Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) Grant for U.S. Tidal and Current Energy Advancement

The purpose of this modification is to announce the addition of a $10 million topic area to its proposed funding opportunity DE-EE0002845 BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL), SECTION 41006(A)(2): U.S. TIDAL ENERGY ADVANCEMENT to advance tidal and current energy systems, bringing the total funding to $45 million. This new topic area will support at least one tidal or current energy planning and execution project in the United States, preferably led by a community-based organization or local/municipal government entity. With the addition of this topic area, WPTO’s funding opportunity will advance a comprehensive approach to tidal and current energy development in the United States, ranging from funding community-led planning and project execution to making the first large-scale investment in a tidal research, development, and demonstration site.

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The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Section 41006(a)(2): U.S. Tidal Energy Advancement.”

To support the development of tidal and current energy systems in the United States, and move the state of these technologies, DOE will provide the first large scale investment for the development of a tidal Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) site. This FOA will provide $35 million in total funding supporting Section 41006(a)(2) to fund a tidal or river current site development, preferably led by a project/site developer in the U.S., and fund in-water demonstration of at least one tidal energy system.

The overall goals of this FOA are to:

Build upon state clean energy strategies with local partners;
Attract competitive tidal/current developers for technology site integration;
Improve tidal/current Research and Development (R&D);
Build site infrastructure and supply chains, with increased participation at the state level, including local agency, tribal and university research participation; and
Establish a working business model covering site development to commercial scale.

DOE is compiling a “teaming” partner list to facilitate widespread participation in this FOA. This list allows organizations with expertise in the topics to express their interest to potential applicants and to explore potential partnerships. Please see the Teaming List section of the NOI document for more information.

This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of the EERE’s intention to issue this FOA in the near term. All the information contained in this Notice is subject to change. EERE will not respond to questions concerning this Notice. Once the FOA has been released, EERE will provide an avenue for potential Applicants to submit questions.

To view the complete NOI document, visit the eXCHANGE website at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. Please note that you must first select this specific FOA Number in order to view the questions and answers specific to this FOA.

To support the development of tidal and current energy systems in the United States, and move the state of these technologies, DOE will provide the first large scale investment for the development of a tidal Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) site. This FOA will provide $35 million in total funding supporting Section 41006(a)(2) to fund a tidal or river current site development, preferably led by a project/site developer in the U.S., and fund in-water demonstration of at least one tidal energy system.

The overall goals of this FOA are to:

Build upon state clean energy strategies with local partners;
Attract competitive tidal/current developers for technology site integration;
Improve tidal/current Research and Development (R&D);
Build site infrastructure and supply chains, with increased participation at the state level, including local agency, tribal and university research participation; and
Establish a working business model covering site development to commercial scale.

DOE is compiling a “teaming” partner list to facilitate widespread participation in this FOA. This list allows organizations with expertise in the topics to express their interest to potential applicants and to explore potential partnerships. Please see the Teaming List section of the NOI document for more information.

This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of the EERE’s intention to issue this FOA in the near term. All the information contained in this Notice is subject to change. EERE will not respond to questions concerning this Notice. Once the FOA has been released, EERE will provide an avenue for potential Applicants to submit questions.

To view the complete NOI document, visit the eXCHANGE website at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. Please note that you must first select this specific FOA Number in order to view the questions and answers specific to this FOA.