Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003057
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Silicon Solar Manufacturing, and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003057) is a U.S. Department of Energy program run through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). It is designed to accelerate the development of new solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies with a clear emphasis on strengthening U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity, improving U.S. competitiveness in solar, and reducing supply chain vulnerabilities that can affect the availability and affordability of solar energy systems.
The FOA plans to invest a total of $45 million over a three-year period, supporting multiple projects rather than a single large award. DOE anticipates making around 12 awards, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $10,000,000 per project. Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE will be more hands-on than in a standard grant, staying actively involved through milestones, technical direction, and ongoing project engagement to help ensure the work stays aligned with program goals and delivers usable outcomes.
This opportunity is partially funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL). A key statutory foundation cited in the announcement is BIL Section 41007(c)(2), known as the Advanced Solar Energy Manufacturing Initiative, which provides $20 million for this type of activity and traces its authorization back to the Energy Act of 2020. The FOA also notes that additional funding comes from FY2023 appropriations authorized under the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z, Section 3004(b), 42 U.S.C. 16238(b)). In practical terms, DOE is blending BIL funding and other authorized DOE solar manufacturing funding streams to support a larger portfolio focused on PV innovation and manufacturability.
Programmatically, the FOA is centered on photovoltaics and, in particular, the manufacturability of low-cost, high-quality solar systems. The title signals emphasis on silicon solar manufacturing as well as "dual-use" photovoltaics, which generally refers to PV technologies designed to serve more than one function or to be deployed in ways that provide additional benefits beyond electricity generation (for example, PV integrated into built environments or land uses where energy generation and another use can coexist). The incubator framing suggests DOE is looking for efforts that help move promising PV concepts closer to scalable manufacturing and market readiness, not just lab-scale demonstrations.
The broader policy goals are also explicit: the FOA aligns with the federal push to rebuild and secure domestic manufacturing and supply chains for critical clean energy technologies. It is positioned as part of a government-wide approach to ensuring the clean energy transition delivers economic and workforce benefits, strengthens energy security, supports efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and advances environmental justice. In other words, DOE is not only funding technical improvements in PV technology; it is also trying to shape where and how those technologies are made, how resilient the supply chains are, and how benefits are distributed as solar deployment expands.
In terms of applicant eligibility, the opportunity is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses, making it particularly oriented toward larger companies or corporate entities with the capacity to execute sizable, multi-year R&D and manufacturing-scale efforts. The assistance listing is CFDA 81.087, the administering office is the Department of Energy Golden Field Office, and the FOA was originally posted July 6, 2023 with an original closing date of November 14, 2023.Apply for DE FOA 0003057
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Silicon Solar Manufacturing, and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 06, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2023. (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 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Silicon Solar Manufacturing, and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator" and is identified as FOA DE-FOA-0003057.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity.
What DOE offices are running the program?
The program is run through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA is designed to accelerate the development of new solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, with a clear focus on strengthening U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity, improving U.S. competitiveness in solar, and reducing supply chain vulnerabilities that affect the availability and affordability of solar energy systems.
What technology areas does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA is centered on photovoltaics (PV), with emphasis on silicon solar manufacturing and "dual-use" photovoltaics, alongside a strong focus on manufacturability of low-cost, high-quality solar systems.
What does "dual-use photovoltaics" mean in this FOA context?
In this FOA, "dual-use" photovoltaics generally refers to PV technologies designed to serve more than one function or to be deployed in ways that provide benefits beyond electricity generation, such as PV integrated into built environments or land uses where energy generation and another use can coexist.
What does it mean that this is an "incubator" funding opportunity?
The incubator framing suggests DOE is looking for efforts that move promising PV concepts closer to scalable manufacturing and market readiness, rather than focusing only on lab-scale demonstrations.
How much total funding does DOE plan to invest?
DOE plans to invest a total of $45 million over a three-year period.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipates making around 12 awards.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $10,000,000 per project.
Over what period will the FOA funding be invested?
The FOA plans a three-year investment period.
What type of award instrument will be used?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical grant in this FOA?
The FOA notes that cooperative agreements typically mean DOE will be more hands-on than in a standard grant, staying actively involved through milestones, technical direction, and ongoing project engagement to help ensure the work remains aligned with program goals and delivers usable outcomes.
Is this opportunity funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)?
Yes. The FOA is partially funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
What statutory authority does the FOA cite under BIL?
A key statutory foundation cited is BIL Section 41007(c)(2), known as the Advanced Solar Energy Manufacturing Initiative, which provides $20 million for this type of activity and traces its authorization back to the Energy Act of 2020.
Does the FOA include funding sources beyond BIL?
Yes. The FOA notes additional funding comes from FY2023 appropriations authorized under the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z, Section 3004(b), 42 U.S.C. 16238(b)). The FOA describes DOE as blending BIL funding and other authorized DOE solar manufacturing funding streams to support a larger portfolio focused on PV innovation and manufacturability.
What broader policy goals does DOE connect to this FOA?
The FOA aligns with federal priorities to rebuild and secure domestic manufacturing and supply chains for critical clean energy technologies. It is positioned as part of a broader approach to ensure the clean energy transition delivers economic and workforce benefits, strengthens energy security, supports efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and advances environmental justice.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
What kinds of organizations does the eligibility restriction tend to target?
Because eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations other than small businesses, the FOA is particularly oriented toward larger companies or corporate entities with the capacity to execute sizable, multi-year R&D and manufacturing-scale efforts.
What is the assistance listing / CFDA number for this opportunity?
The assistance listing is CFDA 81.087.
Which DOE office is listed as the administering office?
The administering office is the Department of Energy Golden Field Office.
When was the FOA originally posted?
The FOA was originally posted on July 6, 2023.
What was the original closing date listed for the FOA?
The original closing date was November 14, 2023.
Is DOE planning to fund one project or multiple projects?
The FOA plans to support multiple projects rather than a single large award.
What kinds of outcomes is DOE trying to drive through this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, DOE is aiming to drive PV innovation that is manufacturable at scale, strengthens U.S. domestic manufacturing, improves U.S. competitiveness, and reduces supply chain vulnerabilities that can affect solar system availability and affordability, while also supporting broader goals like energy security, emissions reductions, workforce and economic benefits, and environmental justice.
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