(CLOSED) Energy Innovation Hub Program: Research to Enable Next-Generation Batteries and Energy Storage (DE-FOA-0002923)

Sponsor Name: 
DOE Basic Energy Sciences
Description of the Award: 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Energy Innovation Hub Program: Research to Enable Next-Generation Batteries and Energy Storage (DE-FOA-0002923) limited submission competition. Click on the link below to view more information and submit an application. Thank you.
 

  • Internal Submission Deadline: Monday, February 20, 2023
  • Funding Organization's Deadline: Thursday, March 9, 2023
  • Cycle: 2023
  • Discipline/Subject Area: Batteries and Energy Storage
  • Funding Available: 0
  • URL: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345604
  • Awards Details: Applications submitted to this FOA may request support in the range from $10 million to $15 million per year, though award sizes are expected to range from $8 million to $15 million per year.
  • Funding Organization's Deadlines: Pre-application (required): March 9, 2023, 5 PM Eastern; Submission Deadline for Applications: May 18, 2023
  • Institutional Limit: Applicant institutions are limited to no more than one (1) pre-application and one (1) application as the lead institution. However, there is no limitation on the number of applications in which a specific eligible entity can participate as a team member/subrecipient.
  • Description:

    The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) hereby announces its interest in receiving new applications for Energy Innovation Hub projects pursuing multi-investigator, cross-disciplinary fundamental research to address emerging new directions as well as long-standing challenges for the next generation of rechargeable batteries and related electrochemical energy storage technologies. Electrochemical energy storage is typically viewed as the bidirectional interconversion of electricity and chemical potential energy using electrochemistry for the purpose of storing electrical energy for later use, with lithium (Li)-ion and lead acid batteries being representative of the current generation of electrochemical energy storage. Discovery and scientific exploration of new battery chemistries, materials, and architectures for energy storage are encouraged. Research on electrolyzer/fuel cell combinations using hydrogen or hydrocarbons as the chemical storage media are supported elsewhere within DOE programs and are specifically excluded from this FOA. Regardless of materials and electrochemical processes involved, the focus must be on fundamental scientific concepts and understanding for the next generation of batteries and electrochemical energy storage.

    The proposed fundamental electrochemical energy storage research should impact a broad range of topics, including decarbonization of transportation and incorporation of clean energy into the electricity grid, especially for long duration energy storage (LDES). Two recent DOE-wide activities involving batteries and related electrochemical energy storage are the Energy Storage Grand Challenge and the Long Duration Storage Energy Earthshot. Electrochemical energy storage technology has the potential to accelerate full decarbonization of the electric grid, and the Long Duration Storage Shot establishes a target to reduce the cost of grid-scale energy storage by 90% for systems that deliver 10+ hours of duration within the decade. More broadly the Energy Storage Grand Challenge provides a programmatic framework that supports the vision to develop and domestically manufacture energy storage technologies, including batteries and other electrochemical energy storage, that can meet all U.S. market demands by 2030. Given the foundational role of basic scientific research in providing the needed technology options to support these critical goals, Energy Innovation Hub investments in scientific discovery and exploration to advance the fundamental understanding of electrochemical energy storage processes, materials, and systems are needed. Progress in the fundamental science topics described in the 2017 Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Workshop will drive innovation in batteries and advance development of new and effective energy storage technologies needed for a decarbonized economy by 2050.

    Program Objective

    This FOA will support new awards in the Batteries and Energy Storage Energy Innovation Hub program to advance fundamental knowledge for the next generation of rechargeable batteries and related electrochemical energy storage beyond today’s commercialized batteries such as lithium-ion or lead acid. While many existing and emerging applications could benefit from the next generation of electrochemical energy storage, basic scientific research leading to scalable energy storage technologies that significantly impact decarbonization of our economy and/or enable transformation of the electrical grid to clean, renewable energy will be prioritized. These new projects, coupled with the relevant portion of the BES research portfolio, will create the scientific foundation needed to advance electrochemical energy storage for the next generation of batteries, resulting in public benefits for national security, economic competitiveness, and leadership in scientific discovery and technological innovation.

    Proposed efforts should assemble the most talented scientists to conduct coordinated, collaborative, synergistic, and highly interdisciplinary fundamental research to tackle scientific challenges for the next generation of batteries. Proposed research should address the highest scientific priorities in this area, build on advances and accomplishments in the published literature, and represent a world-leading scientific program when compared to relevant international research efforts. Applications must address priority research directions (PRDs) identified in the report from the 2017 Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Workshop. Projects should integrate experiment and theory to elucidate scientific principles for reversible electrochemical conversion of electrical energy into chemical bonds. The research should capitalize on accomplishments and unique capabilities developed to date, including those from BES-funded efforts in the Joint Center of Energy Storage Research, Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), and other BES research activities.

    DOE will only consider funding multi-institution teams under this FOA using a prime and subaward model with one application submitted by the lead institution.

Limit (Number of applicants permitted per institution): 
1
Sponsor LOI Deadline: 
Mar 09, 2023
Sponsor Final Deadline: 
May 18, 2023
OSVPR Application or NOI Instructions: 

Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: [Last name]_DE-FOA-0002923_2023) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:

1. Cover Letter (1 page, pdf):

  • Descriptive title of proposed activity
  • PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
  • Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
  • Names of other key personnel
  • Participating institution(s)
  • Number and title of this funding opportunity
  • PRDs (up to three) to be addressed by project

2. Project Description (no more than five pages including figures and references, pdf) should include the following elements

  • A clear and concise statement of the scientific mission of the proposed project;
  • An explicit set of five-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 project;
  • An explanation of the potential scientific impact of the proposed research, an overview of the expertise of the integrated, multi-disciplinary research team to conduct the project, and the project’s potential impact on national scientific leadership, technological innovation, and economic competitiveness; and
  • A discussion of how the proposed research is responsive to the objectives of this FOA. Specifically, to be responsive the research must address at least one PRDs identified by the 2017 Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Workshop as indicated in Section I.

3. 2-page CV's of Investigators

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)

To be considered as a Penn State institutional nominee, please submit a notice of intent by the date provided directly below.
This limited submission is in downselect: 
Penn State may only submit a specific number of proposals to this funding opportunity. The number of NOIs received require that an internal competition take place, thus, a downselect process has commenced. No Penn State researchers may apply to this opportunity outside of this downselect process. To apply for this limited submission, please use this link:
OSVPR Downselect Deadline: 
Monday, February 20, 2023 - 4:00pm
For help or questions: 

Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.

Notes: 
No Applicants, Now first come, first served - Contact LimitedSubs@psu.edu if you wish to apply