Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002437
The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Fiscal Year 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity focused on advancing solar energy through applied research, development, and early-stage commercialization efforts that improve how solar technologies work in real-world systems. Issued by DOE's Golden Field Office, this program emphasizes systems integration and hardware incubation, meaning it is aimed not only at improving individual components, but also at solving practical engineering, interoperability, and deployment challenges that come up when solar hardware is integrated with the electric grid and surrounding energy systems. The assistance mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates more active federal involvement during project execution than a standard grant, often through technical collaboration, milestone review, and shared project management expectations.
This opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002437 and is categorized as "Other" with the funding instrument type explicitly identified as a cooperative agreement. The activity areas span Energy, Opportunity Zone Benefits, and Science and Technology and other Research and Development, signaling that the projects supported may include strong technical R&D components as well as considerations tied to economic development objectives where applicable. The program is associated with CFDA number 81.087, which corresponds to DOE solar energy-related assistance programs.
Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to applicants of any entity type, with the caveat that the final eligibility determination is subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full funding opportunity announcement text. In practice, language like this generally allows participation from a wide range of organizations such as private companies (including startups and manufacturers), universities, national laboratories (when permitted), nonprofits, and state or local governments, as long as they meet any specific requirements outlined in the official notice.
The funding opportunity was created on December 16, 2020, with an original application deadline of March 29, 2021. DOE anticipated making about 15 awards under this program. The award ceiling is listed as $25,000,000, indicating the maximum potential amount for a single award, though actual award sizes typically vary by topic area, project scope, and the structure defined in the full announcement. Overall, the program is designed to accelerate progress in solar technology deployment by supporting work that helps solar hardware and systems operate more efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively when integrated into broader energy infrastructure.Apply for DE FOA 0002437
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Fiscal Year 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program" 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 Dec 16, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 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 $25,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SETO FY 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funding opportunity focused on advancing solar energy through applied research, development, and early-stage commercialization. The emphasis is on improving how solar technologies perform in real-world systems, especially when integrated with the electric grid and surrounding energy systems.
Which DOE office issued this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by DOE's Golden Field Office.
What is the main focus area of the program?
The program emphasizes systems integration and hardware incubation. That means it targets practical engineering, interoperability, and deployment challenges that occur when solar hardware is integrated into broader energy infrastructure, rather than focusing only on improving isolated components.
What types of work does the program support?
Based on the description provided, the program supports applied research, development, and early-stage commercialization efforts that help solar technologies operate more efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively in real-world deployment contexts.
What is the assistance mechanism for this opportunity?
The assistance mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant (in this context)?
A cooperative agreement typically involves more active federal involvement during project execution than a standard grant. The description notes this may include technical collaboration, milestone review, and shared project management expectations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002437.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as "Other," and the funding instrument type is explicitly identified as a cooperative agreement.
What activity areas are associated with this funding opportunity?
The listed activity areas are Energy, Opportunity Zone Benefits, and Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Does the opportunity relate to a specific CFDA number?
Yes. The program is associated with CFDA number 81.087, which corresponds to DOE solar energy-related assistance programs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to applicants of any entity type, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full funding opportunity announcement.
What kinds of organizations might be able to apply under "Unrestricted" eligibility?
The description indicates that, in practice, this can allow participation from a wide range of organizations such as private companies (including startups and manufacturers), universities, national laboratories (when permitted), nonprofits, and state or local governments, as long as they meet any specific requirements in the official notice.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 16, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was March 29, 2021.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 15 awards under this program.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $25,000,000, which represents the maximum potential amount for a single award.
Will every award be for the full $25,000,000?
Not necessarily. The description notes that actual award sizes typically vary by topic area, project scope, and the structure defined in the full funding opportunity announcement.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The program is designed to accelerate progress in solar technology deployment by supporting work that improves the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of solar hardware and systems when integrated into broader energy infrastructure.
Is this program focused only on individual solar components?
No. The stated emphasis is on systems integration and real-world deployment challenges, meaning the program targets how technologies work together within larger systems (including grid integration and surrounding energy systems), not only standalone component improvements.
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