Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB) | DE FOA 0002605

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002605

Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB) is a U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funding opportunity aimed at making it easier to build ground-mounted solar in ways that reduce harm to wildlife and, at the same time, improve ecological outcomes. The central idea is that solar deployment is accelerating, and the sector needs practical, repeatable approaches that help developers and communities avoid or minimize negative impacts on habitat and species while also capturing ecosystem services benefits such as improved soil health, better water management, pollinator support, and other environmental co-benefits. The opportunity is framed around enabling rapid solar deployment while strengthening environmental performance, with an emphasis on solutions that solar stakeholders can use broadly rather than one-off site-specific studies.

The projects sought under SolWEB are expected to produce outcomes that can be generalized across multiple locations and are useful to multiple stakeholder groups, such as developers, landowners, regulators, utilities, conservation organizations, and local communities. DOE emphasizes deliverables like methods, technologies, models, best management practices, and practical resources that can be adopted in real-world development and operations. The work is intended to be timely and impactful, with results achievable in a relatively short period (generally three years or less). A notable expectation is meaningful engagement with local communities that are most affected by solar buildout, reflecting DOE's interest in approaches that are not only technically sound but also socially workable and informed by local conditions and concerns.

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration on milestones, review of progress, and alignment with program goals), rather than a hands-off grant. The activity focus sits at the intersection of energy and environment, aligning with national targets of a 100% clean electricity system by 2035 and a net-zero energy system by 2050. In other words, SolWEB is meant to help ensure that scaling solar to meet climate and grid goals does not come at the expense of wildlife and ecological integrity, and ideally contributes positive land and ecosystem outcomes where projects are built.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as DE-FOA-0002605 through DOE's Golden Field Office, with eligibility described as unrestricted (broadly open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to standard federal requirements). The ceiling amount per award is up to $2,000,000. The FOA was created on March 3, 2022, and the original closing date was updated via amendment to June 21, 2022. Two amendments are noted: Amendment 000001 increased the total available funding and increased the anticipated number of awards, and Amendment 000002 changed the full application due date to 6/21/2022. The associated CFDA number is 81.087, which corresponds to DOE financial assistance programs.

In practical terms, SolWEB is a research-and-implementation-oriented call that pushes applicants to deliver usable tools and strategies that can become standard practice for wildlife-aware, ecosystem-beneficial solar development. The strongest fits are projects that can demonstrate near-term, transferable outcomes, combine technical and ecological expertise, and incorporate community engagement in a way that improves decision-making and on-the-ground adoption.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB)" 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 2022-03-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-21. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for DE FOA 0002605

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