Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001538
This funding opportunity, titled "Methane Emissions Mitigation and Quantification from Natural Gas Infrastructure" (DE-FOA-0001538), is a discretionary U.S. Department of Energy effort administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The program is structured as a research and development initiative that uses cooperative agreements, meaning awardees should expect substantial federal involvement during the project period rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is framed around methane (CH4) as a potent greenhouse gas and focuses on reducing methane releases associated with the U.S. natural gas system, particularly as domestic production and throughput have expanded while key portions of pipeline and utility infrastructure have aged.
The FOA emphasizes that methane leakage risk is heightened by operational and maintenance challenges in legacy interstate, high-pressure transmission pipelines as well as older local gas utility delivery networks. It highlights where emissions are most prevalent across the system. Distribution systems are cited as contributing about 20 percent of methane leaks from gas systems, with major sources including leak-prone pipelines and equipment located at city-gates, specifically meters and regulators. Transmission and storage systems are described as contributing roughly 35 percent of total methane emissions from the natural gas system, with prominent sources including reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, pneumatic controllers, blowdowns, and general equipment leaks. The core rationale is that public-interest research is needed to develop more effective and more cost-efficient solutions both to reduce emissions and to measure them more accurately, since better quantification supports better mitigation decisions and stronger accountability.
Programmatically, the opportunity is divided into two complementary thrusts. The mitigation-focused portion seeks the development of a suite of leak mitigation technologies that natural gas companies can deploy to more effectively prevent, reduce, or eliminate leaks. This implies an interest in practical, field-relevant tools and methods that can be implemented within real operating environments and constraints. The quantification-focused portion targets improved measurement and accounting of methane emissions across the natural gas value chain, aiming to better determine sources, volumes, and emission rates. In practice, this indicates support for approaches that improve detection, measurement accuracy, attribution to specific equipment or activities, and potentially methods that can scale across facilities or networks.
The posting also includes an important administrative update: Amendment 000003 revises the FOA primarily to clarify application submission requirements related to "Field 12 Attachments/Appendices" in the application package. Specifically, the amendment provides clearer direction for Section IV (Application and Submission Information), Part (C) Content and Form of Application, with emphasis on items labeled 3B and 3D, and it updates the summary list of required forms and files. A key change is the explicit incorporation of a "Bibliography and References Cited" appendix under 3D, indicating applicants must include and properly format supporting citations as part of the required attachments. The amendment notes that changes are highlighted in yellow in the FOA document, signaling applicants should carefully compare versions to ensure compliance with the revised submission checklist.
From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is broadly listed as "Unrestricted" for eligible applicants, but with a clear restriction that federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible to apply as the prime recipient. However, those entities may participate as team members or partners under an eligible lead applicant, which can be important for applicants seeking specialized federal-lab capabilities without violating the prime eligibility rule. Additional eligibility details are referenced as being available in Section III of the FOA.
Key administrative details include an original closing date of June 13, 2016, a stated award ceiling of $19,000,000, and an expectation of up to 24 awards. The CFDA number associated with the program is 81.089, and the activity categories span energy, environment, natural resources, science and technology, and broader R&D. Overall, the opportunity is designed to push forward both deployable leak-reduction solutions and stronger emissions measurement methods across distribution, transmission, and storage infrastructure, addressing methane as a significant climate driver and focusing attention on the highest-impact leak sources identified in the natural gas system.Apply for DE FOA 0001538
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methane Emissions Mitigation and Quantification from Natural Gas Infrastructure" 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 2016-04-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-06-13. (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 $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Methane Emissions Mitigation and Quantification from Natural Gas Infrastructure" and is identified as DE-FOA-0001538.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What kind of program is this (research, deployment, etc.)?
It is a research and development (R&D) initiative focused on developing improved methods and technologies to reduce methane emissions and to measure methane emissions more accurately across the U.S. natural gas system.
What award mechanism will DOE use for selected projects?
The FOA uses cooperative agreements. That means awardees should expect substantial federal involvement during the project period, rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.
Why is the FOA focused on methane (CH4)?
The FOA frames methane as a potent greenhouse gas and focuses on reducing methane releases associated with the U.S. natural gas system, particularly as domestic production and throughput have expanded while key parts of pipeline and utility infrastructure have aged.
Which parts of the natural gas system does the FOA highlight as having higher leakage risk?
The FOA emphasizes operational and maintenance challenges in legacy interstate, high-pressure transmission pipelines as well as older local gas utility delivery networks, noting that aging infrastructure can heighten methane leakage risk.
What does the FOA say about methane emissions from distribution systems?
Distribution systems are cited as contributing about 20 percent of methane leaks from gas systems. Major sources noted include leak-prone pipelines and equipment at city-gates, specifically meters and regulators.
What does the FOA say about methane emissions from transmission and storage systems?
Transmission and storage systems are described as contributing roughly 35 percent of total methane emissions from the natural gas system. Prominent sources include reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, pneumatic controllers, blowdowns, and general equipment leaks.
What is the core rationale for funding this work?
The FOA states that public-interest research is needed to develop more effective and more cost-efficient solutions to reduce emissions, and to measure methane more accurately. Improved quantification is positioned as supporting better mitigation decisions and stronger accountability.
How is the program structured?
The FOA is divided into two complementary thrusts: (1) mitigation-focused efforts to develop leak mitigation technologies, and (2) quantification-focused efforts to improve methane measurement and accounting across the natural gas value chain.
What is the mitigation-focused thrust trying to achieve?
The mitigation portion seeks the development of a suite of leak mitigation technologies that natural gas companies can deploy to more effectively prevent, reduce, or eliminate leaks. The FOA signals interest in practical, field-relevant tools and methods that can work in real operating environments.
What is the quantification-focused thrust trying to achieve?
The quantification portion targets improved measurement and accounting of methane emissions across the natural gas value chain, aiming to better determine sources, volumes, and emission rates. This includes improving detection, measurement accuracy, attribution to specific equipment or activities, and potentially scalable approaches across facilities or networks.
What is Amendment 000003 and why does it matter?
Amendment 000003 primarily clarifies application submission requirements related to "Field 12 Attachments/Appendices" in the application package. Applicants should pay attention because it revises instructions in Section IV (Application and Submission Information), Part (C) Content and Form of Application, emphasizing items labeled 3B and 3D, and it updates the summary list of required forms and files.
What new or explicitly required attachment is called out in the amendment?
The amendment explicitly incorporates a "Bibliography and References Cited" appendix under 3D, indicating applicants must include and properly format supporting citations as part of the required attachments.
How can applicants identify what changed in the amended FOA?
The amendment notes that changes are highlighted in yellow in the FOA document. Applicants are expected to carefully compare versions and ensure they comply with the revised submission checklist.
Who is eligible to apply as the prime recipient?
The FOA lists eligibility as "Unrestricted" for eligible applicants, but it clearly restricts federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors from applying as the prime recipient. Additional eligibility details are referenced as being in Section III of the FOA.
Can federal agencies or FFRDC contractors participate at all?
Yes. While federal agencies and FFRDC contractors are not eligible to apply as the prime recipient, they may participate as team members or partners under an eligible lead applicant.
What was the application closing date listed for this FOA?
The original closing date stated in the posting is June 13, 2016.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $19,000,000.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
The FOA indicates an expectation of up to 24 awards.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 81.089.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The activity categories span energy, environment, natural resources, science and technology, and broader research and development (R&D).
What kinds of infrastructure and equipment are explicitly mentioned as key methane emission sources?
The FOA specifically mentions city-gate meters and regulators in distribution systems, and reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, pneumatic controllers, blowdowns, and general equipment leaks in transmission and storage systems.
What is the intended outcome of improving methane quantification?
The FOA ties improved quantification to better decision-making for mitigation and stronger accountability by enabling better determination of emission sources, volumes, and rates.
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