DE-FOA-0002534: Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources (UNLOCK) (DE-FOA-0003630). Status: Closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left). It is in our archive of Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy notices from 2021.
Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy offered grants to any type of organization. Applications closed on July 31, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 11, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | June 11, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 31, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | October 31, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to any type of organization.
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not seeking applications for financial assistance. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITTUE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (43% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON) This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not soliciting application for financial assistance. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input for potential future ARPA-E supported research efforts focused on novel, unconventional ideas, approaches, and enabling technologies to reduce electrical conductor resistivity. This is a new “hybrid” RFI format where you may choose to (1) provide a written response, as with past ARPA-E RFI’s, and/or (2) participate in a related online “incubator” and “ask me anything” (AMA) discussion session hosted on a platform developed by Polyplexus, LLC. Guidance for (1) is provided at the end of this document. For (2), please follow this weblink: https://polyplexus.com/. The incubator and AMA, which are scheduled from 6/11/2021 to 6/25/2021 and 6/18/2021 3:30pm-5:00pm, respectively, are like an online chat forum that allows for dynamic, evidence-based discussions moderated by an ARPA-E Program Director, providing an opportunity for interested parties to actively influence the discussion and interact with the Program Director. The incubator discussions and AMA will be visible to any registered Polyplexus user; registration is free and available to anyone according to the terms available at the site linked above. Your participation in the incubator and AMA are not required in order to provide feedback on this potential future program, but encouraged. Transporting electricity through conductors is among the most prevalent mechanisms for energy transfer today, and poised to grow significantly with increased electrification of the industrial, transportation, and building sectors. Reducing the energy losses in conductors improves the efficiency of electrical transport and reduces associated energy production emissions. Better conductors will also be critical for power transmission in a more distributed grid as renewable energies like solar and wind are integrated. There are two strategies to increase power transmission with minimal increase in losses: (1) Employing higher voltages (2) Moving electricity at higher current To view the RFI in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. The information you provide may be used by ARPA-E in support of program planning.
Who has won Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (81.135) awarded $1.4 billion across 729 grant awards, an average of $1.9 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX Corporation | Connecticut | 15 | $33.9 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts | 16 | $31.4 million |
| BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC | Virginia | 1 | $30.9 million |
| Ge Vernova Operations LLC | New York | 8 | $26.4 million |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | 11 | $23.6 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DE-FOA-0003630, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is DE-FOA-0002534 still open?
No. It closed on July 31, 2021. A newer notice is open: DE-FOA-0003630, closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left).
Who can apply for Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON)?
Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy accepted applications from any type of organization. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON)?
Closed July 31, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
Who has won Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were RTX Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC. The program made 729 awards worth $1.4 billion in that time.