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U.S. Department of Energy

Fossil Energy Research and Development

Federal program · program number 81.089 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · also called “Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO)”

Key facts

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2 grants
Type of help
Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)
Typical award
Award size varies according to the notice of funding opportunity. The range is typically $200,000 to $250,000,000 with the average being around $5,000,000. In FY25, the maximum award size could reach $350,000,000.
Deadlines
Deadlines vary and are subject to change. There are deadlines stated in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) posted at http://www.grants.gov. For unsolicited proposals, there are no deadlines.

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What it pays for

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.

Who can apply

States, local governments, universities, governmental entities, consortia, nonprofit institutions, commercial corporations, joint Federal/Industry corporations, U.S. Territories, and individuals are eligible to apply.

How applications are judged

Criteria varies according to the specific notice of funding opportunity. Typically, the selection criteria includes criteria related to merit of the technical work proposed, the reasonableness and thoroughness of the technical approach, program policy factors, the quality of the technical capabilities, facilities and personnel involved in the scope of work, availability of funds, and the thoroughness of the project management plan.

Match

Matching Requirements: Percent: Other As Specified under Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and EISA, with exceptions, a minimum of 20% cost share is required for research and development. A minimum of 50% is required for demonstration. Higher cost share may be requested. For education and outreach projects, the statuatory cost share is 0%.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal year 2025: Advanced Energy Systems, Advanced Production Technologies, Carbon Transport and Storage; Mineral Sustainability; Enhanced Oil Recovery; Carbon Capture; University Training and Research; and Advanced Remediation Technologies. Fiscal year 2026: Advanced Energy Systems; Transport and Storage; Conversion and Value-Added Product; Point-Source Capture; Advanced Production Technologies; Natural Gas Infrastructure and Hydrogen Technologies, Mineral Production and Processing Technologies; and University Training and Research

Who in Tennessee has won this program

14 awards to Tennessee groups since 2017 · 0 in Rhea County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Collaborative Composite Solutions CorporationKnoxville, Knox County$2.1M2021
Applied Thermal Coatings, Inc.Chattanooga, Hamilton County$1.8M2020
Skynano LLCKnoxville, Knox County$1.8M2021
Holocene Climate CorporationKnoxville, Knox County$1.5M2024
State of TennesseeNashville$1.3M spent that year2025
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, Putnam County$1M2023
We New Energy, Inc.Farragut, Knox County$997K2021
Tennessee State UniversityNashville, Davidson County$800K2024
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, Putnam County$780K2020
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$524K2026
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$425K2021
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$400K2024

Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 24 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Rhea County. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
Ut-Battelle LLCOak RidgeWest Virginia University Research Corporation$1.3M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation, the$1.2M2023
Ut-Battelle LLCOak Ridge, Anderson CountyHolocene Climate Corporation$675K2024
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Alabama$427K2024
Ut-Battelle LLCOak Ridge, Anderson CountyCollaborative Composite Solutions Corp$339K2024
State of TennesseeNashvilleThe University of Alabama in Huntsville$185K spent that year2025
Ut-Battelle LLCOak Ridge, Anderson CountyCollaborative Composite Solutions Corp$170K2023
Ut-Battelle LLCOak RidgeWest Virginia University Research Corporation$150K2024
Ut-Battelle LLCOak Ridge, Anderson CountyUniversity of Tennessee$125K2024
Electric Power Research Institute IncKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation, the$124K2025
Tennessee State UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyTennessee Technological University$102K2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation, the$100K2024

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

Official program listing (SAM.gov) Program website