Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003497
The Blue-Sky Training Program for Grid Scale Energy Storage Systems is a federal funding opportunity intended to improve community safety and preparedness around grid-scale and other large energy storage systems (ESS). The core idea is that as batteries and other storage technologies are installed more widely, communities need to be "storage ready" so that utilities, host sites, local officials, and emergency responders all have clear, practiced procedures for preventing and managing incidents. The opportunity focuses on reducing the uncertainty that can surround response to security threats, operational upsets, or unexpected ESS failures, since that uncertainty can slow down approvals, delay projects, or stop deployment entirely.
This opportunity is issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003497 (also listed as NOFO No. DE-FOA-0003497). It is a discretionary grant competition using a cooperative agreement structure, which typically means the government expects more active involvement during the period of performance than with a standard grant. The activity category is tied to education and energy, reflecting that the main deliverable is training and coordinated readiness rather than building or buying equipment.
Eligibility is deliberately narrow and tied to real-world access to a sufficiently large storage system. Prime recipients must, by the closing date, be one of the following: an owner or operator of a utility-scale ESS or a facility-sited ESS that is 100 kW or larger (including systems supporting commercial, industrial, or public service facilities); a host-site entity with access to a utility-scale or facility-sited ESS at or above 100 kW; or an entity that has an agreement in place to access such an ESS. This restriction is made pursuant to 2 CFR 910.126(b), and it signals that projects are expected to be grounded in hands-on training and coordination tied to an actual installation rather than purely classroom-based or hypothetical exercises.
The funding details indicate an award ceiling of $275,000 per award and an expected total of about 15 awards. The original closing date is February 2, 2025, and the opportunity record lists a creation date of December 6, 2024. The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number associated with the opportunity is 81.122. In practical terms, the program is meant to convene the right local and regional stakeholders around an operational (or accessible) ESS and develop or strengthen shared safety practices so that communities can respond consistently and confidently if an ESS experiences a security issue, malfunction, or other emergency condition, supporting both public safety and smoother deployment of storage projects.Apply for DE FOA 0003497
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the education, energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Blue-Sky Training Program for Grid Scale Energy Storage Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.122.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-02. (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 $275,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Blue-Sky Training Program for Grid Scale Energy Storage Systems (DE-FOA-0003497)
What is the Blue-Sky Training Program for Grid Scale Energy Storage Systems?
It is a federal funding opportunity intended to improve community safety and preparedness around grid-scale and other large energy storage systems (ESS). The focus is on helping communities become "storage ready" by establishing clear, practiced procedures to prevent incidents and to manage incidents if they occur.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program targets the uncertainty that can surround response to security threats, operational upsets, or unexpected ESS failures. That uncertainty can slow approvals, delay projects, or stop deployment. The goal is to reduce that uncertainty by supporting coordinated training and readiness around a real ESS installation.
Who is issuing this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA/NOFO number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0003497 (also listed as NOFO No. DE-FOA-0003497).
Is this a standard grant, or something else?
This is a discretionary grant competition using a cooperative agreement structure. A cooperative agreement typically indicates more active involvement by the government during the period of performance than a standard grant.
What kind of activities does this opportunity support?
The activity category is tied to education and energy. The core deliverable is training and coordinated readiness rather than building or buying equipment.
What does "storage ready" mean in the context of this program?
It means the relevant parties (utilities, host sites, local officials, and emergency responders) have clear, practiced procedures for preventing and managing incidents involving an energy storage system, so response is consistent and confident.
Who is eligible to apply as a prime recipient?
Prime recipients must, by the closing date, be one of the following: (1) an owner or operator of a utility-scale ESS or a facility-sited ESS that is 100 kW or larger (including systems supporting commercial, industrial, or public service facilities); (2) a host-site entity with access to a utility-scale or facility-sited ESS at or above 100 kW; or (3) an entity that has an agreement in place to access such an ESS.
What is the minimum ESS size required for eligibility?
The ESS must be 100 kW or larger (utility-scale or facility-sited) for prime recipient eligibility.
Does the ESS have to be utility-scale, or can it be located at a facility?
It can be either a utility-scale ESS or a facility-sited ESS, as long as it is 100 kW or larger. Facility-sited systems may include those supporting commercial, industrial, or public service facilities.
What if an applicant does not own or operate an ESS?
An applicant may still be eligible if it is a host-site entity with access to a qualifying ESS, or if it has an agreement in place to access a qualifying ESS, by the closing date.
Why is eligibility restricted to entities with access to an actual ESS?
The restriction signals that projects are expected to be grounded in hands-on training and coordination tied to an actual installation, rather than purely classroom-based or hypothetical exercises.
What regulation is cited as the basis for the eligibility restriction?
The restriction is made pursuant to 2 CFR 910.126(b).
What is the award ceiling (maximum amount) per award?
The award ceiling is $275,000 per award.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expected total of about 15 awards.
What is the application closing date?
The original closing date is February 2, 2025.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record lists a creation date of December 6, 2024.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The associated CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 81.122.
What types of incidents or scenarios is the training intended to address?
The program is oriented toward preparedness for security threats, operational upsets, or unexpected ESS failures, and aims to ensure that stakeholders can respond effectively if an ESS experiences a security issue, malfunction, or other emergency condition.
Who are the key stakeholders this program is meant to bring together?
The opportunity is meant to convene relevant local and regional stakeholders around an operational (or accessible) ESS, including utilities, host sites, local officials, and emergency responders.
What is the intended outcome of the funded work?
The intended outcome is stronger shared safety practices and coordinated readiness so communities can respond consistently and confidently to ESS incidents, improving public safety and supporting smoother deployment of storage projects.
Does the opportunity emphasize training over equipment purchases?
Yes. The description frames the main deliverable as training and coordinated readiness rather than building or buying equipment.
Is hands-on training implied by the program design?
Yes. The eligibility requirement that prime recipients have access to a qualifying ESS indicates the training and coordination activities are expected to be grounded in real-world access to an actual installation.
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