# Fossil Energy Research and Development (81.089)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/81-089-fossil-energy-research-and-development/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Fossil Energy Research and Development is run by Department of Energy. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $3.2 billion in 648 grants, about $4.9 million per award.

## Objectives

The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) mission is to unleash the full potential of America’s hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable and secure energy. Through innovation and U.S. energy leadership, HGEO advances breakthrough technologies that lower costs and power American prosperity freedom and human flourishing. The Office works to conduct cutting-edge research, development and demonstration (RD&D) across hydrocarbon and geothermal energy sectors while accelerating the deployment of breakthrough technologies that strengthen U.S. energy security, reliability, and affordability. Priority areas of technology work include research and development (R&D) to ensure the resilience of U.S. oil and natural gas systems in the United States; R&D and stabilize, optimize, and grow the American coal industry, restoring it as a cornerstone of the U.S. energy mix; accelerating the discovery and development of a gigawatt-scale geothermal energy to position geothermal as competitive domestic source for reliable baseload electricity generation; and administer DOE’s regulatory responsibilities for Liquid National Gas (LNG) exports under the Natural Gas Act. The Office works to foster partnerships with industry, academia, and other government agencies to deliver solutions that bolster U.S. energy security. Finally, the Office supports novel, early-stage research at U.S. colleges and universities.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $418 million | 218 |
| 2022 | $220 million | 141 |
| 2023 | $478 million | 196 |
| 2024 | $1.1 billion | 203 |
| 2025 | $966 million | 71 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Colorado | $334 million |
| Institute of Gas Technology | Illinois | $257 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | $146 million |
| Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | Texas | $134 million |
| University of North Dakota | North Dakota | $118 million |
| Southern States Energy Board | Georgia | $116 million |
| University of Texas at Austin | Texas | $101 million |
| Institute of Gas Technology | Illinois | $94.5 million |
| University of Wyoming | Wyoming | $89.5 million |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | New Mexico | $85.1 million |
| Southern Company Services, Inc. | Alabama | $67.8 million |
| Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. | California | $65.1 million |
| Tampa Electric Company | Florida | $61.4 million |
| Tribal Energy Consortium | New Mexico | $50.0 million |
| Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection | Pennsylvania | $44.5 million |
| Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines | Colorado | $43.1 million |
| BP Carbon Solutions LLC | Texas | $42.4 million |
| Electric Power Research Institute Inc | California | $40.2 million |
| Wabash Valley Resources LLC | Indiana | $37.9 million |
| West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection | West Virginia | $37.8 million |