CFDA 81.087: Renewable Energy Research and Development
DOE EERE's primary mechanism for renewable-energy R&D — solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, bioenergy, hydrogen, and grid-modernization research and demonstration projects.
What this CFDA funds
Basic and applied renewable-energy research, technology development, prototype demonstrations, manufacturing scale-up, workforce training in clean-energy sectors, and grid-integration projects. Recent priorities driven by IRA/IIJA: hydrogen production, battery manufacturing, advanced solar manufacturing, offshore wind, geothermal, and equitable energy transition.
What winning applicants look like
DOE National Labs and Tier-1 research universities lead most large awards. Industry-academia consortia win the manufacturing demonstrations. Small businesses access via SBIR/STTR and the EERE Open FOA mechanisms. Climate-justice and equity-focused proposals are increasingly prioritized.
Common pitfalls + things to know
DOE FOA structures are dense — multiple Areas of Interest with distinct evaluation criteria, technical Volume page limits, pricing/cost-share narratives, IP rights provisions. Cost-share is typically required (often 20-50%) and must be from non-federal sources. Environmental review for any field demonstration is substantial.
Related CFDAs to also explore
- CFDA 81.122 — Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
- CFDA 81.135 — Advanced Manufacturing Office
- CFDA 66.605 — EPA Performance Partnership
Reference guides
Evergreen explainers for nonprofit grant offices and federal grant seekers.
- Federal Grants for Nonprofits: A 2026 Guide for 501(c)(3) Organizations — CFDA prefixes, applicant-type code 12, forecasts, the deadline trap.
- The Grants.gov Search Guide: How to Actually Find Federal Grants in 2026 — practical filter walkthrough, native-vs-paid tool comparison.
- → All Grant Wire articles
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Always verify in the official source. CFDA program details, eligibility, and award ranges change with each annual NOFO cycle. Confirm at sam.gov/content/assistance-listings or the agency's program office before you build an application strategy. This page is editorial reference, not an official agency notice.