Some Deadlines Extended by Solar Energy Technologies Office 

WASHINGTON — The Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office has several funding opportunity deadlines approaching, some of which have been extended.

The two deadlines that have been extended are for the office’s Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration funding opportunity. 

Through this opportunity, the office will award $26 million in funding for projects that demonstrate the reliable operation of a power system that has up to 100% of its power contribution coming from solar, wind and battery storage resources.

Projects in this funding opportunity will support the development of controls and methods for inverter-based resources like solar and wind to provide the same grid services as traditional generation. 

Concept papers are now due Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. Eastern time and full applications are now due Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Though there has been no change to the deadline for the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding opportunity, agency officials remind interested parties that mandatory letters of intent are due on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

The office will award $10 million for the development of collaborative workforce programs that will facilitate the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies while supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for union membership.

It currently expects to make about eight to 16 awards under the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding program, each ranging between $250,000 and $1.5 million.

Agency officials are also soliciting requests for information on the DOE’s Low-Income Community Solar Subscription Platform. 

The agency is seeking advice and information on how it can develop a secure online platform to identify and make community solar subscriptions with verified savings more accessible for households participating in government-run, low-income support programs. 

The deadline to submit to its request for information has been extended to Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Finally, the DOE is soliciting feedback on the structure, timing and selection criteria of its Critical Materials Research Program. 

The request for information is directly related to the creation of a $675 million Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Program funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

The program will address vulnerabilities in the domestic critical materials supply chain, which are both an economic disadvantage and an impediment to the clean energy transition. 

Critical materials, which include rare-earth elements, lithium, nickel and cobalt are required for manufacturing many clean energy technologies, including batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. The program will advance domestic sourcing and production, strengthening America’s position as a global manufacturing leader.

Comments must be received by Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue