Performance Improvements for Steam Based Power Cycles for Coal Boilers | DE FOA 0001921

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.

• 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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