Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001821
The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), working through the Solar Energy Technologies Office, published a Notice of Intent (NOI) indicating it may release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on "Solar Desalination." The basic idea behind the planned program is to fund research, development, and possibly early demonstrations of new approaches that can make desalination cheaper when it is powered by solar thermal energy (heat) instead of relying on electricity. The NOI frames this as a pathway to reduce the cost of producing fresh water by improving both the way solar thermal energy is collected and stored and the way thermal desalination processes convert that heat into clean water.
A central motivation in the NOI is cost and energy-value matching. Traditional reverse osmosis desalination largely depends on electricity, which is described as a high-value energy input. By contrast, solar thermal desalination aims to use solar-generated heat more directly. The opportunity emphasizes that costs could be reduced if innovators can lower the cost of collecting, transporting, and storing solar thermal energy and simultaneously raise the efficiency of thermal desalination systems. The notice also points out a technical advantage of thermal desalination: it can be applied across a wide range of salinity levels, which makes it particularly appealing for difficult use cases such as very high-salinity feedwaters and zero-liquid discharge concepts where brine disposal is heavily constrained.
The NOI outlines four anticipated Areas of Interest that signal what a future FOA could fund. The first area focuses on low-cost solar thermal heat, meaning concepts that could drive down the cost of solar thermal collection, heat transport, and thermal storage below conventional heat-generation methods. The second area targets innovative thermal desalination techniques, specifically novel and early-stage thermal desalination technologies that pair well with solar heat. The third area moves toward system-level thinking, encouraging integrated solar thermal desalination systems that can demonstrate credible potential for delivering low-cost desalinated water when the solar thermal and desalination subsystems are designed together. The fourth area is analytical and modeling focused, calling for tools such as system models that can evaluate economics, optimize resources, and help compare configurations for solar thermal desalination in realistic settings.
In terms of administrative details, this posting is explicitly not a live solicitation and it does not accept applications. It is only an NOI, meaning DOE is signaling interest and potential direction, but it may ultimately issue a FOA as described, issue a substantially different FOA, or decide not to issue a FOA at all. The opportunity is listed under the Department of Energy (Golden Field Office) with a discretionary funding category, and the anticipated award instrument type is a cooperative agreement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language that would appear in the eventual FOA. The notice is identified as DE-FOA-0001821, associated with CFDA 81.087, and was created on September 11, 2017. No award timeline, closing date, or expected number of awards is provided in the NOI itself (it lists expected awards as 0), reinforcing that this is purely advance notice rather than an open competition. The notice also instructs the public not to submit questions or respond to the NOI.Apply for DE FOA 0001821
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent (NOI) - Solar Desalination" 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 Sep 11, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by N/A as this is a Notice of Intent. (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 $1.00 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) - DOE EERE Solar Desalination Notice of Intent (DE-FOA-0001821)
1) What is this opportunity?
This posting is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), issued through the Solar Energy Technologies Office. It signals that DOE may release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on "Solar Desalination."
2) Is this a live funding solicitation?
No. The posting is explicitly not a live solicitation. It does not accept applications and is not currently offering funds for competition.
3) Can I apply or submit an application in response to this NOI?
No. The NOI does not accept applications.
4) Should I submit questions or respond to the NOI?
No. The notice instructs the public not to submit questions or respond to the NOI.
5) What is the program focus described in the NOI?
The planned program focus described in the NOI is "Solar Desalination," with an emphasis on research, development, and possibly early demonstrations of approaches that can reduce the cost of desalination when powered by solar thermal energy (heat), rather than relying primarily on electricity.
6) What problem is DOE trying to address with solar thermal desalination?
The NOI frames the motivation as lowering the cost of producing fresh water by improving (1) how solar thermal energy is collected and stored and (2) how thermal desalination processes convert that heat into clean water.
7) Why does the NOI emphasize "cost and energy-value matching"?
The NOI highlights that traditional reverse osmosis desalination largely depends on electricity, characterized as a high-value energy input. Solar thermal desalination aims to use solar-generated heat more directly. The opportunity suggests costs could be reduced by lowering the cost of collecting, transporting, and storing solar thermal energy while increasing the efficiency of thermal desalination systems.
8) How does the NOI position solar thermal desalination relative to reverse osmosis?
The NOI contrasts reverse osmosis (electricity-dependent) with solar thermal desalination (heat-driven) and suggests that directly using solar heat could be a pathway to lower desalinated water costs, assuming innovations reduce solar thermal system costs and improve desalination efficiency.
9) What technical advantage of thermal desalination is highlighted?
The NOI notes that thermal desalination can be applied across a wide range of salinity levels. This makes it appealing for difficult use cases such as very high-salinity feedwaters and zero-liquid discharge concepts where brine disposal is heavily constrained.
10) What are the anticipated Areas of Interest (AOIs) in the NOI?
The NOI outlines four anticipated Areas of Interest that indicate what a future FOA could fund: (1) low-cost solar thermal heat, (2) innovative thermal desalination techniques, (3) integrated solar thermal desalination systems, and (4) analysis and modeling tools.
11) What does the "low-cost solar thermal heat" AOI cover?
This area focuses on concepts that could drive down the cost of solar thermal collection, heat transport, and thermal storage below conventional heat-generation methods.
12) What does the "innovative thermal desalination techniques" AOI cover?
This area targets novel and early-stage thermal desalination technologies that pair well with solar heat.
13) What does the "integrated solar thermal desalination systems" AOI cover?
This area emphasizes system-level integration and encourages designs where solar thermal and desalination subsystems are designed together, with the goal of demonstrating credible potential for delivering low-cost desalinated water.
14) What does the "analysis and modeling" AOI cover?
This area calls for analytical tools such as system models that can evaluate economics, optimize resources, and compare configurations for solar thermal desalination in realistic settings.
15) What types of activities might a future FOA include, based on the NOI?
Based on the NOI, a future FOA could include research, development, and possibly early demonstrations related to solar thermal energy collection/transport/storage and thermal desalination processes, including integrated system approaches and analytical/modeling tool development.
16) Will DOE definitely issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for this topic?
No. The NOI states DOE may issue a FOA as described, may issue a substantially different FOA, or may decide not to issue a FOA at all.
17) What DOE office is associated with this NOI?
The NOI is associated with DOE EERE, working through the Solar Energy Technologies Office.
18) Which DOE field office is listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Department of Energy (Golden Field Office).
19) What is the funding category listed?
The posting lists a discretionary funding category.
20) What award instrument type is anticipated if a FOA is released?
The anticipated award instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
21) Who is eligible, according to the NOI?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language that would appear in the eventual FOA.
22) What is the opportunity or notice identifier?
The notice is identified as DE-FOA-0001821.
23) What CFDA number is associated with this NOI?
The NOI is associated with CFDA 81.087.
24) When was this notice created?
The notice was created on September 11, 2017.
25) Is there a deadline or closing date listed?
No. The NOI does not provide a closing date.
26) Does the NOI provide an award timeline or expected number of awards?
No. The NOI provides no award timeline, and it lists expected awards as 0, reinforcing that it is advance notice rather than an open competition.
27) What is the main cost-reduction strategy implied by the NOI?
The NOI suggests that desalinated water costs could be reduced by combining lower-cost solar thermal heat (including collection, transport, and storage) with higher-efficiency thermal desalination processes, particularly when systems are designed in an integrated way.
28) What kinds of real-world constraints or scenarios does the NOI mention?
The NOI specifically mentions high-salinity feedwaters and zero-liquid discharge concepts where brine disposal is heavily constrained, as scenarios where thermal desalination may be especially appealing.
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