Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001987

The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), planned to release a discretionary Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE FOA 0001987). The opportunity is centered on early-stage research and development that improves how solar technologies perform and, just as importantly, how flexibly they can operate as part of a modern electric grid. The overall intent is to help solar contribute to a U.S. grid that is reliable and resilient, meaning it can deliver power consistently during normal operations and continue functioning during disruptions.

A major theme of the FOA is "systems integration" rather than basic solar cell research alone. SETO highlights work that enables higher levels of solar penetration while maintaining grid stability, security, and controllability. That includes technical approaches that make it easier and safer to connect more solar generation to the grid, to better use solar energy across different conditions, and to improve the ability to store and dispatch solar power when it is needed instead of only when the sun is shining. The DOE also frames affordability as a core goal, so projects that reduce the cost of solar electricity or reduce integration-related costs (like interconnection, controls, communications, and operational complexity) align with the purpose of the program.

Resilience and security are also explicit priorities. The description emphasizes strengthening the energy sector against cyber and physical threats, including natural disasters and coordinated disruptions. In practical terms, the FOA points to the value of improving the strategic placement of solar assets and increasing situational awareness of solar systems, which can mean better monitoring, control, and visibility into system status during emergencies. The opportunity also signals interest in innovations that speed the transfer of workable solutions into real-world use, implying an emphasis on approaches that can be adopted and deployed by industry, utilities, and other grid stakeholders to measurably improve energy sector resilience.

From an administrative standpoint, the expected funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period (for example, active collaboration, milestones, and technical direction consistent with DOE practices). The FOA is associated with the Energy funding activity category and CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to a broad range of applicant types (such as companies, universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, state and local governments, and others), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that would have been included in the full FOA text. The issuing agency office is the DOE Golden Field Office.

Key dates and high-level award information provided in the source data include a creation date of October 15, 2018, and an original closing date of December 7, 2018. The listing indicates an expected number of awards of 1 and shows an award ceiling of 1 (as written in the source), which likely reflects the way the summary fields were captured rather than a typical dollar ceiling, since the ceiling is not presented with a currency value here. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused DOE SETO effort to fund R&D that makes solar a stronger, more controllable, more secure grid resource, with particular attention to integration, storage/dispatch enablement, cost reduction, and resilience against cyber, physical, and natural hazards.

  • The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Oct 15, 2018.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 07, 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 $1.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.
Apply for DE FOA 0001987

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies (DE FOA 0001987)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The planned Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is titled "Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies".

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0001987.

3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

4) Which DOE offices are involved?

The opportunity is issued through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).

5) What is the main purpose of this FOA?

The FOA is centered on early-stage research and development (R&D) to improve how solar technologies perform and how flexibly they can operate as part of a modern electric grid. The overall intent is to support a U.S. grid that is reliable and resilient.

6) What does "systems integration" mean in the context of this FOA?

"Systems integration" emphasizes work that helps solar operate effectively within the broader power system, not only improvements to solar cells or modules. The focus is on enabling higher levels of solar on the grid while maintaining stability, security, and controllability.

7) What kinds of technical outcomes is DOE looking for?

The description highlights R&D that can:

  • Enable higher solar penetration while preserving grid stability.
  • Make it easier and safer to connect more solar generation to the grid.
  • Improve the ability to use solar energy across varying conditions.
  • Support improved storage and dispatch so solar power can be delivered when needed, not only when the sun is shining.

8) How important is grid reliability and resilience to this FOA?

Reliability and resilience are core drivers. The FOA frames success as helping the grid deliver power consistently during normal operations and continue functioning during disruptions.

9) Does the FOA address cybersecurity and physical security?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly prioritizes strengthening the energy sector against cyber and physical threats, including natural disasters and coordinated disruptions.

10) What does the FOA mean by improving "situational awareness" of solar systems?

In practical terms, the FOA points to improving visibility into system status during emergencies through better monitoring, control, and system visibility.

11) Does the opportunity emphasize affordability and cost reduction?

Yes. Affordability is described as a core goal, including efforts that reduce the cost of solar electricity or lower integration-related costs such as interconnection, controls, communications, and operational complexity.

12) Is this FOA focused on early-stage research, deployment, or both?

The FOA is described as focusing on early-stage R&D. At the same time, it signals interest in innovations that speed the transfer of workable solutions into real-world use, implying an emphasis on approaches that can be adopted by industry and grid stakeholders.

13) What is the expected funding instrument for awards?

The expected funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

14) What does a cooperative agreement generally imply for project management?

The description notes that a cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period, such as active collaboration, milestones, and technical direction consistent with DOE practices.

15) What is the funding activity category?

The opportunity is associated with the Energy funding activity category.

16) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 81.087.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad range of applicant types (for example, companies, universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, and state/local governments), subject to any additional eligibility details that would have appeared in the full FOA text.

18) Which DOE office is identified as the issuing office?

The issuing agency office is the DOE Golden Field Office.

19) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The listing shows a creation date of October 15, 2018 and an original closing date of December 7, 2018.

20) How many awards were expected?

The source data indicates an expected number of awards: 1.

21) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 1 as written in the source. The summary also notes this likely reflects how the fields were captured rather than a typical dollar ceiling, since no currency value is provided.

22) What are the main priority areas emphasized by the opportunity?

Based on the description, the main priorities include:

  • Solar systems integration with the modern electric grid
  • Grid stability, security, and controllability at higher solar penetration levels
  • Storage and dispatch enablement for solar as a flexible resource
  • Cost reduction, including integration-related costs
  • Resilience against cyber, physical, and natural hazards
  • Faster transfer of solutions into real-world adoption

23) Is this FOA primarily about improving solar panels or improving grid operations with solar?

The emphasis is on improving how solar operates as a grid resource (systems integration), rather than focusing only on basic solar cell or panel research.

24) What does the FOA say about the strategic placement of solar assets?

The description references the value of improving the strategic placement of solar assets as part of strengthening resilience and security.

25) What is the overarching goal for solar in the power system under this FOA?

The opportunity is best understood as a focused effort to fund R&D that makes solar a stronger, more controllable, and more secure grid resource, with attention to integration, dispatch enablement, cost reduction, and resilience.

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