Request for Information: High-Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production | DE FOA 0003259

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003259

This government opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Energy, managed through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), focused on "High-Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0003259). It is not a funding solicitation and it is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement, meaning DOE is not accepting grant applications under this notice. Instead, DOE is gathering input to shape and prioritize future research, development, and demonstration work within its Hydrogen with Carbon Management Program, specifically the Gasification Systems area.

The RFI is centered on how to increase clean hydrogen production using gasification, but with a deliberate emphasis on alternative, low-value feedstocks rather than conventional coal or petroleum coke (petcoke). In practical terms, DOE is looking for perspectives on what nontraditional feedstocks could be gasified effectively to produce hydrogen at competitive costs, and what technical or commercial strategies could make those pathways viable in real markets. The request explicitly invites market realities into the discussion, so feedback that reflects actual deployment constraints such as feedstock supply chains, price volatility, product demand, permitting challenges, and infrastructure limitations is likely to be relevant.

A key theme is that carbon management is not optional in the vision DOE is describing. The end goal is clean hydrogen production based on efficient gasification processes that include carbon capture, with performance validated through an appropriate life cycle analysis. The intent is to ensure outcomes that are truly net-zero or even net-negative on a lifecycle basis, rather than simply shifting emissions upstream or to other parts of the system. That signals interest not only in capture technologies, but also in overall system integration: how the gasifier, syngas cleanup, shift conversion, hydrogen separation/purification, and CO2 capture and compression are engineered together to maximize hydrogen yield while minimizing emissions and energy penalties.

DOE is broadly soliciting feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, investors, project developers, NGOs, universities, research labs, and government agencies. That breadth suggests the RFI is meant to capture both near-term, practical lessons from companies already developing or deploying relevant technology, and longer-term R&D needs identified by researchers and public-interest organizations. Responses could reasonably include technology status and readiness, bottlenecks that prevent scale-up, cost drivers, reliability issues, operational experience, and recommendations on where federal R&D could have the highest impact.

In terms of the posted opportunity metadata, it is categorized as discretionary and associated with the energy domain under CFDA 81.089. It lists the funding instrument type as "Cooperative Agreement," but because this is an RFI with expected awards listed as zero, that label should be read as a standard classification used in DOE systems rather than an indication of current funding. The eligible applicant field is "Unrestricted," consistent with an information-gathering request open to essentially any stakeholder able to provide useful input. The notice was created on December 12, 2023, and the original closing date for submitting responses was February 12, 2024. The award ceiling is shown as 2, but since DOE is not making awards under this RFI, that figure does not function like a typical grant maximum and should not be interpreted as available funding.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a signal of DOE interest in advancing gasification-based hydrogen pathways that move beyond traditional coal and petcoke, use lower-value alternative feedstocks, and incorporate carbon capture in a way that can stand up to lifecycle emissions accounting. For organizations working in gasification, syngas-to-hydrogen systems, carbon capture, alternative feedstock logistics, or project development for low-carbon hydrogen, the practical value here is influencing DOE's future R&D priorities and potential future funding directions by submitting concrete, experience-based feedback.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information: High-Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-12. (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 $2.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for DE FOA 0003259

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