Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001376
The Mineral Recovery Phase II - Geothermal Concepts And Approaches To Validate Extraction funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001376) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort, administered through the Golden Field Office, focused on making geothermal projects more economically attractive by adding a second revenue source: recovering valuable dissolved materials from the same hot fluids already being produced for power or heat. The notice also emphasizes that the announcement was modified (Modification 0001), and applicants are expected to review that updated version on the EERE eXCHANGE portal to ensure they are working from the current requirements and instructions.
At its core, the FOA is trying to push geothermal technology beyond electricity generation alone by validating practical ways to capture, concentrate, and purify high-value, critical, or strategic materials found in geothermal brines and other produced waters. The underlying idea is that geothermal fluids often carry dissolved minerals and elements that could be commercially useful if extraction can be done reliably and at reasonable cost. If those recovery approaches work at meaningful scale, they could help address U.S. critical materials needs while also improving the overall business case for geothermal plants. The DOE frames this as potentially enabling broader geothermal deployment, including in regions where energy economics alone might not justify development but where mineral co-production could tip the balance.
The FOA is organized around two main topic areas. Topic Area 1, Engineering Validation of Existing Extraction Technologies, is geared toward applicants who can take a material recovery process and prove it works for geothermal fluids or produced waters in an engineering sense, not just in theory. This includes adapting technologies already used in other industries (for example, processes proven in mining, chemical processing, or water treatment) and demonstrating that they can be transferred to geothermal brines, which can be chemically complex and harsh. It also includes advancing approaches that have already shown experimental promise for recovering target materials from these fluids, with the emphasis on validation of the process or procedure for real-world geothermal conditions.
Topic Area 2, U.S. Regional or Nationwide Assessment of High Value Materials in U.S. Geothermal Fluids and Produced Fluids, is more about building a shared knowledge base than proving a single extraction device or process. Here, DOE is looking for approaches that can quickly and economically create a public, U.S.-wide assessment of where dissolved critical and high-value materials occur in geothermal and produced fluids. The assessment could be site-specific, regional, or national in scope, but the aim is a coherent resource picture that others can use for planning and investment decisions. Successful proposals under this topic are expected to show strong capability in understanding geologic settings as well as in sampling strategy, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation, since consistency and credibility of the measurements are central to making the assessment useful.
The announcement strongly encourages collaboration, especially teams that bring together industry, national laboratories, and universities, and it indicates that teaming will be weighed positively during review. Applicants are also encouraged to coordinate with the DOE Critical Materials Institute led by Ames Laboratory, signaling that DOE wants projects aligned with broader federal critical-materials priorities and wants results that integrate well with existing research and data efforts.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, collaboration on milestones, technical direction, or go/no-go decision points). The eligible applicant category is listed as unrestricted, implying a broad range of organizations may apply if they meet the FOA requirements. The award ceiling is listed as $1,600,000, and the original application closing date was February 29, 2016. Applications had to be submitted through the EERE eXCHANGE website, and applicants needed to register and submit through that system to be considered. The FOA and the modification are accessed through EERE eXCHANGE, which also provides guidance materials (including a user guide) and specific points of contact for questions about the announcement content and about submission mechanics.Apply for DE FOA 0001376
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mineral Recovery Phase II - Geothermal Concepts And Approaches To Validate Extraction" 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 2015-12-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-02-29. (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 $1,600,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Mineral Recovery Phase II - Geothermal Concepts And Approaches To Validate Extraction FOA?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity titled "Mineral Recovery Phase II - Geothermal Concepts And Approaches To Validate Extraction" (DE-FOA-0001376). It is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office and focuses on making geothermal projects more economically attractive by adding a second revenue source: recovering valuable dissolved materials from the same hot fluids already produced for geothermal power or heat.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The goal is to validate practical ways to capture, concentrate, and purify high-value, critical, or strategic materials found dissolved in geothermal brines and other produced waters, while leveraging existing geothermal fluid production. DOE presents mineral co-production as a pathway to improve geothermal project economics and potentially support U.S. critical materials needs.
Why is DOE interested in mineral recovery from geothermal fluids?
Geothermal fluids can contain dissolved minerals and elements that may be commercially useful if extraction is reliable and cost-effective. If recovery approaches work at meaningful scale, they could create a second revenue stream for geothermal facilities and potentially enable broader geothermal deployment, including in locations where energy revenue alone may not justify development.
What kinds of fluids are addressed by the FOA?
The FOA focuses on geothermal brines and other produced waters (also described as produced fluids). These fluids can be chemically complex, and the FOA highlights the need to validate extraction approaches under real-world geothermal conditions.
How is the FOA organized?
The FOA is organized into two main topic areas: (1) engineering validation of existing extraction technologies and (2) a U.S. regional or nationwide assessment of high-value materials in U.S. geothermal fluids and produced fluids.
What is Topic Area 1 about?
Topic Area 1, "Engineering Validation of Existing Extraction Technologies," supports projects that can demonstrate that a material recovery process works for geothermal fluids or produced waters in an engineering sense, not just as a concept. This includes adapting technologies used in other industries (such as mining, chemical processing, or water treatment) to geothermal brines and validating performance under geothermal-relevant conditions.
Does Topic Area 1 allow adapting technology from other industries?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes adapting extraction processes that are already proven in other industries and demonstrating that they can be transferred to geothermal brines, which may be harsh and chemically complex.
What does DOE mean by "engineering validation" in Topic Area 1?
Based on the FOA description provided, engineering validation means proving an extraction process works in practical, real-world geothermal conditions, beyond laboratory theory. The emphasis is on validating the process or procedure for geothermal fluids and produced waters.
What is Topic Area 2 about?
Topic Area 2, "U.S. Regional or Nationwide Assessment of High Value Materials in U.S. Geothermal Fluids and Produced Fluids," focuses on building a shared public knowledge base. DOE is seeking approaches that can quickly and economically create a coherent U.S.-wide assessment of where dissolved critical and high-value materials occur in geothermal and produced fluids.
Is Topic Area 2 limited to a national assessment only?
No. The assessment may be site-specific, regional, or national in scope. However, the FOA emphasizes the goal of creating a coherent resource picture that can be used by others for planning and investment decisions.
What capabilities are important for Topic Area 2 proposals?
The FOA indicates successful proposals should demonstrate strong capability in understanding geologic settings and in sampling strategy, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation. Consistency and credibility of measurements are described as central to producing a useful assessment.
Does the FOA encourage collaboration or teaming?
Yes. The announcement strongly encourages collaboration, particularly teams that include industry, national laboratories, and universities. Teaming is indicated as being weighed positively during the review process.
Is coordination with the DOE Critical Materials Institute encouraged?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with the DOE Critical Materials Institute led by Ames Laboratory, signaling DOE's interest in alignment with broader federal critical-materials priorities and integration with existing research and data efforts.
Which DOE office administers this opportunity?
The FOA is a DOE effort administered through the Golden Field Office.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
The FOA uses a cooperative agreement mechanism. This typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on milestones, technical direction, and/or go/no-go decision points.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "unrestricted," which implies that a broad range of organizations may apply, provided they meet the FOA requirements.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,600,000.
When was the application closing date?
The original application closing date was February 29, 2016.
How were applications submitted?
Applications had to be submitted through the EERE eXCHANGE website. Applicants needed to register and submit through that system to be considered.
Where can applicants find the FOA and its updates?
The FOA is accessed through the EERE eXCHANGE portal. The notice emphasizes that the announcement was modified (Modification 0001), and applicants are expected to review the updated version on EERE eXCHANGE to ensure they are using current requirements and instructions.
What is Modification 0001 and why does it matter?
Modification 0001 is an update to the original announcement. The FOA highlights that applicants are expected to review the modified version on EERE eXCHANGE so they follow the most current requirements and submission instructions.
Does EERE eXCHANGE provide guidance for submitting an application?
Yes. EERE eXCHANGE provides guidance materials, including a user guide, and it includes specific points of contact for questions about FOA content and submission mechanics.
What kinds of outcomes is DOE trying to enable through this FOA?
DOE is aiming to move geothermal development beyond electricity generation alone by validating mineral recovery methods and/or developing a credible resource picture of dissolved high-value materials in geothermal and produced fluids. The intended impact is improved geothermal economics through mineral co-production and better information for planning and investment decisions.
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