A

Department of Energy Funding Opportunity Announcements for the Assessment of Marine and Hydrokinetic Resources (excerpted)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office

Advanced Water Power Projects Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: DE-PS36-08GO98030 Announcement Type: Modification A001 CFDA Number: 81.087

Topic Area 2: Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Market Acceleration Projects

AWARD INFORMATION

A. BACKGROUND

Federal funding for the Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Market Acceleration Projects for fiscal year 2008 is expected to be approximately $1.0-$2.5 million. DOE expects to make up to six awards where individual awards are valued between $100,000 and $500,000. Successful applications under this section can include universities, industrial companies, non-profits and other private sector companies. Partnerships, including partnerships with National Laboratories, are encouraged but not required. Although no cost share will be required, consideration will be given to applications providing cost share. The awards will be made to facilitate the market penetration of advanced water power technologies with project durations expected to be no more than 24 months from beginning to conclusion.

The Department of Energy will select applications that facilitate the market penetration of marine and hydrokinetic technologies. The applications will address one or more of the following areas:

1. The development of international power measurement, identification, and systems engineering and integration standards for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. The final product will be a report that must include a summary of the current state of international standards and a proposal for new international standards. Justifications for the proposed standards must be provided in the report. The primary audience for the report is intended to be members of the international standard committees and the standards communities;

2. Investigation into the efficient and reliable integration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy devices with the utility grid and reliable intermittency issues. The final product will be a report that addresses grid-integration issues faced by water power technologies, including the identification of system interconnection requirements and technologies, the evaluation of potential integration technologies, and a proposed pathway toward the development and deployment of such technologies. The audience for

the report will be project developers, regulatory bodies, and other interested parties and agencies;

3. Identification, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, of the potential navigational impacts of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies and measures to prevent adverse impacts on navigation. The final products will be 1) a formal report on the potential navigational impacts for the U.S. Coast Guard and 2) a brochure intended for project developers to understand how their project could impact shipping and steps (including siting) that can be used to mitigate these issues; and

4. Development, in cooperation with the relevant Federal siting authority(ies), protocol to identify streamlined best siting practices for marine and/or hydrokinetic technologies, accounting for both environmental and navigational impacts. The final products will include 1) a formal report on best practices for siting and a peer-reviewed proposal to streamline the current siting process. This report is intended for regulatory agencies and other interested parties and agencies; 2) a brochure intended for project developers on the siting process and a step-by-step how-to guide on siting an offshore system.

Waves

5. An assessment of wave energy resources along the U.S. coastline to determine maximum practical, extractable energy in Watts per squared meter of water surface area. The assessment should assume optimal achievable energy conversion rates based on likely future technology performance and should account for device spacing requirements within wave energy conversion arrays. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation, that is capable of displaying power densities in Watts per squared meter of water surface area for specific geographic information system (GIS) coordinates, in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers, that characterizes the seasonal variability and magnitude of wave energy, and can be updated on a regular basis. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. wave resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted

     resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

Tidal Currents

6. An assessment of tidal current energy resources in the U.S. to determine maximum practical, extractable energy in Watts per squared meter of water surface area. The assessment should assume optimal achievable energy conversion rates based on likely future technology performance and should account for device spacing requirements within tidal energy conversion arrays. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation, that is capable of displaying power densities in Watts per squared meter of water surface area for specific geographic information system (GIS) coordinates, in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers and that can be updated on a regular basis. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. tidal resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

B. TYPE OF AWARD INSTRUMENT

DOE anticipates awarding grants under this program announcement.

C. ESTIMATED FUNDING

Approximately $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 is expected to be available for new awards under this announcement.

D. MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AWARD SIZE

Ceiling (i.e., the maximum amount for an individual award made under this announcement): $ 500,000
Floor (i.e., the minimum amount for an individual award made under this announcement): $ 100,000

E. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS

DOE anticipates making up to 6 awards under this announcement depending on the size of the awards.

F. ANTICIPATED AWARD SIZE

DOE anticipates that awards will be in the $100,000-$500,000 range for the total project period.

G. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

DOE anticipates making awards that will run for up to 2 years.

H. TYPE OF APPLICATION

Only new applications will be accepted under this announcement.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office

Advanced Water Power Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: DE-FOA-0000069 Announcement Type: Initial CFDA Number: 81.087

PLEASE NOTE:

Applicants who are not registered with CCR and FedConnect, should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements. It is suggested that the process be started as soon as possible. For those Applicants already registered in CCR, the CCR registration must be updated annually at http://www.ccr.gov/Renew.aspx.

Questions regarding the content of this announcement must be submitted through FedConnect. Applications must be submitted through FedConnect to be considered for award. You must be completely registered before you can submit questions regarding this announcement or submit an application.

Topic Area 3: Advanced Water Power Market Acceleration Projects/Analysis and Assessments

AWARD INFORMATION

A. BACKGROUND

The Department of Energy is soliciting applications that propose to facilitate the market penetration of water power technologies. Applicants can submit multiple applications, though each application should address one, and only one, of the following sub-topic areas:

Ocean Currents

3A. An assessment of off-shore ocean current energy resources along the U.S. coastline, excluding tidal currents, to determine maximum practicably extractable energy. The assessment should assume optimal achievable energy conversion rates based on likely future technology performance and should account for device spacing requirements within energy conversion arrays. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation, that is capable of displaying power densities in Watts per square meter of water surface area for specific geographic information system (GIS) coordinates, in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers, that characterizes the seasonal variability and magnitude of current energy, and can be updated on a regular basis. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. ocean current resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

In-stream/Riverine

3B. An assessment of in-stream hydrokinetic energy resources, defined as energy that can be extracted from free flowing water in rivers, lakes, streams or man-made channels without the use of a dam or diversionary structure, in the U.S. to determine maximum practicably extractable energy. A successful application will demonstrate

       a comprehensive understanding of existing U.S. in-stream hydrokinetic resource assessments, including previous DOE-funded efforts, and how the proposed project will build and improve upon the existing assessments. The assessment should assume optimal achievable energy conversion rates based on likely future technology performance and should account for device spacing requirements within in-stream hydrokinetic energy conversion arrays. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers and that can be updated on a regular basis. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. in-stream hydrokinetic resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

3C. An assessment of projected life-cycle costs for ocean thermal energy conversion in the United States over time. Cost estimates will be presented as ranges, with at least three separate cost scenarios (e.g. high, medium, low) and will include projections for both installed capital cost and the cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) in $/kW, as well as future cost of energy in $/kWh. Cost estimates should make use of best available data, including existing ocean thermal energy component development costs and analogous technologies in related industries, and should be extrapolated over time and over multiple technology designs and industry deployment scenarios. The ocean thermal energy cost assessment will differentiate between costs associated with near-shore, grid-connected ocean thermal energy systems and those floating offshore. Cost estimates will include project development costs, including site selection and permitting, installation and mooring, and connection to the grid. A successful application will demonstrate an ability to improve significantly upon current cost assessments, and will propose sources for critical data and assumptions such as: component design and development costs; infrastructure cost; learning rates; reference cost build-ups; cost data indexing; load models; performance models; O&M strategies/costs; and project development costs. Projects are encouraged that propose to generate energy supply curves that can predict energy generation at a given cost level.

OTEC

3D. An assessment of global and domestic U.S. ocean thermal energy resources to determine maximum practicably extractable energy. The assessment should assume optimal achievable energy conversion rates based on likely future technology performance and should account for device spacing requirements and the physical limitations of the ocean thermal resource. The assessment should distinguish between resources available with near-shore, grid-connected ocean thermal energy systems and those that require floating offshore systems. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation, that is capable of displaying available power for specific geographic information system (GIS) coordinates, in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers, that characterizes the magnitude and any seasonal variability of ocean thermal energy, and can be updated on a regular basis. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. ocean current resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

3E. An assessment of projected life-cycle costs for wave, tidal, ocean current, and in-stream hydrokinetic power in the United States over time. Cost estimates will be presented as ranges for each resource type, with at least three separate cost scenarios (e.g., high, medium, low) and will include projections for both installed capital cost and the cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) in $/kW, as well as future cost of energy in $/kWh. Cost estimates should make use of best available data, including existing marine and hydrokinetic technologies and analogous technologies in related industries, and should be extrapolated over time under at least three possible industry deployment scenarios, specified in total MW deployed. The assessment will address the full geographical range of marine and hydrokinetic energy deployment likely in the U.S. and incorporate multiple energy conversion technology types for each resource type. Cost estimates will include project development costs, including site selection and permitting, installation and mooring, and connection to the grid. A successful application will demonstrate an ability to improve significantly

       upon current cost assessments, and will propose sources for critical data and assumptions such as: component design and development costs; infrastructure cost; learning rates; reference cost build-ups; cost data indexing; load models; performance models; O&M strategies/costs; and project development costs. Projects are encouraged that propose to generate energy supply curves that can predict energy generation at a given cost level.

3F. An assessment of the energy resources available from installing power stations on non-powered dams and in constructed waterways and the construction of new pumped storage facilities in the U.S. to determine maximum practicably extractable energy. A successful application will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of existing U.S. hydropower resource assessments and how the proposed project will build and improve upon the existing assessments. The final product will include a geospatial database, validated and verified by a third party with experience in renewable energy resource validation in a manner that is useful to developers and policymakers and that can be updated on a regular basis. This database should be coordinated and compatible with the geospatial data standards used in other ongoing incremental hydropower resource analyses supported by WHTP, including the National Hydropower Asset Assessment Program. The third-party partner that will conduct independent validation shall be identified in the application, along with their method for validation. The methodology and results should allow the U.S. advanced hydropower resource to be accurately compared to other renewable energy resources and conform, to the maximum extent possible, with widely-accepted resource assessment metrics and standards and incorporated as metadata in the final product.

Federal funding for the Advanced Water Power Market Acceleration Projects for fiscal year 2009 is expected to be approximately $4 million. DOE expects to make up to 6 awards where individual awards are valued at up to $0.5 million DOE share for subtopics 3A - 3E and up to $1 million DOE share for subtopic 3F.