) for commercial buildings to cater to these needs. The focus of this FOA is to develop energy efficient cooling technologies/air conditioners (AC) for buildings to reduce GHG from: (a) primary energy consumption due to space cooling; and (b) refrigerants used in vapor compression systems. ARPA-E seeks innovative research and development approaches to increase energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions due to cooling of buildings by: 1) Development of cooling systems that use refrigerants with global warming potential†1≤ ; 2) Development of energy efficient air conditioning (AC) system for warm and humid climates to increase the coefficient of performance (COP) of ventilation load cooling by %50≥; 3) Increased efficiency of vapor compression AC system for hot climate for re-circulating air loads by increasing the COP by %50≥. Total Funding: $500K-$10M. Eligibility: All. Concept Paper Due: April 2, 2010. Full Application Due: mid-May 2010.
Posted Date: March 2, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000289
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Agile Delivery of Electrical Power Technology (ADEPT) – This FOA is primarily focused on the development of advanced component technologies, converter architectures, and packaging and manufacturing processes with the potential to improve the performance and lower the cost of power converters and power management systems. Specifically, three categories of performance and integration level will be considered: Category 1 seeks to broaden the application space for fully-integrated, chip-scale power converters from mobile applications to applications including, but not limited to, dimmable SSL drivers, distributed micro-inverters, and computer power supplies. Technologies for chip-scale converters at line-voltages is of particular interest. Category 2 seeks to broaden the application space for package integrated power converters by reducing the size and improving component and package performance enabling applications such as inverters for grid-tied photovoltaics and variable speed motors. To address these applications, the performance of package integrated converters must scale from 10A (current state of the art) to the 40A range, and/or voltage levels beyond 600V, and power levels beyond 3 kW. Category 3 addresses lightweight, solid-state, medium voltage energy conversion for high power applications such as solid-state substations and wind turbine generators. To address these applications, new solid-state switch technology at voltages exceeding 13kV and advanced magnetics technology supporting MW scale power converters with multi-kilohertz frequencies are of particular interest. Total Funding: $500K-$10M. Eligibility: All. Concept Paper Due: April 2, 2010. Full Application Due: mid-May 2010.
Posted Date: March 2, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-000028
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Research in Innovative Approaches to Fusion Energy Sciences – The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) Program of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for innovative approaches to fusion energy sciences. All individuals or groups planning to submit applications for new or renewal funding in Fiscal Year 2011 should submit in response to this FOA. The FES Innovative Confinement Concepts (ICC) program has the long-term performance measure of demonstrating enhanced fundamental understanding of magnetic confinement and improving the basis for future burning plasma experiments through research on magnetic confinement configuration optimization. The ICC program explores improved pathways to practical fusion power by addressing critical problems that hinder the tokamak concept, such as plasma disruption, heat load on internal components, and operational and maintenance complexity. Key program issues include initiation and increase of plasma current; dissipation of plasma exhaust power; symmetric-torus confinement prediction; stability, continuity, and profile control of low-aspect-ratio symmetric tori; quasi-symmetric and three-dimensional shaping benefits to toroidal confinement performance; divertor design for three-dimensional magnetic confinement configurations, and the plasma-materials interface. Total Funding: $11.1M; Award Ceiling: $1.7M. Eligibility: All. Pre-application Due Date: March 26, 2010. Closing Date: April 30, 2010.
Posted Date: March 2, 2010
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000286