Strategies for Improving or Creating Emission Reduction Technology and Byproduct Utilization for Hazardous Substances Resulting from Coal Combustion | DE FOA 0002109

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002109

The opportunity titled "Strategies for Improving or Creating Emission Reduction Technology and Byproduct Utilization for Hazardous Substances Resulting from Coal Combustion" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002109) is not an actual grant competition or a call for proposals. It is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The central purpose is to gather input from stakeholders, researchers, technology developers, industry participants, and other interested parties about potential approaches to reduce emissions of hazardous substances associated with coal combustion and to improve the handling, use, or conversion of combustion byproducts. Because it is an RFI, the agency is asking for ideas, data, and perspectives rather than accepting project applications, and there is no funding being awarded under this notice.

The RFI focuses on two broad themes that often go together in coal combustion environmental management: (1) emission reduction technologies that can prevent or minimize the release of hazardous substances, and (2) byproduct utilization strategies that can turn coal combustion residuals into useful materials or products, potentially reducing waste and environmental risk. In practice, this could include concepts related to capturing or controlling trace metals and other hazardous air pollutants, improving performance or cost of existing control systems, developing new materials or sorbents, integrating control technologies into plant operations more effectively, or creating pathways to beneficially use ash and other residuals in ways that stabilize or immobilize hazardous constituents. The title makes clear that the emphasis is on hazardous substances tied to coal combustion, which commonly includes trace elements and pollutants that can present health or environmental concerns if not well controlled.

Administrative details in the source data show it was posted with a creation date of March 26, 2019, and an original closing date of May 6, 2019, which in the context of an RFI typically represents the deadline for submitting responses or comments to DOE. The listing carries CFDA number 81.089, which relates to DOE research, development, and demonstration activities, and it identifies the opportunity category, instrument type, and activity category as "Other," reflecting that this is not a standard financial assistance mechanism like a cooperative agreement or grant solicitation. "Eligible Applicants" is broadly listed as "Others," which is consistent with an RFI where the agency generally welcomes input from a wide range of entities rather than restricting participation to traditional applicant categories.

Although the record includes fields such as "Award Ceiling: 2" and "Expected Awards:" these fields are not meaningful in the way they would be for a real funding opportunity, because DOE explicitly states multiple times that it is not accepting applications and that this is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement. The repeated disclaimer in the description is the key takeaway: no awards will be made, and no applications will be reviewed. Instead, the government is collecting information to help shape future program planning, define research priorities, assess technical readiness and gaps, and potentially inform a later Funding Opportunity Announcement or other procurement or assistance action.

In short, DE-FOA-0002109 should be read as a market and stakeholder sounding exercise by NETL/DOE about technologies and strategies to reduce hazardous emissions from coal combustion and to increase beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts. The actionable step for interested parties at the time would have been to submit an informational response by the stated deadline, with the understanding that doing so could influence the scope and design of future DOE-funded research or demonstration opportunities, but would not result in immediate funding under this notice.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategies for Improving or Creating Emission Reduction Technology and Byproduct Utilization for Hazardous Substances Resulting from Coal Combustion" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-06. (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 $2.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0002109

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