The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) is implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40305 (Carbon Storage Validation and Testing) through its CarbonSAFE Initiative — the agency’s flagship effort to move carbon storage technologies into geographically widespread commercial practice. Federal funding for the CarbonSAFE Initiative is being provided through Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002711.

Previously, DE-FOA-002711 accepted applications only for later Phases of the CarbonSAFE Initiative (Phases III, III.5, and IV).  However, in advance of the second deadline for full applications, NETL may modify  DE-FOA-0002711 to add a new Area of Interest to accept applications for projects that meet the objectives of CarbonSAFE Phase II (Storage Complex Feasibility).

If the FOA is amended, applicants will be able to apply to four Areas of Interest:

AOI 1:  Phase III — Site Characterization and Permitting

AOI 2:  Phase III.5 — NEPA, FEED Studies, and Storage Field Development Plan

AOI 3:  Phase IV — Construction

AOI 4:  Phase II — Storage Complex Feasibility

NETL expects that applications submitted to the new AOI 4: Phase II Storage Complex Feasibility (if added) will be similar in form and function to applications submitted to DE-FOA-0002610; however, specific application instructions and requirements will be contained in a potential modification to DE-FOA-0002711. Interested parties are encouraged to closely monitor the NETL web page for DE-FOA-0002711 for future modifications associated with this FOA.

If the FOA is amended, applicants may be provided additional examples of what could be considered a “Storage Hub Facility” and “CarbonSAFE Phase IV Project Readiness.”

BIL Section 40305 (Carbon Storage Validation and Testing) will invest a total of $2.5 billion during fiscal years 2022 through 2026 via the development of new or expanded commercial large-scale carbon storage projects and associated carbon dioxide transport infrastructure.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By leveraging its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.