The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications from multi-disciplinary teams will be required to propose both discovery science and use-inspired basic research that addresses priority research directions and opportunities identified by a series of BES workshop and roundtable reports. DOE encourages applications that propose fundamental chemical sciences, materials sciences, geosciences, and biosciences research that will enable future clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Coordination across programs is a high priority for DOE. EFRCs under this FOA will include awards for fundamental science that underpins the Energy Earthshots Initiative.
This FOA solicits new and renewal applications for EFRCs that will perform fundamental discovery science while also addressing the Priority Research Directions (PRDs) and Priority Research Opportunities (PROs) identified in one or more of the following workshop and roundtable reports (see full FOA for links to reports):
Science for Clean Energy Reports
- BES Roundtable on Foundational Science for Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Technologies (Brochure available; full report will be published soon)
- BES Roundtable on Liquid Solar Fuels
- Basic Research Needs for Future Nuclear Energy
- Basic Research Needs for Catalysis Science
- Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage
- Basic Research Needs for Energy and Water
- Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda
- Basic Research Needs for Carbon Capture: Beyond 2020
- Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization
Science for Advanced Manufacturing Reports
- Basic Research Needs for Transformative Manufacturing
- BES Roundtable on Chemical Upcycling of Polymers
- Basic Research Needs for Microelectronics
- Basic Research Needs for Synthesis Science
Other Priority Research Area Reports
- BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Quantum Computing in Chemical and Materials Sciences
- BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Basic Research for Next-Generation Quantum Systems
- Basic Research Needs for Innovation and Discovery of Transformative Experimental Tools
- Basic Research Needs on Quantum Materials for Energy Relevant Technology
Applications submitted in response to this FOA must propose scientific research that addresses PRDs/PROs identified in one or more of the reports listed above.
Funding will be competitively awarded to the successful Energy Frontier Research Center applications selected by Federal officials, based on a rigorous merit review process as detailed in Section V of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_EFRC_2022) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
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Cover Page must include:
- Pre-application Title
- Lead Principal Investigator Name, Job Title, Phone Number, and Email Address
- Lead Organization
- List of all Partner Organization(s)
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3 page summary to include:
- A clear and concise statement of the scientific mission of the proposed EFRC and a set of integrated four-year research goals designed to support that mission;
- A description of the research methods and approaches that will be used to achieve the goals of the EFRC;
- An explanation of the importance of the proposed research and its potential scientific impact;
- A discussion of how the proposed research is responsive to the objectives of this FOA.
- Biosketch of PI (3 page limit)
Formatting Guidelines:
- Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
- Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
- Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.