Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003289
The Fiscal Year 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator FOA (DE-FOA-0003289) is a U.S. Department of Energy opportunity run through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and administered by the Golden Field Office. It is designed to put federal funding behind research, development, and demonstration projects that reduce technical and commercial risk in the solar supply chain, with a focus on solar hardware, manufacturing processes, and software products. In practical terms, DOE is looking for work that helps promising solar technologies move from earlier lab validation through prototype and pilot-scale demonstration so they can be manufactured and deployed more confidently and at larger scale. The broader policy purpose is to support national decarbonization goals by accelerating innovations that make clean energy cheaper, easier to deploy, and more reliable.
The funding available under the FOA is up to $39 million total, and DOE expects to make roughly 11 to 23 awards. Individual awards are anticipated to fall in the $1 million to $6 million range, with an award ceiling of $6,000,000. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which usually means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, federal project management, technical reviews, or milestone-based decision points). The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 81.087.
On the technical side, the scope is intentionally broad across solar technology areas and readiness levels. DOE highlights interest in photovoltaics (PV), systems integration topics that help solar operate effectively within the grid and with other energy assets, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). The FOA also explicitly calls out technologies that connect solar with energy storage or electric vehicles, as well as dual-use PV concepts such as agrivoltaics and vehicle-integrated PV. The common thread is de-risking: improving manufacturability, demonstrating performance, validating new processes, and proving out software or enabling tools that remove bottlenecks in deployment.
A notable emphasis is on software and “soft cost” improvements related to permitting. The FOA seeks projects that provide outreach, education, or technology development for software capable of delivering an automated permit review and approval process for rooftop solar PV systems, with or without paired energy storage. This is aimed at streamlining and standardizing permitting workflows that often slow down residential and commercial rooftop adoption. Both for-profit and non-profit entities can apply under this topic, signaling DOE interest in practical, deployable tools that can be adopted by jurisdictions and the solar industry.
Eligibility is open to a range of organization types, including for-profit organizations (including small businesses) and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education as the nonprofit category is phrased in the listing). SETO also encourages for-profit applicants to partner with a diverse mix of institutions such as universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, and Tribal governments, which can strengthen technical capability, broaden impact, and support adoption pathways. Applicants are also pointed to support resources, including free Application Education Services through the American-Made Network and potential engagement with Power Connectors, which can help teams refine plans, connect with expertise, or improve competitiveness.
Timing matters for this FOA because it includes a required pre-application step. A mandatory concept paper must be submitted by July 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time before a full application is allowed. The full application deadline listed for the opportunity is October 7, 2024. The FOA was created on June 6, 2024. Overall, this program is best understood as an incubator-style push to strengthen the domestic solar supply chain and deployment ecosystem by funding projects that prove technical readiness, validate manufacturing approaches, and tackle real-world barriers like permitting automation.Apply for DE FOA 0003289
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator FOA" 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 2024-06-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-07. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 23 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Fiscal Year 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator FOA (DE-FOA-0003289) FAQs
What is the FY 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator FOA?
The Fiscal Year 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0003289, is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program intended to fund research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that reduce technical and commercial risk across the solar energy supply chain.
Which DOE office is running this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and administered by the Golden Field Office.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The core goal is to de-risk promising solar technologies and enabling solutions so they can move from earlier validation through prototype and pilot-scale demonstration, making it easier to manufacture and deploy them at larger scale with greater confidence.
What kinds of projects does DOE want to fund under this FOA?
DOE is looking for projects that reduce technical and commercial risk in the solar supply chain, including work on solar hardware, manufacturing processes, and software products. Common themes include improving manufacturability, demonstrating performance, validating new processes, and proving out software or enabling tools that remove deployment bottlenecks.
Which solar technology areas are included in the scope?
The scope is intentionally broad. DOE highlights interest in photovoltaics (PV), systems integration topics that help solar operate effectively within the grid and alongside other energy assets, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP).
Does the FOA include projects that connect solar with storage or electric vehicles?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out technologies that connect solar with energy storage or electric vehicles.
Are dual-use PV concepts included (like agrivoltaics)?
Yes. The FOA mentions dual-use PV concepts such as agrivoltaics and vehicle-integrated PV.
Is there a focus on permitting and "soft cost" reductions?
Yes. A notable emphasis is on software and soft-cost improvements related to permitting, including projects that support automated permit review and approval workflows for rooftop solar PV systems, with or without paired energy storage.
What is DOE seeking for automated permitting projects?
DOE seeks outreach, education, or technology development for software capable of delivering an automated permit review and approval process for rooftop solar PV systems (with or without paired storage). The intent is to streamline and standardize permitting workflows that can slow residential and commercial rooftop adoption.
How much total funding is available under this FOA?
Up to $39 million total is available under this FOA.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE expects to make roughly 11 to 23 awards.
What is the anticipated award size?
Individual awards are anticipated to fall in the $1 million to $6 million range.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $6,000,000.
What type of funding instrument will DOE use?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as federal project management, technical reviews, and/or milestone-based decision points.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this FOA?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 81.087.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to a range of organization types, including for-profit organizations (including small businesses) and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as described in the listing).
Does DOE encourage partnerships, and if so, with whom?
Yes. SETO encourages for-profit applicants to partner with a diverse mix of institutions such as universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, and Tribal governments to strengthen technical capability, broaden impact, and support adoption pathways.
Are for-profit and non-profit entities both able to apply for the permitting automation topic?
Yes. The FOA signals that both for-profit and non-profit entities can apply under the permitting automation-related topic, reflecting an interest in practical, deployable tools that can be adopted by jurisdictions and the solar industry.
Is there a required pre-application step?
Yes. The FOA includes a mandatory concept paper requirement. A concept paper must be submitted before a full application is allowed.
When is the mandatory concept paper due?
The mandatory concept paper is due July 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
When is the full application deadline?
The full application deadline listed for the opportunity is October 7, 2024.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on June 6, 2024.
What stage of technology development is this FOA designed to support?
In practical terms, DOE is looking to help technologies move from earlier lab validation through prototype and pilot-scale demonstration, supporting readiness for manufacturing and larger-scale deployment.
How does this FOA connect to broader policy goals?
The broader purpose is to support national decarbonization goals by accelerating innovations that make clean energy cheaper, easier to deploy, and more reliable.
Are there any resources mentioned to help applicants prepare or strengthen applications?
Yes. Applicants are pointed to free Application Education Services through the American-Made Network and potential engagement with Power Connectors to refine plans, connect with expertise, or improve competitiveness.
What is the overall program concept (in plain terms)?
This FOA is best understood as an incubator-style push to strengthen the domestic solar supply chain and deployment ecosystem by funding projects that prove technical readiness, validate manufacturing approaches, and tackle real-world barriers like permitting automation.
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| Notice of Intent (NOI) to Issue Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Funding Opportunity Announcement to Advance the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy Apply for DE FOA 0003212 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003212 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $30,000,000 |
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| Fiscal Year 2025 University Reactor Sharing and Outreach Apply for DE FOA 0003313 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003313 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Energy Storage Pilot Demonstrations Apply for DE FOA 0003399 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003399 Agency: Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Fiscal Year 2025 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator Notice of Funding Opportunity Apply for DE FOA 0003459 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003459 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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