Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001981
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, released a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Advanced Next-Generation High Efficiency Lightweight Wind Turbine Generator" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0001981; CFDA: 81.087). The funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning DOE expects to be actively involved with awardees during the project rather than simply providing a grant with minimal engagement. The opportunity was posted on November 14, 2018, with an original application deadline of January 21, 2019, and the complete Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and submission process are hosted on the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov).
The central purpose of this FOA is to accelerate offshore wind deployment by advancing generator and drivetrain technology for large wind turbines. The program focuses on research, development, and testing of next-generation drivetrain solutions, with an emphasis on generator designs that are both lighter in weight and higher in efficiency. In offshore settings, reducing mass in major nacelle components and improving conversion efficiency can translate directly into lower turbine capital costs, simpler installation and servicing logistics, and improved energy production, all of which contribute to lowering the overall cost of offshore wind energy. The FOA is framed around helping offshore wind continue to scale by improving the technologies that sit at the heart of power conversion and mechanical-to-electrical energy transfer.
Technically, the FOA targets advanced wind turbine drivetrain technologies and next-generation generator concepts that can be demonstrated and tested, not just studied on paper. While the announcement text in the provided description does not list specific subtopics or component architectures, the stated intent is clear: develop and validate generator/drivetrain innovations that reduce weight and increase efficiency, supporting broader industry acceptance and continued offshore market growth. The logic is that drivetrain improvements can reduce both upfront expenses (through lower materials, manufacturing, and installation burdens) and ongoing costs (through higher efficiency and potentially better reliability), thereby improving project economics for offshore wind farms.
In terms of funding scale, DOE anticipated making about three awards under this FOA, with an award ceiling of $6,500,000 per award. Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants should typically expect structured project management, defined milestones, and ongoing technical coordination with DOE as part of the award arrangement. The funding activity category is Energy, consistent with DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) mission and offshore wind cost-reduction priorities.
Eligibility is limited in a specific way: only for-profit entities may apply as the prime applicant. The eligible prime applicant categories explicitly include small businesses and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. At the same time, the FOA places no restrictions on what types of organizations may participate as subrecipients, which means project teams can be built with a wide range of partners (such as universities, national laboratories where allowable, nonprofits, suppliers, testing organizations, or other specialized entities), as long as the prime applicant is a for-profit organization submitting and leading the proposal.
Anyone looking for the full set of requirements, technical targets, evaluation criteria, cost-share expectations (if any), reporting requirements, and submission instructions would need to review the complete FOA on EERE Exchange, since the public summary mainly highlights the strategic goal: enabling lighter, more efficient, next-generation wind turbine generator/drivetrain technologies that reduce offshore wind costs and support continued deployment.Apply for DE FOA 0001981
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Next-Generation High Efficiency Lightweight Wind Turbine Generator" 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 Nov 14, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 21, 2019. (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 $6,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Advanced Next-Generation High Efficiency Lightweight Wind Turbine Generator (DE-FOA-0001981)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discretionary funding opportunity titled "Advanced Next-Generation High Efficiency Lightweight Wind Turbine Generator." It is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office under Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) DE-FOA-0001981 (CFDA 81.087).
What is the main goal of the FOA?
The central purpose is to accelerate offshore wind deployment by advancing wind turbine generator and drivetrain technology for large wind turbines, with a focus on solutions that reduce weight and increase efficiency.
Why does the FOA focus on lightweight and high-efficiency generator/drivetrain technology?
In offshore wind, reducing the mass of major nacelle components and improving conversion efficiency can lower turbine capital costs, simplify installation and servicing logistics, and improve energy production. Together, these improvements can help reduce the overall cost of offshore wind energy and support continued market growth.
What kinds of projects is DOE trying to fund?
The FOA targets research, development, and testing of next-generation drivetrain solutions, emphasizing generator designs that are lighter and more efficient. The intent is to develop and validate generator/drivetrain innovations that can be demonstrated and tested, not only analyzed conceptually.
Is this FOA limited to offshore wind applications?
The stated purpose is explicitly tied to accelerating offshore wind deployment. The technical rationale and benefits described are framed around offshore installation, operations, and cost-of-energy reduction needs.
Does the FOA specify particular generator or drivetrain architectures?
In the summary provided, no specific subtopics, component architectures, or prescribed designs are listed. The stated intent is broadly focused on next-generation generator/drivetrain concepts that reduce weight and increase efficiency and that can be demonstrated and tested.
What type of funding instrument will DOE use?
A cooperative agreement. This means DOE expects to be actively involved with awardees during project execution rather than providing funding with minimal engagement.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean for day-to-day project execution?
Based on the description provided, applicants should generally expect structured project management, defined milestones, and ongoing technical coordination with DOE as part of the award arrangement.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipated making about three awards under this FOA.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $6,500,000 per award.
What is the program area or activity category?
The funding activity category is Energy, aligned with DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) mission and offshore wind cost-reduction priorities.
Who is eligible to apply as the prime applicant?
Eligibility is limited to for-profit entities as the prime applicant. Eligible prime applicant categories include small businesses and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Can a university, nonprofit, or national laboratory apply as the prime applicant?
No. The prime applicant must be a for-profit entity. The summary states that eligibility as the prime applicant is limited to for-profit organizations.
Can universities, nonprofits, suppliers, testing organizations, or labs participate on a project team?
Yes. The FOA places no restrictions on the types of organizations that may participate as subrecipients. Teams may include a wide range of partners, as long as the prime applicant is a for-profit organization submitting and leading the proposal.
Where can applicants find the official FOA and application instructions?
The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and the submission process are hosted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 14, 2018.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was January 21, 2019.
Is this a formula grant or a discretionary opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity, as stated in the description.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087.
What kinds of benefits is DOE expecting from funded drivetrain/generator innovations?
The summary highlights several expected benefits: lower turbine capital costs (through reduced mass and related material/manufacturing/installation burdens), simpler installation and servicing logistics (particularly important offshore), improved energy production through higher efficiency, and improved project economics that support wider offshore wind deployment.
Does the summary include evaluation criteria, cost share, reporting requirements, or specific technical targets?
No. The summary indicates that details such as technical targets, evaluation criteria, cost-share expectations (if any), reporting requirements, and submission instructions must be obtained by reviewing the complete FOA on EERE Exchange.
What office within DOE is associated with this FOA?
The FOA is released by DOE through its Golden Field Office and is consistent with priorities of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy
Next opportunity: Logistics and Administrative Implementation of Legal Clinics
Previous opportunity: Translating Data for Implementation (DFI)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0001981
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0001981) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Process Scale-Up and Optimization/Efficiency Improvements for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Critical Materials (CM) Recovery from Coal-Based Resources Apply for DE FOA 0002003 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002003 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent: Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands - 2019 Apply for DE FOA 0002031 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002031 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Energy-Water Desalination Hub Apply for DE FOA 0001905 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001905 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $45,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled Crosscutting Research for Coal-Fueled Power Plants Apply for DE FOA 0002053 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002053 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 2019 Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Multi-topic Request for Information (RFI) Apply for DE FOA 0002020 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002020 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Maximizing the Coal Value Chain Apply for DE FOA 0001992 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001992 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Improving Efficiency, Reliability, and Flexibility of Existing Coal-Fueled Power Plants Apply for DE FOA 0001989 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001989 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Advanced Technologies for Recovery of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources Apply for DE FOA 0001990 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001990 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $32,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Front-End Engineering and Design Studies for Carbon Capture Systems on Coal and Natural Gas Power Plants Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0002058 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002058 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DE-FOA-0002021: Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002022 Apply for DE FOA 0002021 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002021 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002070: Efficient and Flexible Building Loads Apply for DE FOA 0002070 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002070 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent: Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute: Cybersecurity in Energy Efficient Manufacturing Apply for DE FOA 0002008 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002008 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information: Waves to Water Prize Apply for DE FOA 0002096 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002096 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RFI-South Asia Enhancing Growth and Development through Energy (South Asia EDGE) Apply for 72038619RFI00001 Funding Number: 72038619RFI00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, India USAID-New Delhi Category: Energy Funding Amount: $70,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2019 Commercial Trucks and Off-road Applications FOA: Natural Gas, Hydrogen, Biopower, and Electrification Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0002044 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002044 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2019 H2@Scale Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0002022 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002022 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Maritiem Energy Conservation or Efficiency Polot Demonstration Apply for 693JF719R000011 Funding Number: 693JF719R000011 Agency: Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration Category: Energy Funding Amount: $380,000 |
| ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT ON TRIBAL LANDS - 2019 Apply for DE FOA 0002032 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002032 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| DE-FOA-0001960 - Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute: Cybersecurity in Energy Efficient Manufacturing Apply for DE FOA 0001960 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001960 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $70,000,000 |
| Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2019 Funding Program Apply for DE FOA 0002064 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002064 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0001981", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.