Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003003
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is seeking grant applications under the funding opportunity titled Science Foundations for Energy Earthshots (DE-FOA-0003003). The core purpose of this opportunity is to fund basic research that strengthens the scientific underpinnings needed to achieve DOE's Energy Earthshots initiative, a department-wide effort aimed at delivering major clean energy breakthroughs on aggressive timelines. The Earthshots concept is built around setting clear, ambitious targets for cost, performance, and deployment, then aligning research and development across DOE programs to make those targets achievable. In practice, this FOA is meant to support early-stage, foundational science that can unlock future technology progress, rather than late-stage product development.
The opportunity is framed as part of an "all-hands-on-deck" approach that links DOE's basic science portfolio with applied energy technology offices to tackle difficult technical barriers standing in the way of U.S. climate and economic competitiveness goals. It explicitly connects to broader federal planning documents on innovation needs for meeting 2050 climate objectives and transportation decarbonization strategies, signaling that DOE is looking for research that can eventually translate into real-world clean energy impact. While the FOA does not list specific technical topics in the excerpt provided, the intent is to generate the scientific knowledge, tools, and validated understanding that Earthshot-aligned technology pathways will rely on, such as new materials behavior, chemical and physical mechanisms, measurement and characterization methods, modeling capabilities, or other fundamental advances that reduce uncertainty and open new design space.
DOE indicates the FOA will support small teams, which implies proposals should be tightly scoped, highly collaborative, and focused on a compelling scientific bottleneck whose resolution would meaningfully advance one or more Earthshot goals. The emphasis on "building the scientific foundations" suggests reviewers will likely look for a strong basic research question, a clear explanation of why it is a limiting factor for Earthshot progress, a credible plan for producing broadly useful scientific outcomes, and deliverables that enable subsequent applied R and D or scale-up efforts.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the DOE Office of Science, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 81.049. The funding instruments include grants and potentially other mechanisms. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language in the full announcement. The FOA was created March 21, 2023, with an original application closing date of June 21, 2023. DOE anticipated making about 25 awards, with an award ceiling listed at $6,000,000, indicating that some projects could be funded at a multi-million-dollar level depending on scope, duration, and program fit.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as DOE Office of Science investing in the basic science that makes ambitious clean energy cost and performance targets realistic. Competitive applications would connect a high-impact fundamental research plan to Earthshot needs, show why a small, focused team can deliver decisive advances, and articulate how the resulting scientific insights, datasets, methods, or models would accelerate progress toward abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions.Apply for DE FOA 0003003
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science Foundations for Energy Earthshots" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2023. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- 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): Science Foundations for Energy Earthshots (DE-FOA-0003003)
What is the name and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Science Foundations for Energy Earthshots and is identified as DE-FOA-0003003.
Which DOE office is sponsoring this opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
What is the core purpose of this FOA?
The core purpose is to fund basic research that strengthens the scientific foundations needed to achieve DOE's Energy Earthshots initiative. The emphasis is on early-stage science that can unlock future technology progress rather than late-stage product development.
What are the DOE Energy Earthshots?
The Energy Earthshots initiative is a department-wide effort aimed at delivering major clean energy breakthroughs on aggressive timelines. The Earthshots concept focuses on setting clear, ambitious targets for cost, performance, and deployment, then aligning DOE research and development to make those targets achievable.
Is this funding intended for basic research or technology commercialization?
This FOA is positioned to support foundational, early-stage basic research that builds validated understanding and scientific tools that future applied R&D and scale-up efforts can rely on, rather than late-stage product development or commercialization activities.
How does this FOA relate to clean energy outcomes if it is basic research?
DOE frames this as an "all-hands-on-deck" approach that connects basic science to applied technology needs. The expectation is that fundamental advances produced by this FOA will reduce uncertainty, open new design space, and remove scientific bottlenecks that currently limit Earthshot-aligned technology pathways.
Does the excerpt list specific technical topic areas?
No. In the information provided, the FOA excerpt does not list specific technical topics. Instead, it describes the intent to support scientific knowledge, tools, and validated understanding that Earthshot-aligned pathways will depend on.
What kinds of research outputs does DOE appear to be seeking?
Based on the description, DOE is looking for foundational outputs such as improved understanding of materials behavior, chemical and physical mechanisms, new measurement and characterization methods, modeling capabilities, and other fundamental advances that reduce uncertainty and enable subsequent applied research and development.
What does "Science Foundations" mean in the context of this FOA?
"Science Foundations" refers to the fundamental scientific underpinnings that make ambitious cost and performance targets realistic. This includes generating validated knowledge, methods, datasets, or models that others can use to accelerate applied R&D and engineering progress aligned with Earthshot goals.
How should an applicant connect a basic research idea to an Earthshot?
The FOA description indicates that competitive applications will connect a high-impact fundamental research plan to an Earthshot need by clearly explaining: (1) the scientific bottleneck, (2) why it limits Earthshot progress, and (3) how the proposed work will produce broadly useful outcomes that accelerate Earthshot-aligned technology pathways.
What size and structure of research teams does DOE expect?
DOE indicates the FOA will support small teams. This implies proposals should be tightly scoped, collaborative, and organized around a compelling scientific bottleneck where a focused team can deliver decisive foundational advances.
What might reviewers look for based on the stated emphasis?
Based on the description provided, reviewers will likely look for a strong basic research question, a clear rationale for why it is limiting Earthshot progress, a credible plan for producing broadly useful scientific outcomes, and deliverables that enable later applied R&D or scale-up efforts.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The listed funding instruments include grants and potentially other mechanisms.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the DOE Office of Science.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 81.049.
What category does this FOA fall under?
It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full announcement.
How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 25 awards.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount mentioned?
The award ceiling listed is $6,000,000, indicating some projects could be funded at a multi-million-dollar level depending on scope, duration, and program fit.
When was the FOA created and what was the original closing date?
The FOA was created on March 21, 2023, and the original application closing date was June 21, 2023.
How does DOE position this FOA within broader federal climate and innovation planning?
The FOA explicitly connects to broader federal planning documents on innovation needs for meeting 2050 climate objectives and transportation decarbonization strategies, signaling interest in science that can translate into real-world clean energy impact over time.
What is the overall goal of the program in plain terms?
In plain terms, this FOA is DOE Office of Science investing in the foundational science that helps make ambitious clean energy cost and performance targets achievable, by solving key scientific uncertainties and barriers that stand in the way of Earthshot progress.
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