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.Apply for DE FOA 0002605
- 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.
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SolWEB Grant (DE-FOA-0002605) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SolWEB funding opportunity?
Deploying Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Services Benefits (SolWEB) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funding opportunity focused on making it easier to develop ground-mounted solar in ways that reduce harm to wildlife while improving ecological outcomes and ecosystem services benefits.
What is the main goal of SolWEB?
The central goal is to support approaches that enable rapid solar deployment while strengthening environmental performance. SolWEB emphasizes practical, repeatable solutions that can help stakeholders avoid or minimize negative impacts on habitat and species and also capture co-benefits like improved soil health, better water management, pollinator support, and other environmental benefits.
What types of solar projects does SolWEB focus on?
SolWEB is focused on ground-mounted solar development and the associated planning, development, and operations practices that influence wildlife and ecosystem outcomes.
What kinds of outcomes is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for outcomes that can be generalized across multiple locations and used by multiple stakeholder groups. The emphasis is on producing deliverables that can be adopted broadly rather than one-off, site-specific studies.
What kinds of deliverables are expected under SolWEB?
DOE highlights practical deliverables such as methods, technologies, models, best management practices, and other usable resources that can be applied in real-world solar development and operations.
Is SolWEB more research-focused or implementation-focused?
Based on the description provided, SolWEB is positioned as research-and-implementation-oriented. It supports work that generates usable tools and strategies intended to become standard practice, with an emphasis on near-term, transferable results.
How important is transferability and broad adoption?
Transferability is a core requirement. Projects are expected to produce approaches that can be applied across multiple sites and that are useful to a range of stakeholders, supporting broad adoption across the solar sector.
Does the opportunity require community engagement?
Yes. A notable expectation is meaningful engagement with local communities that are most affected by solar buildout. DOE signals that solutions should be socially workable and informed by local conditions and concerns, not only technically sound.
Who are the intended users of SolWEB project results?
The results are intended to be useful to multiple stakeholder groups, including developers, landowners, regulators, utilities, conservation organizations, and local communities.
What kinds of environmental benefits are highlighted?
The opportunity specifically mentions ecosystem services benefits such as improved soil health, better water management, pollinator support, and other environmental co-benefits, in addition to reducing harm to wildlife and habitat.
What is the expected project timeframe?
The work is intended to be timely, with results achievable in a relatively short period, generally three years or less.
What funding instrument will DOE use for SolWEB?
SolWEB is structured as a cooperative agreement. This typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on milestones, review of progress, and alignment with program goals, rather than a hands-off grant.
How much funding is available per award?
The ceiling amount per award is up to $2,000,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to standard federal requirements.
Which DOE office is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed through DOE's Golden Field Office.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is identified as DE-FOA-0002605.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 81.087, which corresponds to DOE financial assistance programs.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on March 3, 2022.
What was the application closing date?
The original closing date was updated via amendment, and the full application due date was changed to June 21, 2022.
Were there amendments to the FOA?
Yes. Two amendments are noted. Amendment 000001 increased the total available funding and increased the anticipated number of awards. Amendment 000002 changed the full application due date to 6/21/2022.
How does SolWEB align with broader national energy goals?
SolWEB sits at the intersection of energy and environment and aligns with national targets for a 100% clean electricity system by 2035 and a net-zero energy system by 2050. The stated intent is to help ensure that scaling solar does not come at the expense of wildlife and ecological integrity and can contribute positive land and ecosystem outcomes.
What kinds of projects are the strongest fit for SolWEB?
The strongest fits are projects that can demonstrate near-term, transferable outcomes; combine technical and ecological expertise; produce practical tools, models, or best practices for real-world adoption; and incorporate community engagement that improves decision-making and on-the-ground uptake.
Is SolWEB intended to support one-off site-specific studies?
No. The opportunity is framed around solutions that can be used broadly rather than one-off site-specific studies, with an emphasis on repeatable approaches and generalized outcomes.
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