RFI: Marine and Hydrokinetic Metrics | DE FOA 0001903

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001903

The Department of Energy's Water Power Technology Office (WPTO), housed within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), issued this Request for Information (RFI) to gather public and industry input on how the United States should define, measure, and benchmark Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) technology performance. Rather than offering grant funding for projects, this opportunity is a solicitation for written feedback intended to help DOE refine performance metrics and readiness definitions used to evaluate MHK systems and subsystems operating in U.S. marine environments. The goal is to improve consistency and usefulness of the metrics DOE and the broader community rely on when assessing technology progress, comparing concepts, and documenting the status of the U.S. MHK industry.

WPTO is specifically asking respondents to comment on four main areas. First, DOE wants feedback on the performance metrics already listed in a referenced document titled "Existing Ocean Energy Performance Metrics," with an emphasis on how well those metrics translate to real-world performance in U.S. marine resources. That includes practical commentary on how the metrics should be applied, what assumptions they depend on, and what their advantages and limitations are. In other words, DOE is looking for insight into whether these metrics are meaningful, measurable, comparable across devices, and representative of the conditions and constraints common in U.S. waters.

Second, WPTO is requesting suggestions for additional performance metrics that are not included in the existing metrics document. This is an invitation to propose new or missing measurements that would better capture device performance, reliability, maintainability, survivability, grid integration behavior, environmental interactions, or any other factors that determine whether an MHK technology can succeed commercially. The RFI is essentially asking the community to identify gaps in the current metric set and recommend ways to close them so that evaluations of MHK technologies are more complete and aligned with the needs of developers, test centers, regulators, investors, and utilities.

Third, DOE is seeking input on baseline reference values that can document the current state of the U.S. MHK industry, organized by metric and by resource type. This is about establishing credible starting points or benchmarks (for example, typical ranges or representative values) that describe where the industry is today. Those baseline values can then support clearer tracking of progress over time, enable more realistic target-setting, and help distinguish improvements that are truly meaningful from changes that are simply due to different testing conditions or reporting methods. The emphasis on "resource type" signals that DOE recognizes performance and cost profiles differ across wave, tidal, ocean current, river current, or other MHK resource categories, and wants the benchmarks to reflect those differences.

Fourth, WPTO is asking for feedback on Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions referenced in the metrics document, specifically as they apply to the U.S. MHK industry. The intent here is to ensure the TRL language and thresholds make sense for MHK development pathways, where progressing from lab and tank testing to open-water demonstrations can involve unique permitting, environmental review, survivability challenges, and infrastructure constraints. Respondents are being asked to comment on whether the TRL definitions are clear, appropriately staged, and aligned with what "readiness" realistically means for MHK devices and subsystems in U.S. deployment conditions.

Administratively, this RFI is listed under DOE's Golden Field Office as a discretionary opportunity in the energy category, with CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may submit feedback unless otherwise clarified in the official text. There is no expectation of awards (ExpectedAwards: 0) and no meaningful award ceiling for this RFI, reinforcing that it is not a funding solicitation but an information-gathering request. Submissions were required to be sent by email as a Microsoft Word attachment to WPTORFI@ee.doe.gov, with the original response deadline of July 31, 2018.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI: Marine and Hydrokinetic Metrics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2018 All responses to this RFI must be provided as an attachment (in Microsoft Word format) to an e-mail message addressed to WPTORFI@ee.doe.gov. (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 (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0001903

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