Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001730

The University Turbine Systems Research funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001730) is a U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) solicitation aimed at supporting university-led research and development that improves the performance and efficiency of combustion turbines used in combined cycle power plants. The emphasis is on tackling both fundamental scientific barriers and practical engineering challenges that limit next-generation turbine capability in fossil fuel power generation contexts, including integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) systems. The work DOE is looking for is specifically framed as laboratory- or bench-scale R and D, meaning projects should be grounded in experimental validation, prototype concepts, or measurable component-level advances rather than full-scale commercial demonstrations.

The FOA targets six technical areas that collectively reflect the main levers for making advanced air-breathing turbines cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable. First, Low-NOx Combustion Technology Development focuses on reducing nitrogen oxide emissions through improved combustor designs, operating strategies, or combustion approaches that maintain stable, efficient operation while meeting tighter environmental constraints. Second, Advanced Cooling Technology Development addresses the need to manage extremely high temperatures in turbine hot-section components; stronger cooling methods can allow higher firing temperatures, which is one of the most direct pathways to improved combined cycle efficiency. Third, Advanced Materials Technology Development supports innovations in turbine materials and coatings that can tolerate harsh thermal and mechanical environments, resist oxidation and corrosion, and extend component life while enabling higher temperature operation. Fourth, Big Data Analytics signals interest in data-driven methods to improve turbine performance and maintainability, such as using large operational datasets for condition monitoring, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and optimization. Fifth, Advanced Instrumentation covers better sensing and measurement technologies for turbine environments, including sensors capable of surviving high temperatures and pressures and providing more accurate, higher-fidelity data for diagnostics and controls. Sixth, Pressure Gain Combustion supports research into combustion approaches that can deliver a pressure rise across the combustor, a concept that has the potential to improve overall cycle efficiency compared to conventional constant-pressure combustion, but comes with significant integration and operability challenges.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement, indicating DOE expects to have substantial involvement during the execution of projects (for example, through technical direction, milestones, and ongoing collaboration). The eligible applicants are higher education institutions, including both public/state-controlled universities and private universities. The funding falls under CFDA number 81.089 and is classified within Energy, Science and Technology, and other R and D activity categories. The FOA was created on June 8, 2017, with an original closing date of July 20, 2017. DOE anticipated making about nine awards, with an award ceiling of $5,150,000, suggesting a competitive program designed to fund multiple university teams working on distinct but complementary turbine-advancement problems within the six topic areas.

  • The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Turbine Systems Research" 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 Jun 08, 2017.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 20, 2017. (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 $5,150,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
Apply for DE FOA 0001730

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the University Turbine Systems Research funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001730)?

University Turbine Systems Research (DE-FOA-0001730) is a U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL) solicitation that supports university-led research and development (R&D) aimed at improving the performance and efficiency of combustion turbines used in combined cycle power plants.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to advance next-generation turbine capability by addressing both fundamental scientific barriers and practical engineering challenges that limit turbine performance, efficiency, emissions, and reliability in fossil-fuel power generation contexts.

Which turbine and power plant contexts does the FOA focus on?

The FOA focuses on combustion turbines used in combined cycle power plants, including contexts such as integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) systems.

What scale of research and development is DOE/NETL looking for?

The work is specifically framed as laboratory- or bench-scale R&D. This means projects should be grounded in experimental validation, prototype concepts, or measurable component-level advances rather than full-scale commercial demonstrations.

Does this program support full-scale commercial demonstrations?

No. The FOA emphasizes laboratory- or bench-scale R&D with experimental validation and component-level progress, rather than full-scale commercial demonstration projects.

How many technical areas (topics) are included in the FOA?

The FOA targets six technical areas that reflect key pathways for making advanced air-breathing turbines cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable.

What are the six technical areas covered by this FOA?

The six technical areas are: (1) Low-NOx Combustion Technology Development, (2) Advanced Cooling Technology Development, (3) Advanced Materials Technology Development, (4) Big Data Analytics, (5) Advanced Instrumentation, and (6) Pressure Gain Combustion.

What does "Low-NOx Combustion Technology Development" mean in this FOA?

This area focuses on reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by improving combustor designs, operating strategies, or combustion approaches that maintain stable and efficient operation while meeting tighter environmental constraints.

What does "Advanced Cooling Technology Development" mean in this FOA?

This area addresses managing extremely high temperatures in turbine hot-section components. Improved cooling can enable higher firing temperatures, which is a direct pathway to improving combined cycle efficiency.

What does "Advanced Materials Technology Development" mean in this FOA?

This area supports innovations in turbine materials and coatings that can withstand harsh thermal and mechanical environments, resist oxidation and corrosion, extend component life, and enable higher temperature operation.

What does "Big Data Analytics" mean in this FOA?

This area reflects interest in data-driven approaches to improve turbine performance and maintainability, such as using large operational datasets for condition monitoring, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and optimization.

What does "Advanced Instrumentation" mean in this FOA?

This area focuses on sensing and measurement technologies for turbine environments, including sensors that can survive high temperatures and pressures and provide higher-fidelity data to support diagnostics and control.

What does "Pressure Gain Combustion" mean in this FOA?

This area supports research into combustion approaches that can deliver a pressure rise across the combustor. The concept can potentially improve overall cycle efficiency compared to conventional constant-pressure combustion, but it also presents significant integration and operability challenges.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement indicates DOE expects substantial involvement during the execution of projects, such as providing technical direction, working through milestones, and ongoing collaboration during the project period.

What kind of funding opportunity is this (administrative category)?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are higher education institutions, including public/state-controlled universities and private universities.

Which agency and office are sponsoring this opportunity?

The opportunity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 81.089.

How is this opportunity classified by activity type?

It is classified within Energy, Science and Technology, and other R&D activity categories.

When was the FOA created?

The FOA was created on June 8, 2017.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was July 20, 2017.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated making about nine awards.

What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling is $5,150,000.

What does the combination of about nine awards and a $5,150,000 ceiling suggest about the program?

It suggests a competitive program designed to fund multiple university teams working on distinct but complementary turbine-advancement problems across the six topic areas.

What kinds of results or outputs are implied by the FOA description?

The description implies outcomes such as experimental validation results, prototype concepts, and measurable component-level advances in combustion, cooling, materials/coatings, instrumentation, data analytics, or pressure gain combustion relevant to combined cycle turbine applications.

Is the focus limited to emissions, or does it also include efficiency and reliability?

The FOA emphasizes improvements that make turbines cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable, spanning emissions reduction (such as Low-NOx), efficiency gains (such as higher firing temperature enabled by cooling/materials and pressure gain combustion), and improved maintainability/uptime (such as big data analytics and advanced instrumentation).

Is the R&D limited to purely theoretical studies?

No. While fundamental scientific barriers are part of the emphasis, the FOA is specifically framed as laboratory- or bench-scale R&D, indicating an expectation of experimental validation, prototype concepts, or measurable component-level advances.

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