DOE OCED Grant for Clean Energy Demonstrations on Mine Lands

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support clean energy demonstration projects on current and/or former mine lands. Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). As part of and in addition to upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, DOE’s BIL investments will support efforts to build a clean and equitable energy economy that achieves a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035 and to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050 to benefit all Americans.

The purpose of the Clean Energy on Current and Former Mind Land (CEML) Program is to demonstrate replicable clean energy projects on current and former mine land that help resolve key barriers to commercial adoption of these energy systems. Clean energy projects on mine land provide an attractive alternative to using undisturbed natural, agricultural, and other greenfield land for development. Mine land is often located near critical infrastructure that makes it suitable for clean energy development, including electric substations, transmission lines, and access roads or rail lines. Mine lands are often in communities that already house a workforce skilled in industrial trades relevant to many clean energy applications. Furthermore, mine land possesses unique attributes and conditions that can accelerate the deployment of some clean energy technologies. Some examples include the following: -Utilizing vast expanses of flat mine lands which could be used to generate electricity from photovoltaic (PV) solar;-Taking advantage of the spatial connection between geothermal systems and mineral deposits to accelerate development of geothermal resources for clean heat or electricity; and-Capitalizing on the opportunity to store clean energy utilizing previously constructed reservoirs with adjacent topography from pumped hydro storage.

This FOA has one Topic Area, which solicits proposals to demonstrate clean energy projects on current and former mine land. The award size will be at least $10 million and no more than $150 million in federal funds. Each award is required to include a minimum of 50% non-federal cost share. DOE will fund up to five (5) projects in this Topic Area. Projects are anticipated to have a period of performance of 4-7 years.

NOTE: All Concept Papers and Full Applications must be submitted by the posted deadlines via OCED Exchange at https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId2461a5fb-be76-4b89-90c1-8673e138f290.