Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001643
The Department of Energy, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory, offered this discretionary grant funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001643) to support analytical studies that map, characterize, and evaluate how a coordinated, multi-state approach could strengthen energy innovation. The central idea is to examine whether an integrated regional strategy, built around a "regional energy innovation ecosystem," can accelerate the development and deployment of innovative energy technologies more effectively than a typical state-by-state or organization-by-organization approach. To qualify as a region under this opportunity, applicants had to propose a minimum of three contiguous states, emphasizing a shared geography where economic ties, infrastructure, and energy markets may naturally overlap.
The studies funded under this opportunity were expected to produce data-driven insights, not just high-level planning concepts. DOE was looking for rigorous analysis that draws on quantitative and qualitative information, including direct input from current and potential ecosystem participants such as universities, national or private labs, startups, established energy companies, utilities, investors, workforce organizations, incubators and accelerators, and public-sector partners. A key expectation was that the assessment would identify concrete ways a coordinated regional strategy could deliver outcomes that "business as usual" would be unlikely to achieve, such as reducing fragmentation, filling capability gaps, improving technology commercialization pathways, and aligning policy, financing, and infrastructure decisions across state lines.
In terms of goals, the opportunity emphasized practical, economy-linked benefits from energy innovation. Applicants were expected to analyze how a regional ecosystem strategy could promote affordable and reliable energy technologies while also supporting job creation, higher levels of entrepreneurship, increased venture activity and financing, and broader economic growth and prosperity. Rather than focusing solely on research, these assessments were meant to connect innovation assets to commercialization and deployment realities, clarifying how ideas move from labs and pilot projects into scaled market adoption within a region.
DOE also framed these studies as a way to inform national priorities. Beyond regional economic benefits, the resulting analyses were intended to help DOE understand how regional innovation strategies might contribute to energy security, U.S. economic competitiveness, and environmental responsibility. In other words, the deliverables were not only meant to guide local leaders, but also to give DOE evidence about whether regional coordination is a useful tool for meeting federal-level energy and climate objectives.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a grant opportunity under CFDA 81.250, categorized under energy, environment, and science and technology research and development. Eligible applicants were broad and included state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified). The FOA was created on December 28, 2016, with an original closing date of February 28, 2017. DOE anticipated making about four awards, with an award ceiling of $200,000 per award, indicating that the agency was funding targeted assessment and planning analytics rather than large-scale implementation projects.Apply for DE FOA 0001643
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Energy Technology Innovation Ecosystems Characterization Assessments" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.250.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 28, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2017. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001643) about?
This Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity, administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), supported analytical studies that map, characterize, and evaluate whether a coordinated, multi-state approach can strengthen energy innovation. The focus was on understanding if an integrated regional strategy, organized as a "regional energy innovation ecosystem," can accelerate development and deployment of innovative energy technologies more effectively than a typical state-by-state or organization-by-organization approach.
What is meant by a "regional energy innovation ecosystem" in this FOA?
In this opportunity, a regional energy innovation ecosystem refers to an integrated, multi-state network of participants and assets involved in energy innovation. The studies were expected to examine how coordinated relationships among entities such as universities, labs, startups, established companies, utilities, investors, workforce organizations, incubators/accelerators, and public-sector partners could improve commercialization and deployment outcomes across state lines.
What qualifies as a "region" under this opportunity?
To qualify as a region, applicants had to propose a minimum of three contiguous states. The FOA emphasized shared geography where economic ties, infrastructure, and energy markets may naturally overlap.
Why did DOE require at least three contiguous states?
The opportunity was built around testing whether multi-state coordination can achieve outcomes that are difficult under fragmented, single-state approaches. Requiring at least three contiguous states was intended to encourage proposals grounded in real-world cross-border connections like shared infrastructure, overlapping energy markets, and regional economic linkages.
Was this funding meant for research projects or implementation of technology?
The funding was aimed at analytical assessments and data-driven studies, not large-scale implementation projects. The award ceiling ($200,000 per award) indicates DOE was supporting targeted assessment and planning analytics rather than major deployment or construction activities.
What kinds of deliverables was DOE expecting from funded studies?
DOE expected rigorous, data-driven insights rather than high-level planning concepts. Studies were expected to analyze and document how a coordinated regional strategy could deliver concrete outcomes beyond "business as usual," such as reducing fragmentation, filling capability gaps, improving commercialization pathways, and aligning policy, financing, and infrastructure decisions across state lines.
Did DOE require stakeholder input as part of the analysis?
Yes. DOE expected the analysis to draw on quantitative and qualitative information, including direct input from current and potential ecosystem participants. Examples listed in the FOA included universities, national or private labs, startups, established energy companies, utilities, investors, workforce organizations, incubators and accelerators, and public-sector partners.
What types of outcomes were these studies supposed to identify?
The assessments were expected to identify concrete ways a coordinated regional strategy could outperform a typical fragmented approach. Examples included reducing fragmentation, filling capability gaps, improving technology commercialization pathways, and aligning decisions related to policy, financing, and infrastructure across multiple states.
What economic impacts did DOE want applicants to analyze?
The opportunity emphasized practical, economy-linked benefits from energy innovation. Applicants were expected to analyze how a regional ecosystem strategy could support affordable and reliable energy technologies while also promoting job creation, higher levels of entrepreneurship, increased venture activity and financing, and broader economic growth and prosperity.
How did DOE want the studies to treat commercialization and deployment?
Rather than focusing solely on research activity, the assessments were intended to connect innovation assets to commercialization and deployment realities. DOE wanted studies that clarify how ideas move from labs and pilot projects into scaled market adoption within a region.
How would the results be used beyond the region itself?
DOE framed the studies as informing national priorities as well as regional decision-making. The analyses were intended to help DOE evaluate whether regional coordination contributes to energy security, U.S. economic competitiveness, and environmental responsibility, providing evidence relevant to federal-level energy and climate objectives.
Which DOE office administered this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 81.250.
How was this opportunity categorized?
It was categorized under energy, environment, and science and technology research and development.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were broad and included: state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified).
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about four awards under this opportunity.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $200,000 per award.
When was the FOA created, and what was the closing date?
The FOA was created on December 28, 2016, and had an original closing date of February 28, 2017.
What made an application responsive to DOE's intent?
Based on the FOA description, a responsive application would propose an eligible region (at least three contiguous states) and commit to a rigorous, evidence-based assessment that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative inputs, including stakeholder engagement. The study would need to identify specific, practical advantages of regional coordination over "business as usual," especially in commercialization, deployment, and cross-state alignment of key decisions.
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