Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002378
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), released a Fiscal Year 2021 funding opportunity focused on advancing Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies. The overall intent of the program is to fund innovative research and development that meaningfully reduces the cost of solar energy while pushing forward next-generation technologies that are close to being ready for commercialization. In practical terms, this FOA is designed to move solar innovations out of the lab and closer to real-world deployment by supporting work that improves performance, reliability, manufacturability, and grid value.
A central theme of the opportunity is alignment with national decarbonization goals: SETO frames its mission around supporting an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a broader decarbonized energy sector by 2050. The FOA positions solar technology innovation as a key lever for addressing climate change while also emphasizing that the economic and societal benefits of the clean energy transition should be broadly shared. That equity-focused framing suggests an interest not only in technical breakthroughs, but also in solutions that can scale and deliver benefits across different communities and regions.
Although the title highlights PV and CSP, SETO’s broader portfolio is described as spanning five interconnected areas: photovoltaics, concentrating solar-thermal power, systems integration, manufacturing and competitiveness, and soft costs. The funding announcement underscores that improving solar affordability and reliability depends on more than the solar devices themselves. It also depends on how systems connect to and support the electric grid (systems integration), whether innovations can be produced at scale with strong domestic supply chains (manufacturing and competitiveness), and whether non-hardware barriers like permitting, interconnection, financing, and customer acquisition can be reduced (soft costs). The stated outcome is solar that is more affordable, more reliable, and more beneficial domestically as a grid resource.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002378 and is administered by the Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office. Awards are expected to be issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the project period (for example, regular technical reporting, active project management, and collaboration with DOE on milestones). The program anticipated making around 54 awards, with an award ceiling of $5,000,000 per project, indicating a mix of project sizes could be supported while still allowing for relatively substantial R&D efforts.
Eligibility is broad and includes many categories of applicants: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); small businesses; and even individuals. This wide eligibility suggests DOE was aiming to attract proposals from across the innovation ecosystem, including universities, national and regional partners, startups and established companies, community-linked entities, and governmental organizations capable of demonstration or deployment-oriented work.
Key dates listed for the FOA include a creation date of April 14, 2021, and an original closing date of June 24, 2021. The opportunity is categorized under the energy funding activity area (CFDA 81.087) and is also tagged with “Opportunity Zone Benefits,” indicating that DOE may have been signaling interest in projects that could align with investment and development benefits in designated Opportunity Zones, depending on the specific rules and interpretation in the full FOA.
Taken together, this FOA is essentially a DOE SETO investment vehicle for accelerating solar innovation, with a strong emphasis on cost reduction, commercialization readiness, and grid-relevant improvements. It invites a wide range of applicants to propose R&D and related efforts that strengthen PV and CSP technology pathways while supporting the larger goals of rapid decarbonization and equitable access to the benefits of clean energy.Apply for DE FOA 0002378
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE FISCAL YEAR 2021 FUNDING PROGRAM Photovoltaics and Concentrating Solar Power" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 14, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 24, 2021. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 54 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). It is a Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on advancing Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies through innovative research and development (R&D).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002378.
Which DOE office is administering the opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the Department of Energy's Golden Field Office.
What is the main goal of the FOA?
The overall intent is to fund innovative R&D that meaningfully reduces the cost of solar energy while advancing next-generation PV and CSP technologies that are close to being ready for commercialization.
What does DOE mean by moving innovations "out of the lab"?
Based on the description, the FOA is designed to support work that pushes solar innovations toward real-world deployment. That includes improvements in performance, reliability, manufacturability, and the value solar provides to the electric grid.
What types of solar technologies are included?
The FOA highlights Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). It also reflects SETO's broader portfolio areas connected to these technologies and their deployment.
What are SETO's broader portfolio areas mentioned in the opportunity?
SETO's portfolio is described as spanning five interconnected areas:
- Photovoltaics
- Concentrating solar-thermal power
- Systems integration
- Manufacturing and competitiveness
- Soft costs
Does the opportunity focus only on solar devices (panels/collectors), or also on deployment barriers?
It is not limited to device-level advances. The FOA emphasizes that solar affordability and reliability depend on more than the devices themselves, including grid connection and support (systems integration), scalable production and supply chains (manufacturing and competitiveness), and non-hardware barriers (soft costs) such as permitting, interconnection, financing, and customer acquisition.
What outcomes is DOE aiming for through this FOA?
The stated outcome is solar that is more affordable, more reliable, and more beneficial domestically as a grid resource, supported by improvements in technology performance, manufacturability, and reductions in non-hardware barriers.
How does this FOA align with U.S. decarbonization goals?
SETO frames the mission around supporting an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a broader decarbonized energy sector by 2050. Solar innovation is positioned as an important lever for addressing climate change while expanding the economic and societal benefits of the clean energy transition.
Is equity explicitly part of the framing for this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity description emphasizes an equitable transition and notes that benefits of the clean energy transition should be broadly shared, suggesting interest in solutions that can scale and deliver benefits across different communities and regions.
What type of award instrument is expected?
Awards are expected to be issued as cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
The description notes that cooperative agreements typically mean DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the project period, such as regular technical reporting, active project management, and collaboration with DOE on milestones.
How many awards were anticipated?
The FOA anticipated making around 54 awards.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling is listed as $5,000,000 per project.
Does the FOA suggest a range of project sizes?
Yes. The combination of an anticipated ~54 awards and a $5,000,000 per-project ceiling indicates that a mix of project sizes could be supported while still enabling substantial R&D efforts.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes the following categories:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Individuals
Does this opportunity allow applications from businesses, including startups and larger companies?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) as well as small businesses, indicating both startups and established companies could be eligible.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are explicitly included, and Indian housing authorities are also listed.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the eligibility list.
What are the key dates shown for the FOA?
The FOA lists a creation date of April 14, 2021 and an original closing date of June 24, 2021.
What is the funding activity area and CFDA number?
The opportunity is categorized under the energy funding activity area and lists CFDA 81.087.
What does the "Opportunity Zone Benefits" tag mean here?
The FOA is tagged with "Opportunity Zone Benefits," indicating DOE may have been signaling interest in projects that could align with investment and development benefits in designated Opportunity Zones, depending on the specific rules and interpretation in the full FOA.
What kinds of improvements does the FOA emphasize for PV and CSP?
The description emphasizes improvements that help technologies approach commercialization and real-world deployment, including performance, reliability, manufacturability, and grid value.
Why does the FOA mention systems integration?
It highlights that reducing solar cost and increasing reliability depends on how solar systems connect to and support the electric grid, not just on the core solar technology components.
Why does the FOA mention manufacturing and competitiveness?
It points to the importance of producing innovations at scale and strengthening domestic supply chains so that successful technologies can be manufactured and deployed broadly.
What are "soft costs" in the context of this FOA?
Soft costs are described as non-hardware barriers such as permitting, interconnection, financing, and customer acquisition. The FOA underscores that lowering these costs is part of improving overall solar affordability and deployment readiness.
In one sentence, how would you summarize what this FOA is trying to fund?
It is a DOE SETO investment aimed at accelerating PV and CSP innovations toward commercialization by reducing cost and improving performance, reliability, manufacturability, grid value, and deployment readiness, while supporting decarbonization and equitable access to clean energy benefits.
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