Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003308
The Small Innovative Projects in Solar: Concentrating Solar Power and Photovoltaics (SIPS: CSP and PV) - Annual opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003308) is a U.S. Department of Energy program run through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), with administration tied to DOE's Golden Field Office. Its purpose is to fund early-stage, "seedling" research and development projects that could meaningfully accelerate solar technology progress and help push the United States toward an equitable clean-energy transition. The FOA is framed around DOE's broader decarbonization targets: a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a decarbonized energy sector by 2050. In practical terms, the program is looking for novel ideas that can move the needle on large-scale solar development and deployment, while also supporting the goal that the benefits of the clean energy economy are broadly shared.
Technically, the scope covers both major branches of solar: photovoltaic (PV) technologies, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP), which uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight to produce heat that can then generate electricity (often with potential for thermal energy storage). By explicitly including both PV and CSP, the FOA signals interest in a wide range of innovation pathways, from materials and device concepts to system-level improvements and other R and D that can reduce cost, improve performance, increase reliability, or remove barriers to deployment. The "small innovative projects" framing indicates the DOE is aiming for relatively contained, high-impact concepts that can be tested and matured quickly enough to justify follow-on development or scaling if results are promising.
This is a discretionary funding opportunity and awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which generally means DOE anticipates substantial involvement during the project (for example, active project management, technical check-ins, and coordinated milestones), rather than the more hands-off approach typical of a standard grant. The stated award ceiling is $400,000 per award, and the FOA anticipates around 24 total awards, suggesting DOE is trying to spread funding across many distinct ideas rather than placing a few large bets.
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted," but there is an important limitation regarding small businesses. Small Business Firms are not allowed to apply as prime recipients under this FOA and may only participate as subrecipients. DOE also emphasizes that it wants to avoid duplicating the role of its SBIR and STTR programs, which are specifically designed to fund small business-led innovation. In addition, if a small business is included as a subrecipient, the portion of the work performed by the small business (measured by total project costs) cannot exceed the scope of work performed by the main applicant. In other words, the prime applicant must remain the primary performer, and the small business role must be clearly secondary in overall project cost and effort. The FOA references the standard federal definition of a small business concern (15 U.S.C. 632) and points to Small Business Administration size standards in the Code of Federal Regulations for how that designation is determined.
Key administrative details included in the source information are the original closing date of March 6, 2024, a creation/posting date of January 18, 2024, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number 81.087, which corresponds to DOE EERE financial assistance programs. Overall, SIPS: CSP and PV is positioned as a streamlined entry point for diverse applicants who have strong, unconventional, or emerging solar R and D ideas that can be explored with modest funding, with the larger strategic aim of speeding up solar deployment and contributing to national decarbonization goals while keeping the program distinct from small-business-focused SBIR/STTR funding.Apply for DE FOA 0003308
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Innovative Projects in Solar: Concentrating Solar Power and Photovoltaics (SIPS: CSP & PV) – Annual" 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 2024-01-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-06. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): SIPS: CSP and PV (DE FOA 0003308)
What is the SIPS: CSP and PV funding opportunity?
The Small Innovative Projects in Solar: Concentrating Solar Power and Photovoltaics (SIPS: CSP and PV) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) annual funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003308) intended to support early-stage, "seedling" solar research and development projects.
Which DOE office runs this program?
The program is run through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). Administration is tied to DOE's Golden Field Office.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to fund small, early-stage R&D projects that could meaningfully accelerate progress in solar technologies and support an equitable clean-energy transition. The program is framed around DOE's broader decarbonization targets for the United States.
What decarbonization goals are referenced in the opportunity description?
The FOA is framed around DOE targets of a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a decarbonized energy sector by 2050.
What technical areas does the FOA cover?
The scope covers both photovoltaic (PV) technologies and concentrating solar thermal power (CSP). PV converts sunlight directly into electricity, while CSP concentrates sunlight to produce heat that can be used to generate electricity, often with potential for thermal energy storage.
Does the FOA focus on PV only, or CSP only?
No. It explicitly includes both PV and CSP, signaling interest in a broad range of innovation pathways across the solar technology landscape.
What kinds of project ideas is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for novel, early-stage ideas that can move the needle on large-scale solar development and deployment. The description indicates interest in innovation ranging from materials and device concepts to system-level improvements and other R&D that can reduce cost, improve performance, increase reliability, or remove barriers to deployment.
What does "small innovative projects" mean in practice?
Based on the description, it indicates relatively contained, high-impact concepts that can be tested and matured quickly enough to justify follow-on development or scaling if results are promising.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What type of award does DOE expect to use?
Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which generally implies substantial DOE involvement during the project (such as active project management, technical check-ins, and coordinated milestones), rather than a hands-off standard grant approach.
How much funding is available per award?
The stated award ceiling is $400,000 per award.
How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
The FOA anticipates around 24 total awards, suggesting DOE expects to spread funding across many distinct ideas rather than fund a small number of large projects.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted" in the provided information, but there is a specific limitation regarding small businesses (see the small business FAQs below).
Can a small business apply as the prime recipient?
No. Small Business Firms are not allowed to apply as prime recipients under this FOA. They may participate only as subrecipients.
Why are small businesses restricted from being the prime applicant?
DOE emphasizes that it wants to avoid duplicating the role of its SBIR and STTR programs, which are designed to fund small business-led innovation. This FOA is positioned as distinct from SBIR/STTR.
Can a small business participate at all?
Yes. A small business may participate as a subrecipient under this FOA, subject to the limitation on the size of its role relative to the main applicant.
Is there a limit on how much of the project a small business subrecipient can perform?
Yes. If a small business is included as a subrecipient, the portion of work it performs (measured by total project costs) cannot exceed the scope of work performed by the main applicant. The prime applicant must remain the primary performer, and the small business role must be secondary in overall project cost and effort.
How does the FOA define a "small business" for this restriction?
The FOA references the standard federal definition of a small business concern (15 U.S.C. 632) and points to Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards in the Code of Federal Regulations as the basis for determining whether an entity qualifies as a small business.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The creation/posting date provided is January 18, 2024.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original closing date provided is March 6, 2024.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number provided is 81.087, which corresponds to DOE EERE financial assistance programs.
How does this FOA connect to equitable clean energy goals?
The description states that the program aims to help push the United States toward an equitable clean-energy transition and supports the goal that benefits of the clean energy economy are broadly shared.
What is the overall positioning of SIPS: CSP and PV compared to other DOE funding?
Based on the information provided, SIPS: CSP and PV is positioned as a streamlined entry point for diverse applicants with strong, unconventional, or emerging solar R&D ideas that can be explored with modest funding, while keeping the program distinct from small-business-focused SBIR/STTR funding.
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