Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003496
This announcement is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), signaling that DOE plans to release a future Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) related to carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion. The planned NOFO is titled "Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment - Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways" and is expected to be issued under DE-FOA-0003495 (the listing also shows an associated opportunity number DE-FOA-0003496 for the NOI record). The NOI itself is strictly informational and DOE is not requesting feedback or public comments on the contents of this notice.
The main purpose of the anticipated NOFO is to fund competitively selected, cost-shared research and development projects that can push CO2 conversion technologies into pilot-scale demonstration. The emphasis is on relatively mature solutions, specifically technologies at high technology readiness levels (generally above TRL 5), meaning the work is expected to go beyond early laboratory proof-of-concept and focus on integrated validation, scaling, and piloting steps that bring a technology closer to deployment. The overall goal is "significant carbon mitigation," so proposed efforts are expected to show credible potential to reduce net CO2 emissions at meaningful scale by converting captured or otherwise sourced CO2 into useful products or stable forms.
DOE highlights three technical pathways as the core focus areas. First, biological pathways generally refer to using microbes, enzymes, or other biological systems to convert CO2 into fuels, chemicals, or materials, often leveraging bioreactors and process conditions that support efficient conversion. Second, catalytic pathways involve chemical or electrochemical processes where catalysts help transform CO2 into value-added products such as carbon monoxide, methanol, hydrocarbons, or other intermediates and end products, typically targeting higher conversion rates, selectivity, energy efficiency, and durability. Third, mineralization pathways focus on converting CO2 into stable carbonate minerals or incorporating CO2 into cementitious materials and aggregates, aiming for long-lived storage and potentially lower-carbon building products. Across all three pathways, the anticipated funding is intended to accelerate technology development specifically at the piloting stage, where engineering integration, operability, robustness, and real-world performance become central.
The funding instrument type identified is a cooperative agreement, which usually indicates substantial involvement by DOE during the project period compared with a standard grant. The activity category is listed under energy, environment, science and technology, and other research and development, and the CFDA/assistance listing number provided is 81.089. The opportunity category is discretionary, and the eligible applicants field is listed as "unrestricted," signaling broad eligibility at the NOI stage; however, the notice clearly states that actual eligibility requirements will be defined in the final NOFO once released.
Several administrative fields in the record are worth interpreting carefully. The "award ceiling" is shown as 2 (without a stated unit in the provided excerpt), and "expected awards" is listed as 0, which is common in early notices where DOE is not yet committing to a final funding amount or number of selections until the formal NOFO is published. The record includes an original closing date of 2025-01-17, which may correspond to the NOI posting timeline or a placeholder in the listing system rather than the final NOFO due date; the binding submission deadlines, application requirements, and review criteria will be in the official NOFO when it is issued. The creation date for this NOI record is 2024-11-14.
In practical terms, this NOI is an early heads-up for organizations working on higher-TRL CO2 conversion approaches that are ready to demonstrate at pilot scale with cost share. If you are tracking this opportunity, the key next step is to watch for publication of DE-FOA-0003495, where DOE will specify topics, required technical and economic performance expectations, cost-share percentages, allowable project structures, deliverables and milestones, and the exact eligibility and submission instructions.Apply for DE FOA 0003496
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOI to Issue Notice of Funding Opportunity DE-FOA-0003495 titled Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment – Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-17. (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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this announcement?
This announcement is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It serves as an advance notice that DOE plans to release a future Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) focused on carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion.
2) Is the NOI itself a funding opportunity I can apply to?
No. The NOI is strictly informational. It is not a request for applications and does not provide the formal application package, submission instructions, or selection criteria. Those details are expected to appear later in the official NOFO.
3) What is the planned title of the future NOFO?
The planned NOFO is titled "Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment - Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways."
4) What funding opportunity number should I watch for?
The NOI indicates the future NOFO is expected to be issued under DE-FOA-0003495. The listing also shows an associated opportunity number DE-FOA-0003496 for the NOI record.
5) Is DOE requesting feedback or public comments on this NOI?
No. The notice states DOE is not requesting feedback or public comments on the contents of the NOI.
6) What is the main purpose of the anticipated NOFO?
The main purpose is to fund competitively selected, cost-shared research and development projects that can advance CO2 conversion technologies into pilot-scale demonstration.
7) What stage of technology development is DOE emphasizing?
DOE emphasizes relatively mature solutions at higher technology readiness levels (generally above TRL 5). That implies work beyond early laboratory proof-of-concept, with attention on integrated validation, scaling, and piloting steps closer to deployment.
8) What does "pilot-scale demonstration" mean in the context of this NOI?
Based on the notice, pilot-scale demonstration refers to the stage where engineering integration, operability, robustness, and real-world performance become central. The anticipated projects are meant to focus on piloting activities rather than early-stage lab research.
9) What is the overall goal DOE is aiming for?
The overall goal is significant carbon mitigation. Proposed efforts are expected to show credible potential to reduce net CO2 emissions at meaningful scale by converting captured or otherwise sourced CO2 into useful products or stable forms.
10) What technical pathways are highlighted in the NOI?
DOE highlights three core technical pathways: biological pathways, catalytic pathways, and mineralization pathways.
11) What are "biological pathways" for CO2 conversion?
Biological pathways generally refer to using microbes, enzymes, or other biological systems to convert CO2 into fuels, chemicals, or materials. This often involves bioreactors and process conditions designed to support efficient conversion.
12) What are "catalytic pathways" for CO2 conversion?
Catalytic pathways involve chemical or electrochemical processes where catalysts help transform CO2 into value-added products (for example, carbon monoxide, methanol, hydrocarbons, or other intermediates and end products). The NOI emphasizes performance aspects such as conversion rates, selectivity, energy efficiency, and durability.
13) What are "mineralization pathways" for CO2 conversion?
Mineralization pathways focus on converting CO2 into stable carbonate minerals or incorporating CO2 into cementitious materials and aggregates. The intent is long-lived storage and potentially lower-carbon building products.
14) What type of funding instrument is identified?
The funding instrument type identified is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by DOE during the project period compared with a standard grant.
15) Are projects expected to be cost-shared?
Yes. The NOI states the anticipated NOFO is intended to fund cost-shared research and development projects.
16) What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is listed as discretionary.
17) What activity categories does this opportunity relate to?
The activity category is listed under energy, environment, science and technology, and other research and development.
18) What is the CFDA/assistance listing number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA/assistance listing number provided is 81.089.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicants field is listed as "unrestricted" at the NOI stage, signaling broad eligibility in this early notice. However, the NOI also states that the actual eligibility requirements will be defined in the final NOFO once released.
20) Does the NOI state how many awards will be made?
The NOI record lists "expected awards" as 0, which is common in early notices where DOE has not yet committed to the number of selections. The final number of awards, if any, is expected to be defined in the NOFO.
21) Does the NOI provide a confirmed maximum award amount?
The record shows an "award ceiling" as 2 (with no unit stated in the provided excerpt). This should be interpreted cautiously because early notices often contain placeholders or incomplete fields. Definitive funding levels are expected to be provided in the NOFO.
22) What is the closing date shown, and is it the real application deadline?
The record includes an original closing date of 2025-01-17. The NOI context suggests this may correspond to the NOI posting timeline or be a placeholder within the listing system rather than the final NOFO due date. The binding submission deadlines will be provided in the official NOFO.
23) When was this NOI record created?
The NOI record creation date is 2024-11-14.
24) What should organizations do now if they are interested?
This NOI functions as an early heads-up. The practical next step is to monitor for the publication of DE-FOA-0003495, where DOE is expected to specify topics, technical and economic performance expectations, cost-share percentages, allowable project structures, deliverables and milestones, eligibility, and submission instructions.
25) What details are not finalized until the NOFO is released?
Based on the NOI, key items expected to be finalized in the NOFO include: specific topic areas, required performance expectations (technical and economic), cost-share percentages, project structure requirements, deliverables and milestones, eligibility requirements, application format, submission instructions, review criteria, and official deadlines.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0003496) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Accelerating CO2 Conversion Technology Development and Deployment – Biological, Catalytic, and Mineralization Pathways Apply for DE FOA 0003495 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003495 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy, Environment, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
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