U.S. DOE Releases Funding Opportunity Announcement for Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Development
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (the "DOE") released the long-awaited Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Announcement ("FOA") titled "Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Readiness Advancement Initiative." Federal funding for this initiative for fiscal year 2010 is expected to be up to $15.36 million, with the possibility of continued funding at, or near, that level for up to an additional two years. (Because all federal funding is subject to annual appropriations, these figures should be treated as estimates.)
The DOE has recognized that marine hydrokinetic ("MHK") technologies can provide renewable, environmentally responsible, and predictable baseload electricity to load centers along the nation's coastlines. And to help accelerate the development and deployment of these technologies, the DOE intends to advance the technological and operational readiness of MHK systems and components across a range of technology readiness levels ("TRLs") through this Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Although TRLs have been used for years by both NASA and the Department of Defense to develop advanced, mission-critical systems, this is the first time TRLs have been used by the DOE to assess the technological readiness of new renewable energy technologies. Recognizing that MHK devices and components are still largely in the early stages of research and development, the DOE has adopted a simplified TRL structure for purposes of this Funding Opportunity Announcement. The DOE is seeking applications in two topic areas: (1) MHK Technologies Concept Development (TRLs 1-3) and (2) MHK Technology Readiness Level Advancement (TRLs 4-9).
Funding will be made available in each topic area for both "systems" and "components." The DOE organized and grouped the TRLs into four discrete funding categories:
- Discovery / Concept Definition / Early Stage Development, Design and Engineering (TRL 1-3);
- Proof of Concept (TRL 4);
- System Integration and Technology Laboratory Demonstration (TRL 5/6); and
- Open Water System Testing, Demonstration, and Operation (TRL 7/8).
Each category has prescribed funding levels and project performance periods. A brief summary of the expected number of awards in each topic area and the associated expected federal funding is included below. For a complete funding breakdown for systems and components, see the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
| Topic Area | Period of Performance | Expected Number of Awards | Total Estimated Federal Funding | Estimated FY 2010 Federal Funding |
|
MHK Technologies Concept Development (TRLs 1-3) |
12 months |
8 (4 systems, 4 components) |
$1.6M | $1.6M |
|
MHK Technology Readiness Level Advancement (TRLs 4-9) |
18-36 months (see FOA) |
18 (11 systems, 7 components) |
$36.72M | $13.76M |
Applications are due to DOE by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on June 7, 2010.
REMINDER: Upcoming DOE Funding for Marine Hydrokinetics
On March 11, 2010, I posted a blog about the U.S. Department of Energy's (the "DOE") upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement ("FOA") for hydrokinetic technology development. The DOE issued a Notice of Intent announcing the FOA earlier that week. To access the Notice of Intent, click here, and enter "hydrokinetic" in the search field.
The DOE was expected to issue the FOA by March 31, 2010. This blog is intended as a reminder that all interested parties should make sure they have followed the necessary steps to apply or submit questions regarding the FOA. For official procedures, see the Notice of Intent.
To respond to FOAs, either as an applicant to to submit questions, parties must first be registered with FedConnect. In order to register for FedConnect, a party must:
- Have a Duns and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (a "DUNS Number"). If you do not know your company's DUNS Number or if your company does not have one, you can search for it or request one here; and
- Be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (the "CCR"). If you are not currently registered for the CCR, you can register at the CCR website.
If you are the first person to register in your company for FedConnect, you will need your company's CCR MPIN. If your company is already registered with the CCR, then you can find out who has your CCR MPIN by going to the CCR website and clicking "Search CCR." A company's CCR must be updated annually. To update your company's CCR, visit the CCR renewal website.
NOTE: CCR and FedConnect registration can take at least 21 days to complete. Since the DOE is expecting a quick turnaround on the FOA once it is released, interested parties should begin the registration process as soon as possible.
