Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002240
The RANGE EXTENDERS FOR ELECTRIC AVIATION WITH LOW CARBON AND HIGH EFFICIENCY (REEACH) funding opportunity is a Department of Energy effort run through ARPA-E (the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy) to push high-risk, high-reward technologies that could materially cut greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aviation. ARPA-E was created by Congress to strengthen US economic and energy security by accelerating advanced energy technologies that reduce energy-related emissions, improve efficiency across the economy, and help maintain US technological leadership. In line with ARPA-E's mission, REEACH targets transformational applied research and experimental development that is still too early for typical private-sector investment, but promising enough that a focused, time-bounded program could meaningfully advance it toward real-world adoption.
The core technical goal of REEACH is to enable lower-carbon long-range commercial flight by developing a "range extender" component for electrified aircraft propulsion. ARPA-E's broader vision is an ultra-high-efficiency aircraft propulsion architecture that combines electrification with Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuels (CNLFs). The program is motivated by a practical challenge: even if carbon-neutral liquid fuels can be produced at scale, they are expected to be more expensive than conventional jet fuel and/or have lower specific energy than fossil-based jet fuel. That means efficiency becomes the make-or-break factor for economics and aircraft performance. REEACH therefore emphasizes ultra-high conversion efficiency in turning the chemical energy stored in carbon-neutral liquids into usable electrical power on the aircraft.
Within ARPA-E's conceptual electrified propulsion framework, multiple onboard energy sources could be blended (for example, carbon-neutral liquid fuel plus batteries) to support emerging aircraft propulsion concepts such as distributed propulsion. In that architecture, the REEACH program is specifically focused on the subsystem that converts the chemical energy in energy-dense carbon-neutral liquid fuels into electric power that can run both propulsion and aircraft "hotel loads" (the onboard electrical needs not directly tied to thrust, such as avionics, environmental control, lighting, and other systems). The FOA makes clear that the all-electric powertrain itself is being pursued under a separate ARPA-E funding opportunity; REEACH is aimed at the fuel-to-electric conversion element that effectively extends range while keeping emissions near net zero when paired with truly carbon-neutral fuels.
From an applicant and award structure standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002240) was issued as a discretionary R&D program using cooperative agreements, which typically means substantial federal involvement during the project in areas like milestone tracking, technical direction, and go/no-go decisions. The activity category is science and technology R&D (CFDA 81.135). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organization types can apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full FOA. ARPA-E also notes that submissions must go through its ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal, and it will not consider materials submitted through other channels.
In terms of funding scale and timing as provided in the notice, the program anticipated roughly 10 awards with an award ceiling of up to $10,000,000 per project. The posting date is December 16, 2019, with a concept paper deadline of January 31, 2020 at 9:30 AM ET (and an explicit recommendation to submit concept papers at least 48 hours early). Like other ARPA-E awards, projects funded under this FOA would be subject to the federal assistance rules in 2 CFR Part 200 (as amended) and 2 CFR Part 910, reflecting standard DOE financial assistance compliance expectations.
Overall, REEACH is best understood as an ARPA-E push to make electrified aviation practical for longer-range, narrow-body commercial aircraft by attacking one of the hardest gaps: efficiently converting carbon-neutral liquid fuel energy into electrical power onboard. The program frames success not simply as incremental improvements, but as creating a new performance-and-cost trajectory that could ultimately support disruptive adoption at scale, helping aviation move toward net-zero carbon outcomes without sacrificing the range and operational flexibility that commercial airlines require.Apply for DE FOA 0002240
- The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RANGE EXTENDERS FOR ELECTRIC AVIATION WITH LOW CARBON AND HIGH EFFICIENCY (REEACH)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 16, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 31, 2020 Concept Papers are due no later than 930 AM ET, January 31, 2020. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit concept papers 48 hours in advance.. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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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REEACH (DE-FOA-0002240) Grant Opportunity: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the REEACH funding opportunity?
REEACH stands for "Range Extenders for Electric Aviation with Low Carbon and High Efficiency." It is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity run through ARPA-E (the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy). The program is designed to support high-risk, high-reward R&D aimed at materially reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aviation.
2. Who is running this program and why does ARPA-E exist?
The program is administered by ARPA-E within the Department of Energy. ARPA-E was created by Congress to strengthen U.S. economic and energy security by accelerating advanced energy technologies that reduce energy-related emissions, improve efficiency across the economy, and help maintain U.S. technological leadership.
3. What problem is REEACH trying to solve in aviation?
REEACH targets a key barrier to lower-carbon long-range commercial flight: how to efficiently convert the chemical energy stored in carbon-neutral liquid fuels into electrical power onboard an electrified aircraft. The program emphasizes ultra-high conversion efficiency because carbon-neutral liquid fuels are expected to be more expensive than conventional jet fuel and/or have lower specific energy than fossil-based jet fuel, making efficiency critical for both economics and performance.
4. What is meant by a "range extender" in the REEACH context?
In this program, a "range extender" is the subsystem that converts energy-dense carbon-neutral liquid fuels into electric power onboard the aircraft. That electric power can support propulsion and also provide electricity for aircraft "hotel loads" (the non-thrust electrical needs such as avionics, environmental control, lighting, and other systems).
5. What is ARPA-E's broader propulsion vision referenced in the opportunity?
ARPA-E describes a vision for an ultra-high-efficiency aircraft propulsion architecture that combines electrification with Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuels (CNLFs). REEACH is positioned as a key enabling component within that broader concept.
6. Does REEACH fund the full electric powertrain for aircraft?
No. The notice states that the all-electric powertrain is being pursued under a separate ARPA-E funding opportunity. REEACH focuses specifically on the fuel-to-electric conversion element that would extend aircraft range when paired with carbon-neutral liquid fuels.
7. What types of aircraft or missions is the program trying to enable?
The program is framed as a push to make electrified aviation practical for longer-range, narrow-body commercial aircraft by addressing one of the hardest gaps: efficient onboard conversion of carbon-neutral liquid fuel energy into electrical power.
8. Why does REEACH emphasize conversion efficiency so strongly?
The program rationale is that even if carbon-neutral liquid fuels can be produced at scale, they may cost more than conventional jet fuel and/or provide lower specific energy. In either case, efficiency becomes the deciding factor for economic viability and aircraft performance, so REEACH prioritizes ultra-high conversion efficiency in transforming chemical fuel energy into electrical power.
9. How does REEACH relate to hybrid or blended onboard energy sources?
Within ARPA-E's conceptual electrified propulsion framework, multiple energy sources could be blended onboard (for example, carbon-neutral liquid fuel plus batteries). REEACH fits into that architecture by focusing on the component that turns carbon-neutral liquid fuel into electricity to support propulsion concepts such as distributed propulsion and to serve aircraft electrical loads.
10. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for REEACH?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is DE-FOA-0002240.
11. What type of award instrument does this opportunity use?
This opportunity was issued as a discretionary R&D program using cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements typically involve substantial federal involvement during the project, including activities like milestone tracking, technical direction, and go/no-go decisions.
12. What is the activity category and assistance listing information given?
The activity category is Science and Technology R&D. The CFDA listing provided is 81.135.
13. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organization types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full FOA.
14. Where and how must applications be submitted?
Submissions must go through ARPA-E's eXCHANGE portal. ARPA-E notes it will not consider materials submitted through other channels.
15. How many awards were anticipated and what was the maximum award size?
The notice anticipated roughly 10 awards. The award ceiling was up to $10,000,000 per project.
16. What were the key dates mentioned in the notice?
The posting date was December 16, 2019. The concept paper deadline was January 31, 2020 at 9:30 AM Eastern Time. The notice also explicitly recommended submitting concept papers at least 48 hours early.
17. Are concept papers part of the process for this opportunity?
Yes. The notice includes a concept paper deadline and specifically advises applicants to submit concept papers early (at least 48 hours before the deadline).
18. What federal rules govern awards made under this FOA?
Projects funded under this FOA would be subject to federal assistance rules in 2 CFR Part 200 (as amended) and 2 CFR Part 910, reflecting standard DOE financial assistance compliance expectations.
19. What does ARPA-E mean by "transformational applied research and experimental development" here?
Within the framing provided, REEACH is aimed at applied research and experimental development that is still too early for typical private-sector investment, but promising enough that a focused, time-bounded ARPA-E program could meaningfully advance it toward real-world adoption.
20. What does program "success" look like according to the description?
Success is framed as more than incremental improvement. The program is positioned as creating a new performance-and-cost trajectory that could support disruptive adoption at scale, helping aviation move toward net-zero carbon outcomes while maintaining the range and operational flexibility commercial airlines require.
21. What are "hotel loads" and why are they mentioned?
"Hotel loads" are the onboard electrical needs not directly tied to thrust, such as avionics, environmental control, lighting, and other systems. REEACH highlights that the fuel-to-electric conversion system could provide power for both propulsion and these non-propulsive electrical demands.
22. How does REEACH address greenhouse gas emissions?
REEACH is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aviation by enabling electrified propulsion supported by carbon-neutral liquid fuels. When paired with truly carbon-neutral fuels, the range-extender concept is described as helping keep emissions near net zero.
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