Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002828

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and administered by the Golden Field Office, released Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002828 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The central purpose of this opportunity is to tackle practical, real-world deployment barriers that are slowing down wind energy growth in the United States, spanning offshore wind, land-based wind, and distributed wind. In plain terms, DOE is looking to fund projects that move beyond general research and instead help solve specific technical, market, infrastructure, and community-adoption challenges that stand in the way of scaling wind power quickly, reliably, and affordably.

This FOA is explicitly tied to BIL section 41007(b)(1) and fits within the broader federal push to speed up clean energy deployment while lowering the cost of electricity, strengthening domestic innovation, and delivering tangible economic and environmental benefits. DOE frames these investments as part of a government-wide approach to address the climate crisis while also supporting workers and advancing environmental justice. That means the agency is not only interested in whether a technology works, but also whether it can be deployed at scale in ways that are socially acceptable, economically beneficial, and aligned with equitable outcomes for communities affected by energy infrastructure development.

The funding is offered as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, regular technical check-ins, milestones, and collaboration on how the work is executed and validated). The opportunity is categorized under the Energy funding activity and is associated with CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning applicants can generally include a wide range of entity types (such as companies, universities, nonprofits, national labs, state and local entities, and others), although applicants are still expected to follow any specific eligibility clarifications contained in the full FOA.

DOE structured the FOA into four topic areas, each aimed at a different bottleneck in wind deployment. The first topic area focuses on High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) for offshore wind. HVDC systems are increasingly important for moving large quantities of power efficiently over long distances, and offshore wind in particular can require sophisticated transmission solutions to connect far-from-shore generation to onshore load centers. By prioritizing HVDC, DOE is signaling that grid connection and transmission integration are not side issues, but core constraints that can determine how quickly offshore wind can expand.

The second topic area is Advancing Deployment of Distributed (ADD) Wind. Distributed wind generally refers to wind projects deployed near where electricity is used, such as at farms, businesses, industrial sites, or in community-scale settings, rather than only at utility-scale wind plants. This topic area is aimed at reducing the friction that keeps distributed wind from being deployed more widely, which can include technology adaptation, permitting complexity, interconnection hurdles, cost barriers, and the need for better standardized approaches. The underlying idea is that distributed wind can play a meaningful role in local resilience, customer choice, and decarbonization, but only if the remaining “last mile” challenges are solved.

The third topic area, Offshore Wind Energy Social Science Research, emphasizes the human and institutional dimensions of offshore wind development. Social science research in this context often relates to community engagement, stakeholder acceptance, impacts on local economies, workforce considerations, governance and permitting processes, and distribution of benefits and burdens. By dedicating a topic area to social science, DOE is acknowledging that successful offshore wind buildout depends not just on turbines and cables, but also on trust, informed decision-making, and workable processes among communities, regulators, industry, and other stakeholders.

The fourth topic area covers Bat Deterrent Technology Development, reflecting the ongoing need to reduce wildlife impacts associated with land-based wind energy. Bat fatalities at wind facilities are a well-documented concern, and improving deterrent technologies can help projects operate more responsibly while also reducing operational constraints and regulatory risk. This topic area is essentially about developing and improving tools that can be implemented in the field to meaningfully lower bat interactions with turbines, supporting both conservation goals and the continued expansion of wind power.

From a funding and scale perspective, the FOA lists an award ceiling of $8,000,000 and anticipates around 15 awards. The opportunity was created on December 6, 2022, with an original closing date of March 10, 2023. Because DOE expects multiple awards across four topic areas, applicants generally would be competing within their chosen topic area against other teams proposing solutions to the same set of challenges, with selections likely balancing technical merit, feasibility, impact potential, and alignment with program priorities.

Anyone seeking the full requirements, evaluation criteria, topic-specific scope details, and submission instructions would need to consult the complete FOA on DOE’s EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. That full document is where details typically live regarding mandatory concept papers (if required), cost share expectations (if any), teaming rules, formatting requirements, compliance considerations, and the specific deliverables DOE expects under each topic area.

  • The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002828: To Address Key Deployment Challenges for Offshore, Land-Based, and Distributed Wind" 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 Dec 06, 2022.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 10, 2023. (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 $8,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 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 0002828

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE Wind Energy Deployment Barriers FOA (DE-FOA-0002828)

1) What is Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002828?

DE-FOA-0002828 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement released through the Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and administered by DOE's Golden Field Office under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). It funds projects intended to address practical, real-world barriers that slow wind energy deployment in the United States.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to move beyond general research and fund projects that directly solve real deployment bottlenecks for wind energy (offshore, land-based, and distributed). DOE is looking for work that helps wind scale faster, more reliably, and more affordably by addressing technical, market, infrastructure, and community-adoption challenges.

3) Which DOE office is sponsoring and administering this FOA?

The FOA is released through DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and administered by the Golden Field Office.

4) What law or authority is this FOA tied to?

This opportunity is explicitly tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically section 41007(b)(1).

5) What types of wind energy does the FOA cover?

The FOA spans offshore wind, land-based wind, and distributed wind, with topic areas designed to address different barriers across these segments.

6) What kind of projects is DOE looking to fund under this FOA?

DOE is targeting projects that address deployment barriers rather than broad, open-ended R&D. The FOA emphasizes solutions to specific obstacles that prevent wind projects from being built or expanded quickly, including grid/transmission integration, permitting and interconnection friction, community adoption and governance challenges, and wildlife impacts.

7) What is meant by "deployment barriers" in this FOA?

Deployment barriers, as described here, include practical constraints that slow down wind growth, such as technical integration issues (for example, transmission needs), market and cost obstacles, infrastructure constraints, and challenges related to permitting, stakeholder acceptance, and community impacts.

8) How is DOE framing the broader purpose or policy context of these investments?

DOE frames the funding as part of a broader federal push to accelerate clean energy deployment, lower electricity costs, strengthen domestic innovation, and deliver economic and environmental benefits. DOE also notes government-wide priorities related to addressing the climate crisis, supporting workers, and advancing environmental justice, meaning projects are expected to consider scalability and social acceptability alongside technical feasibility.

9) What award instrument will DOE use for selected projects?

Awards are offered as cooperative agreements.

10) What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?

A cooperative agreement typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period. Based on the FOA description, this can include regular technical check-ins, milestone-based management, and collaboration with DOE on execution and validation of the work.

11) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under the Energy funding activity.

12) What is the CFDA number associated with this funding opportunity?

The FOA is associated with CFDA number 81.087.

13) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. This generally means a wide range of entity types may apply (such as companies, universities, nonprofits, national laboratories, and state or local entities), subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full FOA.

14) Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean anyone can apply without conditions?

Not necessarily. While eligibility is listed as unrestricted, applicants are still expected to follow any specific eligibility requirements or clarifications contained in the complete FOA.

15) How is the FOA structured?

DOE structured the FOA into four topic areas, each focused on a different bottleneck affecting wind energy deployment.

16) What are the four topic areas?

The four topic areas are: (1) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) for offshore wind, (2) Advancing Deployment of Distributed (ADD) Wind, (3) Offshore Wind Energy Social Science Research, and (4) Bat Deterrent Technology Development.

17) What is Topic Area 1 about (HVDC for offshore wind)?

Topic Area 1 focuses on High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems for offshore wind, reflecting the need to efficiently move large amounts of power over long distances and connect far-from-shore generation to onshore load centers. DOE is signaling that transmission and grid integration can be a core constraint on offshore wind growth.

18) Why is HVDC considered important for offshore wind deployment?

The FOA notes HVDC is increasingly important for efficiently transmitting large quantities of electricity over long distances, which is often necessary for offshore wind projects that are located far from shore and require sophisticated interconnection solutions.

19) What is Topic Area 2 about (Advancing Deployment of Distributed Wind)?

Topic Area 2, "Advancing Deployment of Distributed (ADD) Wind," targets barriers that keep distributed wind from being deployed more widely. Distributed wind refers to wind projects located near where electricity is used (for example, farms, businesses, industrial sites, or community-scale installations) rather than only utility-scale plants.

20) What barriers does the FOA associate with distributed wind deployment?

The FOA description notes barriers can include technology adaptation needs, permitting complexity, interconnection hurdles, cost barriers, and the need for more standardized approaches.

21) What is Topic Area 3 about (Offshore Wind Energy Social Science Research)?

Topic Area 3 focuses on social science research related to offshore wind, emphasizing the human, institutional, and governance dimensions of development. DOE is acknowledging that successful buildout depends on more than technology and includes community engagement, trust, and workable processes.

22) What kinds of social science topics are relevant under this FOA?

Based on the description provided, social science research may address community engagement, stakeholder acceptance, impacts on local economies, workforce considerations, governance and permitting processes, and how benefits and burdens are distributed.

23) What is Topic Area 4 about (Bat Deterrent Technology Development)?

Topic Area 4 supports development and improvement of bat deterrent technologies for land-based wind energy, aiming to reduce wildlife impacts, lower bat interactions with turbines, and support responsible wind expansion while reducing operational constraints and regulatory risk.

24) Why is bat deterrent technology included in a wind deployment FOA?

The FOA description highlights bat fatalities as a well-documented concern at wind facilities. Improving deterrent tools can support conservation goals while also helping wind projects operate more responsibly and potentially reducing risk and constraints associated with wildlife impacts.

25) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The FOA lists an award ceiling of $8,000,000.

26) How many awards does DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipates around 15 awards.

27) When was this funding opportunity created?

The FOA was created on December 6, 2022.

28) What was the closing date for the original solicitation?

The original closing date listed is March 10, 2023.

29) Will applicants be competing against all submissions or within a topic area?

Because the FOA includes four topic areas, applicants would generally compete within their selected topic area against other teams proposing solutions to that same set of challenges.

30) What factors are likely to influence DOE selection decisions?

Based on the description provided, selections are likely to balance technical merit, feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with program priorities.

31) Where can applicants find the full FOA and official submission instructions?

The complete FOA is posted on DOE's EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. The full FOA is the authoritative source for requirements, evaluation criteria, topic-specific scope details, and how to submit.

32) What information is typically only available in the full FOA document?

The description indicates the full FOA is where details typically appear regarding evaluation criteria, topic-specific scope, submission instructions, mandatory concept papers (if required), cost share expectations (if any), teaming rules, formatting requirements, compliance considerations, and topic-specific deliverables.

33) Does the summary provided specify whether a concept paper is required?

No. The summary notes that concept paper requirements (if any) would be described in the complete FOA on EERE Exchange.

34) Does the summary specify any cost share requirements?

No. The summary states that cost share expectations (if any) would be found in the full FOA.

35) Does the summary specify project deliverables or milestones?

Not in detail. The summary notes DOE expects substantial involvement under cooperative agreements and that topic-specific deliverables would be defined in the complete FOA.

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