Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002685
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), is seeking input on the current state of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and what is still getting in the way of broader adoption. The opportunity is titled "Challenges and Opportunities for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics" and it is tied to Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0002685. Although it appears in the grants context, the core action described is a Request for Information (RFI): DOE is asking stakeholders to share technical and commercial insights so the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the Building Technologies Office (BTO) can shape future program strategy and potential funding priorities. In practical terms, this is DOE gathering evidence on where BIPV stands today, what barriers remain, and what near-term opportunities could have the biggest impact if DOE were to invest in them.
This RFI is focused specifically on building-integrated PV systems, meaning solar technologies that are designed to be part of the building envelope or building components rather than added on as traditional rack-mounted panels. Examples can include PV integrated into roofs, facades, curtain walls, skylights, windows, or other architectural elements. DOE is looking for information that helps identify and quantify the remaining barriers, which implies they want more than general opinions. They are looking for concrete pain points and measurable constraints such as performance limitations, durability and reliability issues, safety and code compliance challenges, manufacturing and supply-chain constraints, installation complexity, cost drivers, design and engineering workflow gaps, and market adoption hurdles. On the commercial side, they are also interested in obstacles such as permitting and interconnection friction, fragmented responsibilities between architects, builders, and solar contractors, unclear value propositions for owners, limited financing models, warranty and liability concerns, and the difficulty of comparing BIPV economics against conventional building materials plus standard solar.
From an administrative standpoint, the listing categorizes the opportunity as discretionary and notes a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument type, which usually signals that if DOE later funds projects in this area, it may expect active involvement during execution rather than a hands-off grant. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number listed is 81.087, which aligns with DOE energy-related assistance programs. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning responses or participation are broadly open to many types of entities (subject to any additional eligibility language in the full notice). That typically includes private companies, universities, national labs, state and local governments, nonprofits, utilities, and industry groups, all of which can provide useful perspectives on BIPV barriers from different parts of the value chain.
The notice was created on March 7, 2022, with an original closing date of April 1, 2022, indicating a defined window for stakeholders to submit input. The award ceiling is listed as 2, but the expected number of awards is 0, which is consistent with an RFI or pre-solicitation market research step rather than a direct call for funded project proposals. The agency is listed as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, which often serves as the contracting and awards office for EERE-led activities.
Overall, the main point of this opportunity is not immediate project funding but influence: DOE is collecting targeted feedback to guide future strategy and program development for BIPV. For organizations active in building products, solar manufacturing, construction, architecture and engineering, real estate development, and building energy research, an RFI like this is a chance to highlight the most pressing technical gaps and market failures, propose areas where federal support could unlock scale, and help shape what any later funding opportunity might prioritize, such as standardized testing and certification pathways, improved integration with building codes and product standards, innovations that reduce installed cost and complexity, better long-term performance and durability data, or approaches that make BIPV easier to specify, finance, and maintain.Apply for DE FOA 0002685
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Challenges and Opportunities for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics" 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 Mar 07, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 01, 2022. (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 the title of this DOE opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Challenges and Opportunities for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) associated with this notice?
The notice is tied to Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0002685.
Is this a grant that funds projects right now?
Based on the information provided, the core action is a Request for Information (RFI), not a request for full project proposals. The listing shows an expected number of awards of 0, which is consistent with DOE conducting market research and gathering input rather than issuing immediate project funding.
What is DOE asking stakeholders to do?
DOE is asking stakeholders to submit technical and commercial insights on the current state of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), what barriers remain, and what near-term opportunities could have the biggest impact if DOE invests in them in the future.
Which DOE offices are involved?
The request is issued by DOE through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The information collected is intended to help shape strategy and potential priorities for the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the Building Technologies Office (BTO).
Which DOE office is listed as the agency office for this opportunity?
The agency is listed as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office.
What is the purpose of this RFI?
The purpose is to help DOE identify and quantify the remaining barriers to broader BIPV adoption and to understand where federal efforts could most effectively accelerate progress. Practically, it is a way for stakeholders to influence future program strategy and possible funding priorities.
What does BIPV mean in this context?
In this RFI, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) refers to solar technologies that are designed to be part of the building envelope or building components rather than added later as traditional rack-mounted solar panels.
What are examples of building-integrated PV systems DOE is referring to?
Examples mentioned include PV integrated into roofs, facades, curtain walls, skylights, windows, and other architectural elements.
What kinds of input is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for input that goes beyond general opinions. The notice emphasizes identifying and quantifying barriers, suggesting DOE wants concrete pain points and measurable constraints related to both technology and commercialization.
What technical barriers does DOE want to understand?
The notice highlights interest in barriers such as performance limitations, durability and reliability issues, safety and code compliance challenges, manufacturing and supply-chain constraints, installation complexity, cost drivers, and gaps in design and engineering workflows.
What commercial or market barriers does DOE want to understand?
On the commercial side, DOE is interested in obstacles such as permitting and interconnection friction, fragmented responsibilities between architects, builders, and solar contractors, unclear value propositions for building owners, limited financing models, warranty and liability concerns, and difficulties comparing BIPV economics against conventional building materials plus standard solar.
What does DOE mean by "fragmented responsibilities" in BIPV projects?
As described, BIPV projects can involve multiple parties (architects, builders, solar contractors), and the handoffs between them can be unclear or inefficient. DOE is seeking insights into how this fragmentation affects adoption, risk, cost, and project delivery.
Why is DOE emphasizing quantifying barriers?
The notice indicates DOE wants to identify and quantify barriers, which implies interest in information that can be measured or documented (for example, specific cost drivers, reliability data, workflow bottlenecks, code compliance hurdles, or installation constraints) rather than broad, non-specific statements.
Who can participate or respond to this opportunity?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted. Based on the information provided, that typically means responses can come from a wide range of entities, including private companies, universities, national laboratories, state and local governments, nonprofits, utilities, and industry groups, subject to any additional details that may appear in the full notice.
What is the activity category for this listing?
The activity category is listed as Energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087, which aligns with DOE energy-related assistance programs.
What is the funding instrument type listed, and why does it matter?
The listing notes a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument type. While this RFI is not described as making immediate awards, a cooperative agreement generally indicates that if DOE later funds projects in this space, DOE may expect active involvement during execution rather than a purely hands-off grant relationship.
When was the notice created and when did it close?
The notice was created on March 7, 2022, with an original closing date of April 1, 2022, indicating a defined window for stakeholders to submit input.
The listing shows an award ceiling of "2" and expected awards of "0." What does that imply?
Based on the information provided, an expected number of awards of 0 strongly suggests this is an RFI or pre-solicitation step rather than a direct funding call. The presence of an award ceiling alongside that detail reinforces that the listing sits in a grants context even though the described action is information-gathering.
What should organizations gain from responding if there is no immediate funding?
The main value described is influence. Responding gives organizations a chance to highlight the most pressing technical gaps and market failures and to propose where DOE support could unlock scale, shaping what future DOE programs or funding opportunities might prioritize.
What kinds of future priorities might DOE shape based on this RFI?
The notice suggests DOE may use responses to help shape priorities such as standardized testing and certification pathways, improved integration with building codes and product standards, innovations that reduce installed cost and complexity, better long-term performance and durability data, and approaches that make BIPV easier to specify, finance, and maintain.
Which sectors are especially relevant to this RFI?
The notice specifically points to organizations active in building products, solar manufacturing, construction, architecture and engineering, real estate development, and building energy research as likely to have useful perspectives for DOE.
Is the opportunity categorized as discretionary?
Yes. The listing categorizes the opportunity as discretionary.
What is DOE trying to learn about BIPV cost and economics?
DOE is interested in cost drivers and in the challenge of comparing BIPV economics against the alternative of using conventional building materials plus standard solar. Stakeholder input can help clarify where costs originate and what makes financial comparisons difficult in real projects.
What kinds of code, safety, and compliance issues is DOE flagging?
The notice explicitly calls out safety and code compliance challenges as barriers DOE wants to understand, implying interest in how building codes, product standards, and compliance pathways may slow or complicate adoption of BIPV products and systems.
Does DOE want input on manufacturing and supply chain topics?
Yes. The notice lists manufacturing and supply-chain constraints among the barriers DOE wants stakeholders to address.
Does DOE want input on installation and project delivery challenges?
Yes. The notice includes installation complexity and gaps in design and engineering workflows, as well as coordination issues across project roles, indicating DOE is looking for real-world feedback on what makes BIPV difficult to deliver at scale.
Does DOE want input related to permitting and interconnection?
Yes. DOE is interested in permitting and interconnection friction as part of the commercial barriers affecting BIPV deployment.
Does the notice indicate whether eligibility is limited to U.S. entities?
The information provided states eligibility is unrestricted, but it does not provide additional details beyond that. Any further restrictions would be found in the full notice language.
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