Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002438
The Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released a funding opportunity focused on pushing carbon-based construction materials from concept to a real, testable prototype building. The central aim is to fund the design work, research and development, validation testing, and ultimately the fabrication of a prototype structure that can prove carbon-based building products are not just technically feasible, but also economically realistic for broader adoption. In plain terms, this opportunity is meant to help teams move beyond lab samples and small demonstrations and into a full prototype that can be evaluated as a building system.
A defining requirement of this program is the material composition target. To qualify as meeting the project objectives, the prototype building must use component building materials that are at least 70 percent carbon by weight, and at least 51 percent of that carbon content (by weight) must be derived from coal. That requirement signals the program's intent to create new, higher-value uses for coal-derived carbon in domestic manufacturing, while also demonstrating performance in a real-world building context. The prototype is expected to serve as proof that these coal-derived, carbon-rich materials can function in building applications with credible performance and cost profiles.
The funding is offered under Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0002438 and is categorized as "Other" for the opportunity type, with a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument. A cooperative agreement generally indicates that DOE anticipates having substantial involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant, which often means closer technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active federal participation in shaping or monitoring project execution. The activity category is Energy, and the associated CFDA number listed is 81.089.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any type of entity, as long as applicants also meet any additional eligibility conditions that may be described in the full FOA text. This typically can include universities, private companies, national laboratories and partners, nonprofits, or consortia, depending on the specific rules and clarifications within the announcement.
On funding scale, the award ceiling is listed as $2,250,000 per award. The announcement also lists an expected number of awards of 50, indicating DOE envisioned supporting a relatively broad pool of projects or project teams, potentially covering different approaches to carbon-based building materials and prototype designs. The FOA was created on December 11, 2020, with an original closing date of January 29, 2021, which places it in a time-bound competitive application window rather than an open, rolling program.
In summary, this FOA is essentially about building and proving: designing and engineering a prototype building that heavily relies on carbon-rich materials, ensuring a majority share of that carbon comes specifically from coal, and then validating both performance and costs in a way that can persuade stakeholders the approach is practical. The end goal is a tangible prototype that demonstrates the technical and economic viability of coal-derived, carbon-based construction materials, helping bridge the gap between materials innovation and real deployment in the building sector.Apply for DE FOA 0002438
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Design, R&D, Validation, and Fabrication of a Prototype Carbon-Based Building" 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 Dec 11, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 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 $2,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 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 main purpose of this DOE NETL funding opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to push carbon-based construction materials beyond early-stage concepts and small demonstrations and into a real, testable prototype building. It supports the work needed to design, develop, validate, and fabricate a prototype structure that can show these materials are both technically feasible and economically realistic for broader adoption.
What is the expected end deliverable of a funded project?
The intended endpoint is a fabricated prototype structure that can be evaluated as a building system. The program emphasizes moving from lab samples to a full prototype building that demonstrates real-world performance and credible cost potential.
What activities does the FOA aim to fund?
The FOA focuses on design work, research and development, validation testing, and the fabrication of a prototype structure. The emphasis is on producing a testable prototype that can demonstrate both performance and economic practicality.
What is the key material composition requirement for the prototype building?
To meet the project objectives, the prototype building must use component building materials that are at least 70 percent carbon by weight.
How much of the carbon content must come from coal?
At least 51 percent of the carbon content (by weight) must be derived from coal.
Why does the FOA require coal-derived carbon?
Based on the program description, the requirement is meant to encourage new, higher-value uses for coal-derived carbon in domestic manufacturing while demonstrating that coal-derived, carbon-rich materials can perform in building applications and do so with a credible cost profile.
Is the goal limited to proving technical feasibility only?
No. The FOA explicitly emphasizes proving both technical feasibility and economic realism, with validation testing and cost credibility positioned as central to persuading stakeholders that the approach is practical.
What is the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number?
The FOA number is DE-FOA-0002438.
Which DOE organization released this opportunity?
The opportunity was released by the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the opportunity type listed for this FOA?
The opportunity type is categorized as "Other."
What funding instrument will DOE use for awards under this FOA?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply about DOE involvement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant. As described, that often means closer technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active federal participation in shaping or monitoring project execution.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number listed is 81.089.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, as long as applicants also meet any additional eligibility conditions that may be described in the full FOA text.
Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply automatically?
The listing states unrestricted eligibility, but it also notes that applicants must meet any additional eligibility conditions that may be included in the full FOA. In practice, that means the FOA text may still include specific requirements or clarifications that applicants must satisfy.
What types of organizations are typically included under unrestricted eligibility?
The description indicates this can typically include universities, private companies, national laboratories and partners, nonprofits, or consortia, depending on the specific rules and clarifications in the announcement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per award?
The award ceiling is listed as $2,250,000 per award.
How many awards were expected under this FOA?
The FOA lists an expected number of awards of 50.
What does the expected number of awards suggest about DOE's approach?
An expected 50 awards suggests DOE envisioned supporting a relatively broad pool of projects or project teams, potentially spanning different approaches to carbon-based building materials and prototype designs.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on December 11, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was January 29, 2021.
Is this a rolling or always-open funding program?
No. The dates provided indicate a time-bound competitive application window (created December 11, 2020, closing January 29, 2021), rather than a rolling or continuously open program.
What is meant by moving from "lab samples" to a "prototype building" in this FOA?
The FOA is framed as a bridge from early-stage materials work (small samples and limited demonstrations) to a full, integrated prototype structure that can be evaluated as a complete building system.
What is the broader outcome DOE wants to demonstrate through the prototype?
The prototype is meant to serve as proof that coal-derived, carbon-rich building materials can work in building applications with credible performance and cost profiles, supporting the case for practical adoption and broader deployment.
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