Show Me the Money: Concentrating Solar Power Generation and Community Renewable Energy Deployment

FOA: Baseload CSP Generation

The DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program ("SETP") entails applied research, development and deployment activities focused on achieving high penetration of solar power technologies across the United States and making electricity generated from the sun cost-competitive with conventional grid electricity. As part of the SETP’s CSP subprogram, this FOA is designed to investigate and accelerate the deployment of advanced solar technologies as alternative heat and energy sources, with the goal of positioning the United States as a leader in the area.

CSP technologies, which can be used in utility-scale power plants (100 MW or greater), are composed of three generic system architectures,¹ all of which share two operational characteristics: (1) they concentrate energy from the sun and convert it to heat, and (2) they use the heat to drive a heat engine/generator to produce electrical power.

This FOA involves two topic areas:

Topic 1: Research and Development Concept and Component Feasibility Studies

Under this topic area, applicants are to propose projects involving research, evaluation and testing of concepts and components that will help achieve baseload CSP generation. This topic area focuses more on research to help advance CSP technologies. Successful applicants should demonstrate the potential to significantly reduce the cost of baseload CSP power.

Topic 2: Baseload CSP System Study

This topic area is aimed at development of a complete CSP system that meets baseload criteria. Applicants must have a specific CSP system approach in mind, for which they propose performing a feasibility analysis. Applicants should also identify potential engineering partners and developers that could team up on design, prototype building, testing and evaluation.

Projects under both of these FOAs will be carried out in three phases. After each phase, DOE will determine whether to fund the next phase. DOE expects to award approximately $15 million in FY 2010 and an additional $19.5-$37.5 million in FY 2011-2014. The deadline for submitting applications is October 15, 2009.

FOA: Community Renewable Energy Deployment

This FOA is designed to provide financial assistance to communities in order to facilitate the widespread deployment of renewable energy installations. The FOA is targeted at communities with existing renewable energy technology plans that can be implemented through swiftly deployable renewable energy installations.

Eligibility is limited to state and local governments, Indian tribes and Tribal Energy Resource Development organizations or groups; however, applicants are encouraged to partner with other state and local government agencies, utilities and renewable energy project developers. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how a comprehensive community energy strategy, adoption of codes and standards to support renewable energy and strategic partnerships can help facilitate large-scale renewable energy deployment.

Up to $21.45 million is available under this FOA, and the cost share must be at least 50 percent of the total allowable costs for demonstration and commercial application projects. DOE expects to issue one to four awards under this FOA. Applications are due on September 14, 2009.

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¹ The three system architectures are (1) line focus (trough and compact linear Fresnel reflector), (2) point focus central receiver systems (power towers) and (3) point focus distributed receiver systems (dish engines).

If you have questions about these FOAs or other renewable energy issues, or if you would like to discuss the possibility of your project applying for these or other government funds, please contact:

Seattle, Washington
David Benson at (206) 386-7584 or dlbenson@stoel.com
Janet F. Jacobs at (206) 386-7582 or jfjacobs@stoel.com
J. Graham Noyes at (206) 386-7615 or jgnoyes@stoel.com
John Laney at (206) 386-7559 or jslaney@stoel.com

Portland, Oregon
Marcus Wood at (503) 294-9434 or mwood@stoel.com
Bill Holmes at (503) 294-9207 or whholmes@stoel.com
Dina Dubson at (503) 294-9675 or dmdubson@stoel.com

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Greg Jenner at (612) 373-8857 or gfjenner@stoel.com
Debra Frimerman at (612) 373-8819 or dhfrimerman@stoel.com

Sacramento, California
John McKinsey at (916) 319-4746 or jamckinsey@stoel.com
Seth Hilton at (916) 319-4749 or sdhilton@stoel.com

San Diego, California
Brian Nese at (858) 794-4102 or bjnese@stoel.com

Boise, Idaho
John Eustermann at (208) 387-4218 or jmeustermann@stoel.com