Blue-Sky Training Program for Grid Scale Energy Storage Systems | DE FOA 0003497

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.

• 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0003497

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