Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001776
The Fossil Fuel Large-Scale Pilots Request for Information (RFI), identified as DE FOA 0001776, was issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the U.S. Department of Energy umbrella to gather input from industry, researchers, utilities, technology developers, and other stakeholders. Rather than immediately offering funding for projects, this notice is an information-gathering step designed to help the government shape a future program. The overall aim is to build the groundwork for a later effort that would ultimately lead to the design, construction, and operation of two large-scale pilot projects focused on transformational coal technologies.
At the core of the RFI is an interest in coal-based power technologies that would represent a significant departure from conventional approaches. The government is signaling that incremental improvements are not the target; it is looking for concepts that change how energy conversion is done in a way that could deliver a major jump in performance and efficiency while also driving down the cost of electricity relative to existing coal power systems. In practice, this kind of language typically points to next-generation power cycles, advanced combustion or gasification pathways, novel heat integration strategies, high-temperature materials and components, and other system-level innovations that could materially alter cost and efficiency outcomes at scale. The emphasis on "large-scale pilots" also matters: the intention is not just lab or bench validation, but demonstration at a meaningful size where real-world operability, reliability, maintainability, and economics can be tested.
This opportunity is categorized as "Other" rather than a standard grant or cooperative agreement solicitation, which reinforces that it is an RFI and not a commitment to make awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of $0 and no expected number of awards, consistent with an information request rather than a funding announcement. The activity category is Energy, and the associated CFDA number is 81.089, a program identifier commonly used for Department of Energy fossil energy-related assistance listings. Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, indicating that NETL was willing to receive perspectives broadly across sectors, including private companies, universities, national labs, non-profits, utilities, engineering firms, and other interested parties, as long as they could provide relevant insight.
From a program-design standpoint, an RFI like this is typically used to collect practical input on what technologies are most promising, what the major technical and commercial barriers are, what pilot-scale configurations make sense, what level of integration is needed to demonstrate a "step change," and what milestones and performance metrics should be used to evaluate success. Stakeholders may also be asked, implicitly or explicitly, to comment on siting considerations, permitting and environmental compliance issues, integration with existing infrastructure, potential pathways to commercialization, cost-sharing realities, timelines, supply-chain constraints, and risk-reduction strategies. By collecting this information ahead of time, NETL can craft a later solicitation or program plan that better reflects real-world conditions and improves the odds that the pilot projects will be buildable, financeable, and informative at the national level.
Key administrative details in the source data include a creation date of May 25, 2017, and an original closing date of June 14, 2017, meaning stakeholders had a relatively short window to submit feedback. Because the RFI is framed around culminating in two pilots, the long-term vision is a down-selection process where multiple concepts may be evaluated, and two are ultimately chosen for full pilot execution. The central message is that NETL was preparing to invest in coal-related technology demonstrations that could materially outperform existing plants on efficiency and cost, and it used this RFI to solicit the detailed stakeholder input needed to structure that future program effectively.Apply for DE FOA 0001776
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fossil Fuel Large-Scale Pilots Request for Information" 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 2017-05-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Fossil Fuel Large-Scale Pilots RFI (DE FOA 0001776) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is DE FOA 0001776?
DE FOA 0001776 is the Fossil Fuel Large-Scale Pilots Request for Information (RFI) issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is an information-gathering notice intended to collect stakeholder input to help shape a future government program.
2) Is this a funding opportunity or a grant you can apply for?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a funding solicitation. It is designed to gather feedback and does not commit the government to make awards or fund projects.
3) Why does the listing show an award ceiling of $0?
The award ceiling is listed as $0 because this is an information request rather than a grant or cooperative agreement competition. The $0 ceiling is consistent with an RFI that is not making awards.
4) How many awards will be made under this opportunity?
No awards are expected under this RFI. The listing shows no expected number of awards, reflecting that the purpose is to collect input, not to select or fund projects at this stage.
5) What is the main purpose of this RFI?
The purpose is to gather input from industry, researchers, utilities, technology developers, and other stakeholders so NETL/DOE can design a later effort that could lead to the design, construction, and operation of two large-scale pilot projects focused on transformational coal technologies.
6) What kinds of technologies is NETL interested in?
NETL is interested in coal-based power technologies that represent a significant departure from conventional approaches. The RFI emphasizes "transformational" concepts aimed at major performance and efficiency gains and reduced cost of electricity relative to existing coal power systems, rather than incremental improvements.
7) Does the RFI focus on incremental upgrades to existing coal plants?
No. The government is signaling that incremental improvements are not the target. The interest is in concepts that change how energy conversion is done and could produce a step change in performance, efficiency, and cost.
8) What does "large-scale pilots" mean in this context?
"Large-scale pilots" indicates an intent to move beyond lab or bench validation and demonstrate technologies at a meaningful size where operability, reliability, maintainability, and real-world economics can be tested.
9) What outcomes is DOE/NETL trying to achieve with these pilots?
The long-term vision described is to enable coal-related technology demonstrations that could materially outperform existing plants on efficiency and cost. The RFI is a preparatory step toward a future program that would ultimately culminate in two pilot projects.
10) What types of innovations does the RFI language suggest?
Based on the description, the RFI language typically points to next-generation power cycles, advanced combustion or gasification pathways, novel heat integration strategies, high-temperature materials and components, and other system-level innovations that can materially alter cost and efficiency outcomes at scale.
11) Who is issuing the RFI?
The RFI was issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), which operates under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Energy.
12) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
13) What is the CFDA number and what is it for?
The associated CFDA number is 81.089. In the source description, this is identified as a program identifier commonly used for DOE fossil energy-related assistance listings.
14) Who was eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligible applicants were described as unrestricted, meaning NETL was willing to receive perspectives broadly across sectors, including private companies, universities, national labs, non-profits, utilities, engineering firms, and other interested parties able to provide relevant insight.
15) What kind of input is NETL seeking through the RFI?
An RFI like this is typically used to collect practical input on which technologies are most promising, what major technical and commercial barriers exist, what pilot-scale configurations make sense, what level of system integration is needed to demonstrate a step change, and what milestones and performance metrics should be used to evaluate success.
16) Does the RFI address non-technical issues such as siting and permitting?
Yes, the description indicates stakeholders may be asked (implicitly or explicitly) to comment on siting considerations, permitting and environmental compliance issues, integration with existing infrastructure, commercialization pathways, cost-sharing realities, timelines, supply-chain constraints, and risk-reduction strategies.
17) Why does the government use an RFI before launching a funding program?
By collecting input in advance, NETL can craft a later solicitation or program plan that reflects real-world conditions and improves the odds that pilot projects will be buildable, financeable, and nationally informative.
18) What does it mean that the opportunity is categorized as "Other"?
It indicates this notice is not a standard grant or cooperative agreement solicitation. The "Other" category reinforces that this is an RFI and not a commitment to fund projects.
19) When was this RFI created and when did it close?
The creation date was May 25, 2017, and the original closing date was June 14, 2017, giving stakeholders a relatively short window to submit feedback.
20) How many pilot projects is this effort ultimately aiming for?
The long-term aim described is to lead to the design, construction, and operation of two large-scale pilot projects focused on transformational coal technologies.
21) Does this RFI indicate there will be a down-selection process later?
Yes. The description suggests a long-term vision where multiple concepts may be evaluated and two are ultimately chosen for full pilot execution.
22) What is the key takeaway for organizations reading this notice?
The key message is that NETL used this RFI to solicit detailed stakeholder input needed to structure a future program aimed at large-scale coal technology pilots that could substantially improve efficiency and reduce cost of electricity compared to existing coal power systems.
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