Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003139
DE-FOA-0003139 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) funding opportunity focused on large, real-world demonstrations of Distributed Energy Systems (DES) on electric distribution grids. The main purpose is to fund a small portfolio of projects that can prove, at meaningful scale, that distributed energy resources (DERs) can be aggregated and coordinated in ways that deliver reliable, predictable grid services and clear financial value. OCED is looking for evidence that these approaches work across different distribution grid topologies, different mixes of resources, and different ownership and business models, so that utilities, communities, and market actors can replicate what is demonstrated rather than treat each project as a one-off.
A central theme of the FOA is validating that coordinated DERs can function as a dependable grid asset, not just an add-on. Projects are expected to show that when technologies like solar, storage, flexible loads, and other grid-edge resources are integrated and controlled together, they can support distribution system performance under challenging conditions, including high penetrations of variable renewable generation and the presence of flexible load assets. Beyond technical performance, the FOA emphasizes building confidence in the full package of solutions needed for replication, including system design choices, operational control strategies, and compensation mechanisms that make participation and long-term operation economically workable.
OCED is making about $50 million in federal funding available under a single topic area that solicits proposals to demonstrate Distributed Energy Systems. DOE anticipates making up to four awards, with individual federal awards ranging from $10 million to $25 million. Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, in technical direction, milestones, and oversight). Each project must provide at least a 50 percent non-federal cost share, reflecting the program’s intent that awardees and partners have significant financial commitment and that the demonstrations are positioned for real deployment and sustained operation.
Projects may run for up to 8 years, signaling that DOE expects multi-phase efforts that can include planning, deployment, integration, commissioning, operations, and performance validation over time. The FOA frames these demonstrations as “transformative” and “at-scale,” with the intention of showing system-wide value on actual distribution systems rather than limited pilots. The broader policy context is also explicit: the investments are intended to improve distribution grid reliability, resilience, and cost-effectiveness while supporting national decarbonization goals, including economy-wide net-zero ambitions and power-sector decarbonization targets.
From an application and process standpoint, DOE directs applicants to rely on the full FOA posted on the OCED Funding Opportunity Exchange, and it requires that applicants register and submit all application materials through that OCED Exchange portal (not through other federal grant submission paths). The opportunity was posted October 11, 2023, with an original closing date of February 29, 2024. Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with the expectation that applicants consult the FOA’s eligibility section for the specific entities and partnership structures OCED will accept.Apply for DE FOA 0003139
- The Department of Energy, Headquarters in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0003139 Distributed Energy Systems Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Announcement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.255.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 11, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 29, 2024. (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 $25,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0003103 Apply for DE FOA 0003189 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003189 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent for IEDO Fiscal Year 2024 Cross-Sector Technologies FOA Apply for DE FOA 0003205 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003205 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transmission System Interconnection Roadmap Draft Apply for DE FOA 0003220 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003220 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Addressing Risk and Uncertainty in the Future Power System Apply for DE FOA 0001493 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001493 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $360,000 |
| Gila River Indian Community Renewable Energy Study Apply for BOR LC 16 N006 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N006 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Energy Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Production of Salable Rare Earth Element Materials from Coal and Coal Byproducts Apply for DE FOA 0001627 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001627 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Solicitation for Proposals for Funding From the Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Feasibility Study Program Apply for BIA 000 0004 NABDI Funding Number: BIA 000 0004 NABDI Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Energy and Mineral Development Program Apply for BIA FA EMDP 0008 Funding Number: BIA FA EMDP 0008 Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Solicitation of Proposals to Build Tribal Energy Development Capacity Apply for BIA 000 0009 TEDC Funding Number: BIA 000 0009 TEDC Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) Program – IACs at Trade Schools, Community Colleges, and Union Training Programs; and Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC) Program Apply for DE FOA 0002940 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002940 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $9,000,000 |
| TRANSITIONING TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CLEAN ENERGY - 2023 Apply for DE FOA 0002978 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002978 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2024 Apply for DE FOA 0003158 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003158 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $30,000,000 |
| Request for Information (RFI) on USAID New Energy Activity in Central Asia Apply for 72011524RFI00001 Funding Number: 72011524RFI00001 Agency: Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AT THE INTERFACE OF WIND ENERGY AND RADAR TECHNOLOGY Apply for DE FOA 0003166 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003166 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0003203 To Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0003204 "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Program" Apply for DE FOA 0003203 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003203 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Apply for DE FOA 0003099 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003099 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $300,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue FOA - DE-FOA-0003219: FY24 Energy and Emissions Intensive Industries Apply for DE FOA 0003218 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003218 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) Fiscal Year 2024 Cross-Sector Technologies FOA Apply for DE FOA 0003206 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003206 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Strategies to Increase Hydropower Flexibility Apply for DE FOA 0003103 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003103 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| DE-FOA-0003186: PROGRESSION TO NET-ZERO EMISSION PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE RAIL SECTOR Apply for DE FOA 0003186 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003186 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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