The Solar-thermal Fuels and Thermal Energy Storage via Concentrated Solar funding opportunity seeks to reduce costs and advance technology of concentrated solar thermal power for thermal energy storage and other uses, including industrial decarbonization.
Solar Energy Technologies Office
September 21, 2023
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***This webpage was updated December 21, 2023 to reflect a deadline extension for applications.***
Office: Solar Energy Technologies Office
FOA Number: DE-FOA-0003080
Link to Apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $30 million
On September 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the FY23 Solar-thermal Fuels and Thermal Energy Storage Via Concentrated Solar-thermal Energy funding opportunity (FOA). This FOA will award up to $30 million for research, development, and demonstration projects in thermochemical storage via solar fuel production and local thermal energy storage (TES) for dispatchable energy.
This opportunity will help advance the goals of achieving carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and to deliver an equitable, clean energy future to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050.
This announcement focuses on concentrating solar-thermal energy for electricity and other uses. Projects funded by this opportunity will accelerate the development of solar-thermal energy storage for fuels, other industrial applications, and power production. Learn more about the use of solar-thermal power in industrial processes.
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the goals of three DOE Energy Earthshots: Industrial Heat Shot, Long Duration Storage Shot, and Clean Fuels & Products Shot, which aim to rapidly advance solutions to achieve our decarbonization goals.
DOE anticipates making approximately eight to 15 awards under this FOA ranging from $750,000 to $10 million. SETO encourages diverse teams from universities, nonprofit and for-profit companies, state and local governments, and Tribal Nations to apply.
Topic Areas
Topic Area 1: Solar-thermal Fuel Production – 4-8 projects, $750,000-10 million each
Projects in this topic area will support research, development, and demonstration applications to produce fuels synthesized using CST-generated heat potentially supported by green electricity. The goal is to enable cost-effective production of hydrogen, ammonia, liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and solid fuels.
Topic Area 2: Concentrating Solar-thermal Energy Storage – 4-8 projects, $750,000-10 million each
This topic area will support technology development for thermal energy storage systems which can be driven by concentrated solar thermal energy input. The projects may be for electricity production (CSP) or other specified Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) applications such as industrial process heat, chemical production, or fuel production.
Webinar
SETO will host an informational webinar on October 16 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the funding opportunity and the areas of focus. Register for the webinar.
Key Dates
FOA Issue Date: | 09/21/2023 |
Informational Webinar: | 10/16/2023 at 1 p.m. ET |
Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: | 11/03/2023 at 5 p.m. ET |
Submission Deadline for Full Applications: | 02/01/2024 at 5 p.m. ET |
Expected Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments: | 03/14/2024 at 5 p.m. ET |
Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications: | 05/15/2024 |
Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations: | Summer 2024 |
Additional Information
- Download the full funding opportunity on the EERE Exchange website.
- For FOA-specific support, contact [email protected]
- Learn more about SETO’s Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) research and CSP’s use in industrial processes.
- Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities.
- Sign up for the SETO newsletter to stay current with the latest solar office news.