Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003606
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity called "Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Coal-Based Power Plants" (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003606). The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect substantial federal involvement during the project, such as technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active collaboration to help guide project execution and outcomes.
The core aim of the NOFO is to fund projects that design, implement, test, and validate strategic refurbishment and retrofit approaches for existing coal-fired power plants. The opportunity is framed around three distinct topic areas (not listed in the provided text), with the overall intent of demonstrating compelling, practical pathways to upgrade the current coal fleet. The emphasis is not on basic research in isolation, but on work that can be proven out through real-world implementation and validation, helping move upgrades from concept to deployable solutions.
A major motivation behind the funding is grid reliability and resilience. NETL highlights the need for a rapid and cost-effective restoration of stability to the nations bulk power system, suggesting a focus on near-term, scalable improvements that can be applied across operating plants rather than long-horizon concepts that require entirely new infrastructure. In addition to grid stability, the NOFO explicitly connects these coal-plant upgrades to broader industrial and energy security priorities, positioning existing coal-based assets as part of a strategy to maintain dependable, secure, and affordable electricity supply, delivered at scale in the near term.
The technical and performance goals go beyond reliability alone. Successful projects are expected to lead to "transformational technologies" that materially improve efficiency, operational effectiveness, cost performance, emissions reductions, and overall environmental performance. While the title centers on coal-based power plants, the description also references improvements related to coal and natural gas use, implying interest in technologies or retrofit approaches that can enhance performance across fossil-based generation assets or that can support hybrid or flexible operation where natural gas plays a role in the operating profile.
In terms of eligibility and competitiveness, applicants are listed as "unrestricted," which generally means the opportunity is open to a broad range of potential participants rather than being limited to a narrow applicant class. This typically includes private companies, utilities, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, universities, national laboratory partners, and other entities capable of carrying out demonstration-oriented energy projects, often through project teams that combine plant owners/operators with technology providers and engineering expertise.
Funding is substantial, with an award ceiling of $48,000,000 per award and an expected total of 15 awards. The original application closing date is January 7, 2026. The program is categorized under Energy and is associated with CFDA number 81.089, which is commonly used for U.S. Department of Energy financial assistance programs.
In practical terms, this NOFO is best read as a modernization and performance-upgrade push for the existing coal fleet: projects should be able to show credible retrofit pathways, prove performance through testing and validation, and demonstrate improvements that matter to plant operators and grid planners, especially improvements that can be deployed relatively quickly and that strengthen reliability while lowering costs and reducing emissions and environmental impacts.Apply for DE FOA 0003606
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Coal-Based Power Plants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-10-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-07. (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 $48,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Coal-Based Power Plants."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is DE FOA 0003606.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What type of award is expected under this opportunity?
The program is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement means awardees should expect substantial federal involvement during the project. Based on the description provided, that involvement may include technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active collaboration to help guide project execution and outcomes.
What is the main purpose of the NOFO?
The core aim is to fund projects that design, implement, test, and validate strategic refurbishment and retrofit approaches for existing coal-fired power plants.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research or on demonstration and validation?
The emphasis is not on basic research in isolation. The opportunity focuses on work that can be proven through real-world implementation, testing, and validation to move upgrades from concept to deployable solutions.
What kinds of projects are being sought?
Projects are expected to develop practical retrofit and refurbishment pathways for existing coal plants and demonstrate performance improvements through implementation and validation activities.
How is grid reliability and resilience reflected in the goals of the program?
NETL highlights the need for rapid and cost-effective restoration of stability to the nation's bulk power system, suggesting the program prioritizes near-term, scalable improvements that strengthen grid reliability and resilience across operating plants.
What performance improvements are expected from successful projects?
Successful projects are expected to lead to transformational technologies that materially improve efficiency, operational effectiveness, cost performance, emissions reductions, and overall environmental performance, in addition to improving reliability and flexibility.
Does the opportunity only apply to coal-fired generation?
While the title centers on coal-based power plants, the description also references improvements related to coal and natural gas use, implying interest in technologies or retrofit approaches that can enhance performance across fossil-based generation assets or support hybrid or flexible operation where natural gas is part of the operating profile.
Are there multiple topic areas within this NOFO?
Yes. The opportunity is framed around three distinct topic areas, but the specific topic areas are not listed in the information provided here.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted," which generally indicates the opportunity is open to a broad range of applicants.
What types of organizations might be competitive applicants?
Because the work is demonstration-oriented and retrofit-focused, competitive applicants typically include private companies, utilities, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, universities, national laboratory partners, and other entities capable of executing implementation, testing, and validation projects, often through multi-organization project teams.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $48,000,000 per award.
How many awards does NETL expect to make?
The opportunity lists an expected total of 15 awards.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is January 7, 2026.
What is the program category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Energy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.089.
What is the overall strategy behind this funding opportunity?
In practical terms, it is a modernization and performance-upgrade push for the existing coal fleet, focused on credible retrofit pathways that can be deployed relatively quickly to strengthen reliability, lower costs, and reduce emissions and environmental impacts.
How does this NOFO connect to energy security and affordability?
The NOFO links coal-plant upgrades to industrial and energy security priorities by positioning existing coal-based assets as part of a strategy to maintain dependable, secure, and affordable electricity supply delivered at scale in the near term.
What role do testing and validation play in the selection of projects?
Testing and validation are central. The stated aim is to implement and validate retrofit approaches in real-world conditions, indicating that projects should be able to demonstrate performance and operational benefits beyond conceptual design.
Is the program oriented toward near-term deployment?
Yes. The description emphasizes rapid and cost-effective improvements and highlights scalable upgrades that can be applied across operating plants, indicating a strong preference for solutions that can be deployed relatively quickly.
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