FOA number: DE-FOA-0003390
Download the full notice of intent: NETL Exchange
Funding Amount: $80,000,000
Background Information
On September 26, 2025 the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy announced its intent to issue an $80 million funding opportunity to establish Mining Technology Proving Grounds and accelerate the development of innovative technologies for the U.S. mining sector. If issued, the funding opportunity will help establish field sites for real-world testing, optimization, and deployment of next-generation mining technologies. These sites will also serve as vital training grounds for a new generation of skilled American miners.
The Proving Ground initiative will help to de-risk the adoption of new mining technologies for commercialization and widespread industry adoption. This will be achieved through:
- Development of Mine Technology Proving Grounds that enable the development, demonstration, and maturation of advanced mining technologies at a large scale for deployment at domestic mine sites.
- Accelerated Research & Development Projects for up to two signature mining technologies to be developed and proven at their proposed proving ground facility.
- Collaborative Partnerships between government, industry/private sector, and academia, leveraging diverse expertise, infrastructure, and support for technology.
The “Notice of Intent to Issue” is for informational purposes only. DOE is not seeking comments on the information in this notice. Applications are not being accepted at this time. Any information contained in this notice is subject to change.
Expected Funding
DOE expects to make four awards for up to $20 million each with a minimum of a 20-50% cost-sharing from the awardees.
Key Dates
| NOI Issue Date: | 09/26/2025 |
| Expected Funding Opportunity Issue Date: | Q4 2025 |
Additional Information
- There are several required one-time actions applicants must take before applying to a NOFO. Some of these actions may take several weeks, so it is vital applicants build in enough time to complete them. Failure to complete these actions could interfere with application or negotiation deadlines or the ability to receive an award if selected. If you are already registered, please make sure your registration is active and up to date. All registrations are free. Download the full notice of intent on NETL Exchange for detailed submission and registration requirements.
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- Critical Materials and Minerals
Programs will advance innovative mining processes and technologies to help revitalize the domestic mining landscape and enhance U.S. mineral security
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Last Updated: September 30, 2025