Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office announced changes to the Wells of Opportunity funding opportunity announcement (FOA).
Geothermal Technologies Office
July 22, 2021
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office announced changes to the Wells of Opportunity funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Released in June, this FOA will provide up to $14.5 million to support active field testing of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies and techniques within existing wells. The Wells of Opportunity 2021 FOA solicits the partnership of well owners or operators to help cost-effectively bring more geothermal power online using their existing wells.
The updates to the FOA are as follows:
- New Submission Deadline. Submissions are now due Aug. 16, 2021, a 3-week extension from the original date.
- New Replies to Reviewer Comments Deadline. Reviewers’ comments are now due Sept. 15, 2021.
- Expected Selection Notification Date. Notifications of selections are now expected to occur on Oct. 27, 2021.
- Adjusted Timeframe for Award Negotiations. Award negotiations are expected to take place from November 2021 to February 2022.
- Change to Intellectual Property Management Plan (IPMP). An executed IPMP between members of the consortia or team is no longer required.
- New Selection Factor. In addition to the technical review criteria and standards for application evaluation, the FOA includes a list of additional selection factors that may be considered. This update includes the following new factor.
- New Program Policy Selection Factor. The degree to which the proposed project takes into account and addresses the current Administration priorities and goals to develop a carbon pollution-free electric sector by 2035.
Finally, the updates include the changes below to the two topic areas.
- Topic Area 1 – Amplify: EGS Near-Field RD&D. The technology readiness level (TRL) has been corrected to TRL 6.
- Topic Area 2 – ReAmplify: Geothermal Production from Hydrocarbon Wells. For this FOA, minimal well work is defined as less than or equal to $300,000.
Please view the FOA and application instructions for more information about the opportunity and the recent changes. Submit your full applications by 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 16, 2021.