DE-FOA-0003226: Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT) (DE-FOA-0003647). Status: Closes December 1, 2026 (24 days left). It is in our archive of Golden Field Office notices from 2023.
Golden Field Office offered grants of up to $2.5 million (at least $1.0 million) to any type of organization. It expected to make about 6 awards worth $7.0 million in total. Applications closed on March 15, 2024.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed December 14, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$2.5 million
- Award floor$1.0 million
- Total funding$7.0 million
- Expected awards6
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | December 14, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 15, 2024 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | April 14, 2024 |
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"
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Renewable Energy Research and Development awards averaged $2.8 million; this notice allows up to $2.5 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (30% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to invest in innovative social science research that generates actionable insights to improve large-scale solar (LSS) siting processes and outcomes for host communities—particularly those that are disadvantaged—and the solar industry.
Who has won Renewable Energy Research and Development grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Renewable Energy Research and Development (81.087) awarded $2.5 billion across 900 grant awards, an average of $2.8 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University | Oregon | 12 | $112 million |
| University of Utah | Utah | 3 | $107 million |
| Avapco LLC | Georgia | 2 | $103 million |
| Plug Power Inc. | New York | 4 | $75.7 million |
| General Motors LLC | Michigan | 5 | $61.1 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DE-FOA-0003647, 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-0003226 still open?
No. It closed on March 15, 2024. A newer notice is open: DE-FOA-0003647, closes December 1, 2026 (24 days left).
Who can apply for Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)?
Golden Field Office accepted applications from any type of organization.
What is the deadline for Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)?
Closed March 15, 2024. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $2.5 million each. About $7.0 million in total across about 6 awards.
Who has won Renewable Energy Research and Development grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Oregon State University, University of Utah, Avapco LLC. The program made 900 awards worth $2.5 billion in that time.