Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002470
This grant opportunity is a Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) initiative focused on finding higher-value, advanced manufacturing uses for coal-related waste streams, while also pushing research and development on producing graphite-like materials derived from coal. The notice provided is a Notice of Intent, meaning it is essentially an early announcement that DOE planned to release a full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) describing the technical requirements, application instructions, evaluation criteria, and program goals in more detail. In short, the government is signaling interest in projects that turn coal waste into useful, high-performance materials rather than treating it only as a disposal problem.
The opportunity is titled "Advanced Coal Waste Processing: Production of Coal-Enhanced Filaments or Resins for Advanced Manufacturing and Research and Development of Coal-Derived Graphite." The core emphasis is on two related themes. First, it targets the development of coal-enhanced filaments or polymer resins that can be used in advanced manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing and other composite fabrication approaches. The idea is to incorporate coal-derived or coal-waste-derived carbon content into feedstocks like filaments (for example, materials used in 3D printing) or resins (used in molding, composites, coatings, or other polymer-based manufacturing), potentially improving properties such as strength, stiffness, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, or cost-effectiveness. Second, it supports R&D aimed at creating coal-derived graphite, which generally points to upgrading coal-based carbon into higher-order carbon structures suitable for applications where graphite is valued, such as batteries, electrodes, lubricants, refractories, and other industrial or energy technologies.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning awards are made competitively based on merit review and program priorities rather than by formula. The listed funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which usually indicates DOE expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, technical direction, milestone reviews, or collaboration on project execution), as opposed to a more hands-off grant. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number is 81.089, which is associated with DOE assistance programs administered through NETL. The eligible applicant category is described as unrestricted, which implies the competition is open to a broad range of organizations (such as private companies, universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, and potentially individuals where allowed), although the final FOA typically clarifies any specific restrictions, cost share requirements, or limitations on foreign participation.
The listing indicates an opportunity number of DE-FOA-0002470, while the notice text references an intended FOA numbered DE-FOA-002405. That combination strongly suggests the document you are looking at is a preliminary posting or notice tied to a forthcoming or separately numbered FOA, and that applicants would need to track the final issued FOA to ensure they are responding to the correct solicitation number and requirements. The creation date shown is March 30, 2021, and the original closing date is April 15, 2021, reflecting a relatively short window typical of a Notice of Intent or a time-limited announcement that precedes or points to the full solicitation. The award ceiling is listed as 2, which in many databases represents a maximum award amount field, but the unit is not shown here; in practice, DOE FOAs usually specify ceilings in dollars, so this entry likely reflects incomplete or truncated data in the source listing rather than a literal cap of two dollars. The "ExpectedAwards: 0" entry similarly looks like a placeholder or an artifact of the notice format rather than a true indication that no awards would be made, since the entire purpose of such a program is normally to fund selected projects once the full FOA is released and evaluated.
At a program level, the opportunity fits within a broader federal strategy of expanding domestic supply chains for critical materials and advanced carbon products while simultaneously addressing legacy environmental and economic challenges in coal regions. Coal waste (including byproducts and discard streams) can contain carbon-rich fractions that, if processed correctly, might be converted into higher-value engineered materials. By supporting work on coal-enhanced filaments/resins and coal-derived graphite, DOE is effectively looking for innovations that can bridge waste processing, materials science, and manufacturing scale-up. Competitive projects under a full FOA like this typically involve demonstrating feasible processing pathways, characterizing material performance, showing manufacturability and consistency, and outlining credible routes to pilot-scale validation and eventual commercialization or deployment in relevant industrial sectors.Apply for DE FOA 0002470
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Coal Waste Processing: Production of Coal-Enhanced Filaments or Resins for Advanced Manufacturing and Research and Development of Coal-Derived Graphite" 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 Mar 30, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2021. (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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the focus of this Department of Energy (DOE) opportunity?
This is a DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) initiative aimed at finding higher-value, advanced manufacturing uses for coal-related waste streams and advancing research and development (R&D) to produce graphite-like materials derived from coal. The central idea is to treat coal waste as a potential feedstock for high-performance materials rather than only a disposal challenge.
What is the official title of the opportunity?
The opportunity is titled: Advanced Coal Waste Processing: Production of Coal-Enhanced Filaments or Resins for Advanced Manufacturing and Research and Development of Coal-Derived Graphite.
Is this a full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or something else?
The notice described is a Notice of Intent (NOI). An NOI is an early announcement signaling that DOE plans to release a full FOA later. The full FOA is expected to include the technical requirements, application instructions, evaluation criteria, and program goals in more detail.
What are the two main technical themes DOE is signaling interest in?
The notice emphasizes two related themes:
- Coal-enhanced filaments or polymer resins for advanced manufacturing (including additive manufacturing and other composite fabrication approaches).
- R&D on coal-derived graphite, meaning upgrading coal-based carbon into higher-order carbon structures suitable for graphite-type applications.
What does "coal-enhanced filaments or resins" mean in this context?
It refers to incorporating coal-derived or coal-waste-derived carbon content into manufacturing feedstocks such as:
- Filaments (for example, materials used in 3D printing)
- Polymer resins (used in molding, composites, coatings, and other polymer-based manufacturing)
The goal is often to improve material properties and/or economics, such as strength, stiffness, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, or cost-effectiveness.
What kinds of advanced manufacturing uses are implied by the notice?
The notice directly references advanced manufacturing uses such as additive manufacturing and composite fabrication approaches. It also notes resin uses in areas like molding, composites, and coatings.
What is meant by "coal-derived graphite" in the opportunity description?
"Coal-derived graphite" generally refers to processing or upgrading coal-based carbon into more ordered, graphite-like carbon structures. The intent is to create materials that can serve in applications where graphite is valued.
What applications are mentioned for coal-derived graphite?
The notice points to common graphite-use areas such as:
- Batteries
- Electrodes
- Lubricants
- Refractories
- Other industrial or energy technologies
What type of funding opportunity is this (mandatory vs. discretionary)?
This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity. That means awards are typically made competitively based on merit review and program priorities rather than distributed by formula.
What is the funding instrument type?
The listing identifies a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument type.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for awardees?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period, which can include technical direction, milestone reviews, or collaboration on project execution (as opposed to a more hands-off relationship).
What is the activity/category area for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Energy.
What is the CFDA number and what does it indicate?
The CFDA number is listed as 81.089, which is associated with DOE assistance programs administered through NETL.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is described as unrestricted, which generally implies the competition is open to a broad range of organizations (for example, private companies, universities, nonprofits, state and local governments). However, the final FOA typically clarifies any specific restrictions, cost share requirements, or limitations (including any limitations on foreign participation).
Is this opportunity tied to NETL specifically?
Yes. It is described as a Department of Energy initiative through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What are the opportunity/solicitation numbers associated with this notice?
The listing shows an opportunity number DE-FOA-0002470, while the notice text references an intended FOA numbered DE-FOA-002405.
Why are there two different FOA numbers mentioned?
Based on the information provided, this suggests the document is a preliminary posting or notice tied to a forthcoming or separately numbered FOA. Applicants would need to track the final issued FOA to confirm the correct solicitation number and requirements.
What are the dates shown for this notice?
The creation date shown is March 30, 2021, and the original closing date is April 15, 2021. The short window is consistent with a Notice of Intent or a time-limited announcement that precedes the full solicitation.
Does the listing specify the award amount ceiling?
The award ceiling is listed as "2", but the unit is not shown. DOE FOAs typically specify award ceilings in dollars, so this looks like incomplete or truncated data in the source listing rather than a meaningful literal ceiling.
Does "ExpectedAwards: 0" mean no awards will be made?
The listing shows ExpectedAwards: 0, but the information provided indicates this likely functions as a placeholder or an artifact of the notice format rather than a true indication that no awards would be made. The intent of the program, as described, is to fund selected projects once the full FOA is released and evaluated.
What is DOE trying to accomplish at a program level with coal waste processing?
The program is framed as part of a broader federal strategy to expand domestic supply chains for critical materials and advanced carbon products while addressing legacy environmental and economic challenges in coal regions. It emphasizes converting coal waste (including byproducts and discard streams) into higher-value engineered materials.
What kinds of project activities are typically expected under a full FOA like this?
Based on the program description provided, competitive projects typically include elements such as:
- Demonstrating feasible processing pathways from coal waste or coal-derived feedstocks to advanced materials
- Characterizing material performance
- Demonstrating manufacturability and consistency
- Outlining credible routes to pilot-scale validation and eventual commercialization or deployment
Where will the detailed requirements and evaluation criteria be found?
The detailed technical requirements, application instructions, evaluation criteria, and program goals are expected to be provided in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that DOE planned to release following the Notice of Intent.
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| Carbon Capture Research and Development For Natural Gas and Industrial Point Sources and Front End Engineering Design Studies for Carbon Capture Systems at Industrial Facilities and Natural Gas Plants. Apply for DE FOA 0002410 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002410 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| ADVANCED COAL WASTE PROCESSING: PRODUCTION OF COAL-ENHANCED FILAMENTS OR RESINS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF COAL-DERIVED GRAPHITE Apply for DE FOA 0002405 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002405 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Carbon Capture Research and Development For Natural Gas and Industrial Point Sources and Front End Engineering Design Studies for Carbon Capture Systems at Industrial Facilities and Natural Gas Plants. Apply for DE FOA 0002515 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002515 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
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