Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001869
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Identifying Opportunities to Address Barriers for Lowering the Cost and Risk of Geothermal Drilling" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001869). This notice is not a traditional funding solicitation for immediate awards; instead, it is a market and stakeholder input request meant to gather practical, on-the-ground information about why geothermal well drilling remains expensive and risky, and what specific actions could help reduce those barriers. The underlying purpose is to support more cost-effective geothermal electricity production in the United States by improving drilling performance, reducing uncertainty, and targeting the highest-impact improvements.
The RFI focuses on geothermal drilling as a major cost driver in developing geothermal power projects. DOE is looking for input that helps clarify what makes geothermal wells difficult to drill compared with conventional oil and gas wells, where failures and delays tend to happen, and what technical or operational gaps most strongly affect overall project economics. The agency is explicitly seeking perspectives on three broad areas: first, the major challenges that drive cost and risk in geothermal drilling; second, research and development (R&D) opportunities that could address those challenges through new or improved technology; and third, process improvement opportunities, meaning non-technology changes such as better practices, planning methods, workflows, procurement approaches, standards, or other operational improvements that can cut cost and reduce uncertainty without necessarily inventing new hardware.
In practical terms, respondents are being asked to help DOE pinpoint where investments, collaborations, or future program efforts could have the biggest payoff. That includes identifying the most persistent sources of drilling risk (for example, conditions that lead to lost circulation, stuck pipe, tool failure, poor rate of penetration, wellbore instability, high-temperature limitations, or unexpected subsurface conditions), and then mapping those problems to potential solutions. R&D opportunities could involve advanced drilling tools and materials suited for high-temperature, abrasive, and fractured formations; improved downhole sensing, telemetry, and real-time diagnostics; better geothermal-specific drilling fluids and cementing approaches; techniques to reduce non-productive time; or innovations that enable faster, safer drilling and completion in geothermal environments. Process improvements could include better well planning and design practices, improved data sharing and learning across projects, standardization, training and workforce practices, contracting strategies, risk management methods, and operational decision-making that leverages real-time data.
Eligibility for providing input is essentially open, with the listing indicating "unrestricted" eligible applicants, meaning any type of entity can respond (subject to any details in the full text of the RFI). This typically includes geothermal developers, drilling contractors, equipment manufacturers, service companies, national laboratories, universities, state and local agencies, and other stakeholders who have relevant experience or ideas. The RFI was issued by the DOE Golden Field Office under the energy activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.086. Because it is an RFI, it does not list expected awards in the way a grant or cooperative agreement announcement would; in fact, it shows zero expected awards, which aligns with the purpose of collecting information rather than directly distributing funding.
Submissions were required to be sent electronically by email to geothermal.comments@ee.doe.gov, with responses provided as attachments. The deadline specified was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on January 22, 2018 (the original closing date), and the creation date for the opportunity record was December 12, 2017. Overall, the RFI is best understood as DOE seeking detailed stakeholder feedback to guide future geothermal drilling cost-reduction efforts, refine research priorities, and identify near-term operational changes that could accelerate deployment of geothermal electricity by making drilling more predictable, less risky, and less expensive.Apply for DE FOA 0001869
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI): Identifying Opportunities to Address Barriers for Lowering the Cost and Risk of Geothermal Drilling" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 12, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 22, 2018 Responses must be submitted electronically to geothermal.comments@ee.doe.gov no later than 500pm (ET) on January 22, 2018. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email.. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this DOE opportunity (DE-FOA-0001869) about?
This opportunity is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Identifying Opportunities to Address Barriers for Lowering the Cost and Risk of Geothermal Drilling" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001869). It was issued through the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) within DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The RFI is meant to collect practical feedback on why geothermal well drilling remains expensive and risky, and what actions could reduce those barriers.
Is this a funding opportunity that will make grants or immediate awards?
No. This notice is not a traditional funding solicitation for immediate awards. It is an RFI designed to gather market and stakeholder input rather than distribute funding. Consistent with that purpose, the listing indicates zero expected awards.
Why is DOE focusing on geothermal drilling?
The RFI emphasizes geothermal drilling because it is a major cost driver in developing geothermal power projects. DOE is seeking input that can help improve drilling performance, reduce uncertainty, and target high-impact improvements that support more cost-effective geothermal electricity production in the United States.
What is DOE trying to learn from responses?
DOE is trying to gather on-the-ground information about what makes geothermal wells difficult to drill compared with conventional oil and gas wells, where failures and delays tend to occur, and which technical or operational gaps most strongly affect project economics.
What are the main topic areas DOE is asking about?
DOE is explicitly seeking perspectives across three broad areas:
- Major challenges that drive cost and risk in geothermal drilling
- Research and development (R&D) opportunities to address those challenges through new or improved technology
- Process improvement opportunities (non-technology changes) such as improved practices, planning methods, workflows, procurement approaches, standards, and other operational improvements that reduce cost and uncertainty
What kinds of drilling risks and problems does the RFI highlight?
The RFI points to persistent sources of drilling risk and performance issues, including conditions that may lead to lost circulation, stuck pipe, tool failure, poor rate of penetration, wellbore instability, high-temperature limitations, and unexpected subsurface conditions.
What kinds of R&D ideas does DOE appear interested in?
Based on the RFI description, R&D opportunities may include advanced drilling tools and materials suited for high-temperature, abrasive, and fractured formations; improved downhole sensing, telemetry, and real-time diagnostics; geothermal-specific drilling fluids and cementing approaches; techniques to reduce non-productive time; and innovations that enable faster and safer drilling and completion in geothermal environments.
What counts as a "process improvement" in this RFI?
Process improvements are non-technology changes that could cut cost and reduce uncertainty without necessarily inventing new hardware. Examples mentioned include better well planning and design practices, improved data sharing and learning across projects, standardization, training and workforce practices, contracting strategies, risk management methods, and operational decision-making that leverages real-time data.
Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
The listing indicates eligibility is "unrestricted," meaning any type of entity can respond (subject to any requirements in the full RFI text). The RFI is aimed at stakeholders with relevant experience or ideas, such as geothermal developers, drilling contractors, equipment manufacturers, service companies, national laboratories, universities, and state or local agencies.
What is the purpose of submitting information to this RFI?
Respondents are being asked to help DOE pinpoint where investments, collaborations, or future program efforts could have the biggest payoff for reducing geothermal drilling cost and risk. The RFI is intended to guide future efforts, refine research priorities, and identify near-term operational changes that could accelerate geothermal electricity deployment by making drilling more predictable and less expensive.
How were responses required to be submitted?
Submissions were required to be sent electronically by email to geothermal.comments@ee.doe.gov, with responses provided as attachments.
What was the deadline for submitting responses?
The deadline specified was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on January 22, 2018.
When was this opportunity record created?
The creation date for the opportunity record was December 12, 2017.
Which DOE office issued this RFI?
The RFI was issued by DOE through the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) within EERE, and the notice is associated with the DOE Golden Field Office.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.086.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The notice is listed under the energy activity category.
Does the RFI describe the number of expected awards?
No. Because this is an RFI rather than a grant or cooperative agreement solicitation, it does not list expected awards in the typical way. The listing indicates zero expected awards, aligning with the goal of collecting information rather than making awards.
What outcomes is DOE aiming for in the long run?
The underlying goal is to support more cost-effective geothermal electricity production in the United States by improving drilling performance, reducing uncertainty, and focusing on the highest-impact improvements that lower the cost and risk of geothermal drilling.
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