Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001400
The SUNSHOT Technology to Market funding opportunity (Incubator Round 11, SolarMat Round 4) is a U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) solicitation designed to push promising solar innovations out of the lab and into real commercial use. It sits under SETO's Tech-to-Market effort, which focuses on helping high-impact solar technologies and solutions overcome the kinds of obstacles that typically slow adoption: technical gaps, market barriers, and institutional or process-related challenges. The overall intent is practical and near-term: support disruptive innovations that can take root in the United States and show a credible path to market success, rather than funding ideas that are only at a basic research stage.
A key feature of this round is that it combines what had previously been two separate annual pathways based on maturity level: the Incubator program and the SolarMat program. By merging them into a single Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOE aimed to streamline application and selection while still supporting a range of technology readiness levels. The combined structure is meant to accelerate commercialization by making it easier for applicants to align their projects with the most appropriate stage while still competing under one umbrella focused on market traction and deployment impact.
The program is explicitly geared toward solutions that remove barriers addressable through technology and business innovation. That includes hardware advances and improvements in manufacturing, software tools that enable better design, operations, or grid integration, and innovations that cut costs across the solar value chain. It also includes non-cost improvements, meaning solutions that expand capability, reliability, performance, or integration even if the primary value is not just lowering dollar-per-watt. Across all of these categories, the common theme is enabling solar to become more ubiquitous and easier to deploy at scale, with fewer risks for developers, utilities, and system owners.
Another central goal is reducing the price of solar energy and de-risking solar integration with the electricity grid. In practice, that can mean innovations that make solar generation more predictable, controllable, and compatible with grid operations, or solutions that reduce soft costs, streamline installation and interconnection, improve monitoring and maintenance, or strengthen system performance under real-world conditions. The emphasis on "de-risking" signals that DOE is looking for projects that make adoption easier for the broader market by addressing uncertainty, reliability, bankability, and operational concerns that can limit financing and deployment.
Eligibility is focused on parties positioned to commercialize: individuals, small businesses, and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses). Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as technical coordination, milestone oversight, and collaboration to ensure the work stays aligned with program goals. The administering office listed for this opportunity is the Golden Field Office, and the activity category is Energy under CFDA 81.087.
From the funding details provided, the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $5,000,000, and DOE anticipated making about 25 awards under this FOA. The opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001400. The posting date is shown as September 15, 2015, with an original closing date of February 3, 2016, which reflects the timeline for that specific round of funding.
Applications for this FOA are handled through the EERE Exchange portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov), which is the DOE system used for submission and tracking. Applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange before submitting, and DOE provides an Exchange User Guide through the same platform. The FOA itself, along with official instructions, submission requirements, and points of contact for both technical questions and submission issues, are available within the full announcement posted on EERE Exchange.Apply for DE FOA 0001400
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SUNSHOT TECHNOLOGY TO MARKET (INCUBATOR ROUND 11, SOLARMAT ROUND 4)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-02-03. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SUNSHOT Technology to Market funding opportunity?
The SUNSHOT Technology to Market funding opportunity is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) solicitation intended to move promising solar innovations out of the lab and into real commercial use. It is part of SETO's Tech-to-Market effort, which focuses on helping high-impact solar technologies and solutions overcome obstacles that slow adoption, including technical gaps, market barriers, and institutional or process-related challenges.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The overall intent is practical and near-term: to support disruptive solar innovations that can take root in the United States and show a credible path to market success, rather than funding ideas that are only at a basic research stage.
How does this round relate to the Incubator and SolarMat programs?
This round combines what were previously two separate annual pathways based on maturity level: the Incubator program (Incubator Round 11) and the SolarMat program (SolarMat Round 4). DOE merged them into a single Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to streamline application and selection while still supporting a range of technology readiness levels.
Why did DOE combine Incubator and SolarMat into one FOA?
By merging them under one FOA, DOE aimed to streamline the application and selection process while still allowing applicants to align their projects with the most appropriate maturity stage. The combined structure is meant to accelerate commercialization and increase market traction and deployment impact.
What kinds of innovations is DOE looking to fund?
The program is geared toward solutions that remove barriers addressable through technology and business innovation. That includes hardware advances, manufacturing improvements, software tools, and innovations that cut costs across the solar value chain. It also includes non-cost improvements, meaning solutions that expand capability, reliability, performance, or integration even if the primary value is not only lowering dollar-per-watt.
Are non-cost improvements eligible, or only cost-reduction projects?
Non-cost improvements are included. DOE is interested in solutions that improve capability, reliability, performance, or integration, even if the main benefit is not strictly cost reduction.
What does "Tech-to-Market" mean in this context?
Within SETO, Tech-to-Market refers to efforts that help high-impact solar technologies and solutions overcome commercialization barriers. The focus is on moving innovations toward adoption by addressing technical, market, and process-related obstacles.
What does DOE mean by "de-risking" solar integration with the electricity grid?
In this FOA, "de-risking" signals a focus on projects that make solar adoption easier for the broader market by addressing uncertainty, reliability, bankability, and operational concerns that can limit financing and deployment. Examples described include making solar generation more predictable and controllable, improving grid compatibility, and strengthening performance under real-world conditions.
What types of barriers does this FOA aim to address?
The FOA is aimed at overcoming barriers that typically slow adoption of solar innovations, including technical gaps, market barriers, and institutional or process-related challenges. It also emphasizes reducing soft costs, streamlining installation and interconnection, improving monitoring and maintenance, and improving grid integration.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is focused on parties positioned to commercialize, including individuals, small businesses, and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses).
What type of award does DOE plan to make under this FOA?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements. This generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as technical coordination, milestone oversight, and collaboration to ensure the work stays aligned with program goals.
Which DOE office administers this opportunity?
The administering office listed for this opportunity is the Golden Field Office.
What is the activity category and CFDA number for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number listed is 81.087.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount is $5,000,000.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 25 awards under this FOA.
What is the opportunity number for this FOA?
The opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001400.
When was this FOA posted, and what was the closing date?
The posting date is September 15, 2015, and the original closing date is February 3, 2016. These dates reflect the timeline for that specific round of funding.
Where do applicants submit their applications?
Applications are handled through the EERE Exchange portal at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov, which is DOE's system used for submission and tracking.
Do applicants need to register in EERE Exchange before applying?
Yes. Applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange before submitting an application.
Where can applicants find the official FOA, instructions, and points of contact?
The FOA, official instructions, submission requirements, and points of contact for technical questions and submission issues are available within the full announcement posted on EERE Exchange. DOE also provides an Exchange User Guide through the same platform.
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