Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002057
The Department of Energy, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory, offered this funding opportunity under its Coal FIRST initiative, which stands for Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, and Transformative. The central aim is to help create a new generation of coal-based power plants designed to deliver secure, stable, and reliable electricity while better matching modern grid needs. Instead of focusing on building a full plant demonstration outright, this announcement targets the development and improvement of specific "critical components" that would make future coal plants practical, competitive, and better performing across a range of operating conditions.
A key theme of the opportunity is flexibility. Coal FIRST plants are expected to operate in a way that can respond to changing grid demand, rather than running only as steady baseload units. The program also emphasizes innovation through advanced, cutting-edge components intended to raise efficiency and reduce emissions. Resilience is another pillar, meaning the plants should be able to provide dependable power in a variety of conditions and disruptions. The initiative also pushes for smaller plant footprints compared to traditional utility-scale coal plants, and for a transformative approach to plant design and manufacturing, implying designs that are more modular, modernized, and potentially easier to deploy or replicate.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) specifically recognizes that some aspects of future coal plants can rely on existing technologies where it makes sense, but it also highlights that certain plant systems will not meet Coal FIRST performance targets without upgrades or entirely new development. The purpose of the funding is therefore to advance those enabling components, whether by improving existing equipment to meet new requirements or by developing novel component technologies that unlock the intended Coal FIRST characteristics. In practical terms, the FOA is meant to fill the technical gaps that would otherwise prevent future coal plants from being flexible, efficient, lower-emitting, resilient, and smaller in scale.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, technical collaboration, review points, and coordinated project management). It is cataloged under CFDA 81.089 and falls within the Energy funding activity category. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility language in the full FOA. The FOA number is DE-FOA-0002057, it was created on February 7, 2020, and originally closed on March 30, 2020.
In terms of funding scale, the award ceiling is listed at $16,000,000, and DOE anticipated making about 14 awards. Taken together, these details suggest DOE intended to support multiple parallel efforts across different technical areas, encouraging a portfolio of component innovations that could later be integrated into potential coal plant designs aligned with the Coal FIRST vision.Apply for DE FOA 0002057
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR COAL FIRST POWER PLANTS OF THE FUTURE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 07, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 30, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $16,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity about?
This Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) supports research, development, and improvement of "critical components" needed for future coal-based power plants under the Coal FIRST initiative. The focus is on enabling technologies that help coal plants better fit modern grid needs rather than funding a full power plant demonstration.
2) What does Coal FIRST stand for?
Coal FIRST stands for Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, and Transformative.
3) What is the main goal of Coal FIRST as described here?
The central aim is to help create a new generation of coal-based power plants designed to deliver secure, stable, and reliable electricity while better matching modern grid needs.
4) Is this FOA funding a full coal plant demonstration?
No. This announcement does not center on building a full plant demonstration. It targets development and improvement of specific critical components that would make future coal plants practical, competitive, and better performing across a range of operating conditions.
5) What does "critical components" mean in this context?
In this FOA, "critical components" refers to specific plant systems or equipment that would enable future Coal FIRST plants to meet performance targets. These components may involve upgrades to existing equipment or entirely novel component technologies that unlock Coal FIRST characteristics.
6) Why does the FOA emphasize flexibility?
Coal FIRST plants are expected to respond to changing grid demand rather than operating only as steady baseload units. The FOA highlights flexibility as a key requirement for next-generation coal plants.
7) What kinds of performance improvements is DOE seeking?
The FOA emphasizes advanced components intended to increase efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve performance across a range of operating conditions, while also supporting grid-responsive operation.
8) What does "resilience" mean for projects under this opportunity?
Resilience is described as the ability of the plant to provide dependable power under a variety of conditions and disruptions. The components developed or improved under this FOA are meant to support that dependable operation.
9) What does "small" mean in the Coal FIRST framework?
"Small" refers to smaller plant footprints compared to traditional utility-scale coal plants. The FOA supports component advances that would help enable smaller-scale plant concepts.
10) What does "transformative" mean in Coal FIRST?
"Transformative" points to a shift in plant design and manufacturing, including more modular and modernized designs that could be easier to deploy or replicate.
11) Does the FOA allow the use of existing technologies?
Yes. The FOA recognizes that some aspects of future coal plants can rely on existing technologies where appropriate. At the same time, it highlights that certain systems will not meet Coal FIRST targets without upgrades or new development.
12) What problem is this FOA trying to solve?
The FOA is intended to fill technical gaps that would otherwise prevent future coal plants from achieving Coal FIRST goals such as flexibility, high efficiency, lower emissions, resilience, and smaller scale.
13) Who is offering and administering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
14) What is the funding mechanism?
This is a discretionary grant program administered as a cooperative agreement.
15) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as technical collaboration, reviews or checkpoints, and coordinated project management.
16) What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The FOA number is DE-FOA-0002057.
17) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 81.089.
18) What funding activity category is associated with this FOA?
It falls within the Energy funding activity category.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility language in the full FOA.
20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed at $16,000,000.
21) How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 14 awards.
22) What do the number of awards and award ceiling suggest about DOE's approach?
Together, these details suggest DOE intended to support multiple parallel efforts across different technical areas and build a portfolio of component innovations that could later be integrated into coal plant designs aligned with the Coal FIRST vision.
23) When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on February 7, 2020.
24) When did this FOA close?
The FOA originally closed on March 30, 2020.
25) What type of outcomes is DOE aiming for from funded projects?
Based on the description provided, DOE is aiming to advance enabling component technologies that make future coal plants more practical and competitive, with improved flexibility, efficiency, lower emissions, resilience, and smaller-scale potential.
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| COAL-DERIVED MATERIALS FOR BUILDING, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER APPLICATIONS Apply for DE FOA 0002185 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002185 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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| RFI Collaboration Opportunity Notice for Parties Interested in Partnering with NETL on FOA No. DE-FOA-0002289 Apply for DE FOA 0002341 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002341 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Integrated University Program (IUP) Nuclear Engineering Consortium for Nonproliferation Apply for DE FOA 0002264 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002264 Agency: Department of Energy, NNSA Category: Energy Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
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