The U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office has released a Request for Information (RFI) under the funding opportunity number DE-FOA-0003186, titled “Progression to Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for the Rail Sector.” This RFI is part of a discretionary funding initiative, focusing on renewable energy research and development under CFDA number 81.087. The goal is to support the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions in the transportation sector, including rail, by 2050.
The RFI is seeking insights to propel the rail sector toward adopting commercially viable, net-zero emission line-haul locomotives by 2030. It emphasizes the need for an alliance among the private sector, research institutes, and regulatory entities to develop, demonstrate, and deploy these technologies and infrastructure. The propulsion technologies under review include transitional options like biodiesel, renewable diesel, ammonia, methanol, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines, and ethanol, as well as mid- to long-term solutions like hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, and direct electrification. This initiative recognizes that each technology presents region-specific advantages and challenges. The RFI aims to gather knowledge from rail stakeholders to guide future propulsion technologies, infrastructure requirements, and coordination efforts. Responses to this RFI, which are due by 5:00 pm ET on January 12, 2024, will help ensure that the rail sector aligns with U.S. decarbonization milestones. This RFI represents a critical step in advancing renewable energy technologies in the rail sector and underscores the DOE’s commitment to a sustainable transportation future.
Opportunity ID: 351036
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | DE-FOA-0003186 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | DE-FOA-0003186: PROGRESSION TO NET-ZERO EMISSION PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE RAIL SECTOR |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Other |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Energy |
| Category Explanation: | |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 0 |
| CFDA Number(s): | 81.087 — Renewable Energy Research and Development |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Nov 17, 2023 |
| Last Updated Date: | Nov 17, 2023 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 12, 2024 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 12, 2024 |
| Archive Date: | Feb 11, 2024 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $ 0 |
| Award Ceiling: | $1 |
| Award Floor: | $0 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Golden Field Office |
| Description: | Please see the full Request For Information (RFI) document at EERE-Exchange.energy.gov. The U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization set the goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the transportation sector – including rail – by 2050. This transformation requires coordination among all aspects of the rail supply chain including feedstock supply, alternative fuel production, locomotive engine manufacturers, safety implementation, customer demand, and government regulation. To set domestic rail on an ambitious net-zero emission trajectory, commercially viable, well-to-wheel net-zero emission line-haul locomotives are needed in the domestic fleet by 2030. Thus, an ambitious alliance is needed between the private sector, research institutes and regulatory entities to develop, demonstrate, and deploy net-zero locomotives and infrastructure together by 2030 to make net-zero propulsion the natural choice for railroads. The propulsion technologies under consideration for this RFI for transitional, interim use until 2030 are: biodiesel, renewable diesel, ammonia, methanol, hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines, and ethanol. The technologies under consideration for this RFI for mid- to long-term use are: hydrogen fuel cells, batteries (tenders or built-in), and direct electrification (catenary), or a combination of different technologies. Each alternative propulsion technology comes with its own set of regionally sensitive advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this RFI is to aggregate knowledge from rail stakeholders to help direct actions regarding future propulsion technologies, infrastructure requirements, and coordination among key stakeholders to ensure that the rail sector is meeting or exceeding U.S. decarbonization milestones. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is specifically interested in information on the rail sector stakeholder’s current alternative fuels trajectory, the driving forces behind it, and the key barriers to achieving this transition. Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to GreenRail@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) on January 12th, 2024. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email. It is recommended that attachments with file sizes exceeding 25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery. Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to the email, and no more than 15 pages in length, 12 point font, 1 inch margins. Only electronic responses will be accepted. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications. Please see the full RFI document at EERE-Exchange.energy.gov. |
| Link to Additional Information: | |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GreenRail@ee.doe.gov
GreenRail@ee.doe.gov |