Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001921
This opportunity, titled "Performance Improvements for Steam Based Power Cycles for Coal Boilers" (DE FOA 0001921), was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the Fossil Energy program. It is not a standard grant competition for immediate project awards; instead, it is a Request for Information (RFI) intended to collect input from industry, researchers, equipment manufacturers, utilities, and other stakeholders on research and development (R&D) directions that could measurably improve the performance of steam-based power cycles used with coal-fired boilers. The broader goal behind the RFI is to identify R&D pathways that increase steam turbine and cycle efficiency, which in turn can reduce the cost of electricity and lower emissions on a per-megawatt-hour basis, while also improving the operational flexibility of coal units.
DOE highlights three technical focus areas where it wants specific, actionable ideas. The first area is advanced manufacturing aimed at better maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for steam turbines. In practical terms, this covers R&D that could reduce downtime, lower refurbishment costs, improve component life, and enhance reliability through methods such as improved fabrication techniques, advanced materials processing, additive manufacturing, faster or higher-quality repair approaches, improved coatings, or other manufacturing innovations that make turbine servicing more effective. The emphasis is on methods that translate into real plant benefits, such as shorter outages, higher availability, and restored or improved turbine performance over time.
The second area is steam turbine development for advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) conditions. This topic reflects DOE interest in turbines capable of operating at much higher steam temperatures and pressures than conventional units, because higher steam conditions generally enable higher thermal efficiency. Achieving A-USC operation typically requires advances in turbine design, high-temperature materials, manufacturing and joining methods, and long-term durability strategies that can withstand more aggressive operating environments. Stakeholder input is meant to help DOE understand where the key technical barriers remain, what R&D would have the biggest impact, and what development steps could lead to commercially relevant turbines that perform reliably under these advanced conditions.
The third area is steam cycle augmentation for coal-fueled boilers, specifically to improve load following and enable energy storage options. This reflects the changing grid environment, where generators are increasingly expected to ramp output up and down more quickly and operate flexibly alongside variable renewable generation. DOE is seeking concepts that help coal plants respond more dynamically to demand while maintaining efficiency and controlling wear-and-tear. Augmentation approaches could include cycle modifications, integration of thermal energy storage, or other methods that allow a unit to shift energy, smooth operation, or support ramping without excessive penalties in heat rate or maintenance costs. The underlying objective is to give existing and future coal units more operational tools to meet grid needs, not just to run at steady baseload conditions.
Administratively, the RFI falls under the Energy funding activity category (CFDA 81.089) and lists eligibility as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full text. Responses were required to be submitted electronically as a PDF to DE-FOA-0001921@NETL.DOE.GOV, with the deadline set for 8:00 PM Eastern Time on June 4, 2018. Although the posting includes fields like an award ceiling and expected awards, the substance of the announcement is clearly framed as information gathering rather than a solicitation for immediate funding selections, with the intent that the collected input would inform DOE's future R&D planning or potential later funding opportunities focused on higher-efficiency, lower-emission, and more flexible steam power cycle technologies for coal boilers.Apply for DE FOA 0001921
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Performance Improvements for Steam Based Power Cycles for Coal Boilers" 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 May 04, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 04, 2018 Responses to this Request for Information are to be submitted electronically in Adobe Acrobat PDF to NETL at the following e-mail address DE-FOA-0001921@NETL.DOE.GOV no later than 800 PM ET on June 4, 2018.. (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 (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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FAQs: Performance Improvements for Steam Based Power Cycles for Coal Boilers (DE-FOA-0001921)
1) What is DE-FOA-0001921?
DE-FOA-0001921 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) opportunity titled "Performance Improvements for Steam Based Power Cycles for Coal Boilers." It was issued through DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the Fossil Energy program.
2) Is this a grant solicitation for immediate project awards?
No. Based on the announcement details provided, this opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI). The purpose is to gather input to inform DOE's research and development (R&D) planning and potential future funding opportunities, not to select projects for immediate award under this posting.
3) What is an RFI in this context?
In this context, an RFI is an information-gathering request. DOE is seeking ideas and feedback from stakeholders on R&D directions that could improve steam-based power cycles used with coal-fired boilers.
4) What is the main goal of the RFI?
The main goal is to identify R&D pathways that measurably improve steam turbine and cycle efficiency for coal boiler applications. DOE indicates that higher efficiency can reduce the cost of electricity and lower emissions on a per-megawatt-hour basis, while also improving operational flexibility of coal units.
5) Who issued this RFI?
The RFI was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the Fossil Energy program.
6) Who is the RFI intended for?
DOE is seeking input from industry, researchers, equipment manufacturers, utilities, and other stakeholders with relevant expertise in steam turbines, steam cycles, coal boiler power generation, and related technologies.
7) What are the technical focus areas DOE highlights?
DOE highlights three areas for specific, actionable ideas: (1) advanced manufacturing for steam turbine maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO), (2) steam turbine development for advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) conditions, and (3) steam cycle augmentation for coal-fueled boilers to improve load following and enable energy storage options.
8) What does DOE mean by "advanced manufacturing" for turbine MRO?
This focus area covers R&D that could improve maintenance, repair, and overhaul of steam turbines, including approaches that reduce downtime, lower refurbishment costs, improve component life, and enhance reliability. Examples mentioned include improved fabrication techniques, advanced materials processing, additive manufacturing, faster or higher-quality repair methods, improved coatings, and other manufacturing innovations that make turbine servicing more effective.
9) What types of plant benefits is DOE looking for under the MRO focus area?
The RFI emphasizes tangible plant benefits such as shorter outages, higher availability, improved reliability, and restored or improved turbine performance over time.
10) What is the A-USC steam turbine development focus area about?
This area centers on turbines capable of operating at advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) steam temperatures and pressures, which are higher than conventional conditions. DOE is interested because higher steam conditions generally enable higher thermal efficiency.
11) What kinds of R&D needs are associated with A-USC turbine operation?
As described, A-USC operation typically requires advances in turbine design, high-temperature materials, manufacturing and joining methods, and long-term durability strategies to withstand more aggressive operating environments.
12) What input is DOE seeking related to A-USC turbines?
DOE is seeking stakeholder perspectives on where key technical barriers remain, what R&D would have the biggest impact, and what development steps could lead to commercially relevant turbines that perform reliably under A-USC conditions.
13) What does "steam cycle augmentation" mean in this RFI?
Within the RFI, steam cycle augmentation refers to concepts or modifications for coal-fueled boiler steam cycles that improve load following and enable energy storage options, helping coal units operate more flexibly in a changing grid environment.
14) Why is DOE interested in load following and flexibility for coal units?
DOE notes that generators increasingly need to ramp output up and down more quickly and operate flexibly alongside variable renewable generation. The RFI seeks concepts that help coal plants respond dynamically while maintaining efficiency and limiting wear-and-tear.
15) What kinds of augmentation concepts are in scope?
The RFI indicates potential approaches could include cycle modifications, integration of thermal energy storage, or other methods that allow a unit to shift energy, smooth operation, or support ramping without excessive heat-rate penalties or maintenance cost increases.
16) What is the intended outcome of the augmentation focus area?
The objective is to provide operational tools for existing and future coal units so they can meet grid needs beyond steady baseload operation, while supporting improved efficiency and manageable maintenance impacts.
17) What is the CFDA number and funding activity category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Energy funding activity category with CFDA 81.089.
18) Who was eligible to respond?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full RFI text.
19) How were responses required to be submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted electronically as a PDF via email.
20) What email address was used for submissions?
Submissions were directed to: DE-FOA-0001921@NETL.DOE.GOV
21) What was the submission deadline?
The deadline was 8:00 PM Eastern Time on June 4, 2018.
22) Does the posting include award amounts or number of awards?
The posting includes fields such as an award ceiling and expected awards, but the substance of the announcement is framed as an information-gathering RFI rather than a solicitation for immediate funding selections.
23) What does DOE plan to do with the information collected?
Based on the description provided, DOE intended to use the collected input to inform future R&D planning and potentially shape later funding opportunities focused on higher-efficiency, lower-emission, and more flexible steam power cycle technologies for coal boilers.
24) What performance improvements is DOE trying to enable overall?
Across all three focus areas, DOE is looking for R&D directions that can increase steam turbine and cycle efficiency, reduce cost of electricity, lower emissions per megawatt-hour, and improve operational flexibility for coal-based steam power systems.
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