The Department of Energy (DOE), through its National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), is preparing to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Pre-Commercial Testing of Low-Carbon Emissions Gas Turbine" (DE-FOA-0003409). The focus of this FOA will be on research and development projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions from gas turbines. These turbines are crucial for providing consistent and reliable power to the U.S. electrical grid. The FOA aligns with the goals set out in Executive Order 14008, which targets net-zero carbon energy production by enhancing gas turbines to either use carbon-free fuels or integrate advanced post-combustion carbon capture technologies.

The FOA will address two main areas of interest. The first area involves the development of hydrogen combustion systems for gas turbines. This research will work on creating combustor modules that can use high-purity hydrogen as a fuel source, preparing these systems for integration into existing turbine technology, and subsequently testing them in operational engines and real-world environments. The second area will focus on exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems for gas turbines. These systems aim to improve carbon capture efficiency by enabling turbines to safely and efficiently recirculate exhaust gases, helping to reduce overall emissions. This research will also look into stabilizing the combustion process while recirculating exhaust gases to maintain efficiency.

The FOA is expected to support multiple cooperative agreements for projects within these focus areas. While applications are not yet being accepted, the official FOA will be posted on Grants.gov and FedConnect. Interested parties are advised to register on these platforms to stay updated on the FOA's release and the application process. Applicants must also complete registrations with the System for Award Management (SAM), Grants.gov, and FedConnect. These registrations can take several weeks to process, so it is recommended that applicants start this process early.

Once the FOA is officially released, it will contain detailed information about the application requirements, eligibility criteria, and submission instructions. The DOE encourages early preparation to ensure timely submission when the application window opens.