DOA announces $50mn for large-scale pilot fossil fuel projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made $50mn available to design, construct, and operate two large-scale pilots for transformational coal technologies that improve coal-powered systems’ performance, efficiency, emission reduction, and cost of electricity.

DOE has supported a range of potentially transformational coal technologies aimed at enabling step-change improvements in coal-powered systems.

Some of these technologies are now ready to proceed to the large-scale pilot stage of development.

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Applicants for the funding opportunity should have already demonstrated technical success at a small-scale pilot stage, and a 20% minimum cost share on total award values is required.

The FOA will involve three phases, with down-selections made between phases:

• Phase I (Feasibility) will support efforts to secure team commitments; update the preliminary cost estimate and schedule for design, construction, and operation; secure construction/operation cost-share funding; and complete an environmental information volume.
• Phase II (Design) selected projects will complete a front-end engineering design study, and complete the National Environmental Policy Act process.
• Phase III (Construction/Operation) will ultimately be the two, final projects selected to support construction and operation of the large-scale pilot facilities.