Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003187
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), issued this grant opportunity to identify one or more independent, U.S.-based, not-for-profit entities that can help reduce the financial and market risk facing early clean hydrogen projects. The core idea is to strengthen the "demand side" of the clean hydrogen market by creating demand certainty or similar market-making tools, so that projects connected to DOE-selected Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs can secure more predictable revenue over a medium-term period. DOE views this as a practical way to speed up commercialization by making it easier for hydrogen producers and related infrastructure developers to attract financing and move from demonstration to scaled deployment.
The opportunity is grounded in a common clean energy scaling problem: costs tend to fall as deployment grows, but early deployment is difficult because buyers are hesitant to commit while prices are still higher and supply chains and standards are still emerging. In clean hydrogen specifically, DOE highlights a mismatch between producers and buyers. Producers typically need longer-term, high-volume purchase commitments to justify investment and obtain project financing, while buyers often prefer shorter-term contracts with smaller volumes, especially for a product expected to become cheaper as the market matures. Demand-side support measures are meant to bridge that gap by creating more predictable commercial conditions for initial projects, which in turn can help accelerate learning-by-doing and cost reductions.
Rather than funding hydrogen plants directly through this solicitation, DOE is looking for an independent entity (or several entities) that can design-support and/or execute DOE-backed demand-side programs. DOE indicates flexibility in how this could be organized: it could be a single national nonprofit, multiple regional nonprofits, or separate organizations handling different phases of the work (for example, one group supporting design and another handling execution). Applicants may propose an already-existing organization or a new entity, as long as the entity would be formally established before the "Design Phase" work begins.
The selected entity or entities would be expected to bring real-world commercial capability, particularly experience relevant to commodity markets, project finance, and complex commercial contracting. Key functions described in the RFP include advising DOE on how to structure demand-side measures, running a DOE-designed and DOE-funded demand-support mechanism for Hydrogen Hub affiliated projects, and serving as a neutral implementing body that can receive and distribute DOE funds to selected projects. The entity may also be responsible for administering a DOE-designed competitive selection process to choose which projects or companies receive demand-side support, and for executing and managing the resulting financial and contractual agreements with recipients.
Another major expectation is active stakeholder engagement. DOE emphasizes that the implementing entity should be able to work across the clean hydrogen ecosystem, engaging developers, investors, government partners, universities, community groups, labor organizations, and other stakeholders (including non-traditional partners). This engagement is intended to inform program design and implementation and to help accelerate "commercial liftoff" for clean hydrogen, meaning the shift from subsidized pilots to durable, self-sustaining markets.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary DOE opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003187) in the energy category (CFDA 81.255). Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. The posting lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000,000, signaling the potential scale of demand-side programs DOE is considering, though the notice also lists expected awards as 0, which typically indicates DOE had not committed to a specific number of agreements at the time of posting or that awards depend on final program decisions.
All applications were required to be submitted through the OCED Funding Opportunity Exchange portal, and the full RFP and official details were provided through DOE at: https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId3c3d8e7f-1839-45fc-8735-c0caf87408ef. The opportunity was originally posted on September 14, 2023, with an original closing date of October 26, 2023.Apply for DE FOA 0003187
- The Department of Energy, Headquarters in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Demand-side RFP for Independent Entity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.255.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 14, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 26, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this DOE grant opportunity trying to accomplish?
The opportunity is intended to reduce the financial and market risk facing early clean hydrogen projects by strengthening the demand side of the clean hydrogen market. The goal is to create demand certainty (or similar market-making tools) so projects connected to DOE-selected Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs can secure more predictable, medium-term revenue and move more quickly from demonstration to scaled deployment.
Which DOE office is running this opportunity?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing the opportunity through its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED).
Is DOE funding hydrogen production plants directly through this solicitation?
No. The solicitation is not primarily aimed at directly funding hydrogen plants. Instead, DOE is seeking one or more independent entities to design-support and/or execute DOE-backed demand-side programs that can support Hydrogen Hub affiliated projects.
Who is DOE looking to select under this funding opportunity?
DOE is looking to identify one or more independent, U.S.-based, not-for-profit entities capable of helping reduce financial and market risk for early clean hydrogen projects by implementing demand-side support measures.
What does DOE mean by "demand-side" support for clean hydrogen?
Demand-side support refers to tools that increase demand certainty and improve commercial conditions for early projects. DOE describes this as a way to bridge a common market mismatch: producers often need longer-term, higher-volume purchase commitments to finance projects, while buyers often prefer shorter-term, smaller-volume contracts, especially when prices are expected to fall as the market matures.
How does DOE expect demand-side measures to help clean hydrogen commercialization?
DOE views demand-side measures as a practical way to accelerate commercialization by making revenues more predictable for early projects. That can make it easier for hydrogen producers and infrastructure developers to attract financing, deploy at larger scale, and drive cost reductions through learning-by-doing.
How is this implementing entity expected to relate to Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs?
The demand-side programs are intended to support projects connected to DOE-selected Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, specifically by helping Hub-affiliated projects achieve more predictable revenue over a medium-term period.
What kinds of organizations can apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are universities eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description states that nonprofits can apply as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Does the selected entity have to be an existing organization?
Not necessarily. Applicants may propose an already-existing organization or a new entity. If a new entity is proposed, it must be formally established before the Design Phase work begins.
Does DOE plan to select one organization or multiple organizations?
DOE indicates flexibility. It could select a single national nonprofit, multiple regional nonprofits, or separate organizations handling different phases of work (for example, one supporting design and another handling execution).
What experience or capabilities does DOE want the implementing entity to have?
DOE expects real-world commercial capability, particularly experience relevant to commodity markets, project finance, and complex commercial contracting. The entity is also expected to function as a neutral implementing body.
What are the main functions the selected entity may perform?
Functions described include advising DOE on how to structure demand-side measures, running a DOE-designed and DOE-funded demand-support mechanism for Hydrogen Hub affiliated projects, receiving and distributing DOE funds to selected projects, and executing and managing financial and contractual agreements with recipients.
Will the implementing entity be responsible for selecting which projects receive support?
Potentially. DOE notes the entity may be responsible for administering a DOE-designed competitive selection process to choose which projects or companies receive demand-side support, and for managing the resulting agreements.
Why is DOE emphasizing "independence" and a "neutral implementing body"?
DOE describes the role as an independent, neutral implementing body that can help design and run demand-side programs and handle the receipt and distribution of DOE funds to selected projects. This neutrality is presented as part of the program structure described in the solicitation.
What kinds of stakeholders is the implementing entity expected to engage?
DOE emphasizes broad stakeholder engagement across the clean hydrogen ecosystem, including developers, investors, government partners, universities, community groups, labor organizations, and other stakeholders (including non-traditional partners).
What is the purpose of stakeholder engagement in this program?
Stakeholder engagement is intended to inform program design and implementation and help accelerate "commercial liftoff" for clean hydrogen, meaning a shift from subsidized pilots to durable, self-sustaining markets.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0003187.
What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed in the energy category with CFDA 81.255.
What is the award ceiling?
The posting lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000,000, indicating the potential scale of demand-side programs being considered.
The notice shows "expected awards: 0." What does that mean in this posting?
The notice lists expected awards as 0, which typically indicates DOE had not committed to a specific number of agreements at the time of posting or that awards depend on final program decisions.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through the OCED Funding Opportunity Exchange portal.
Where can the official RFP and details be found?
DOE provided the full RFP and official details through OCED at: https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId3c3d8e7f-1839-45fc-8735-c0caf87408ef
When was this opportunity posted, and when did it close?
The opportunity was originally posted on September 14, 2023, with an original closing date of October 26, 2023.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary DOE opportunity.
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