Request for Information – Gauging Investor Interest in the Development and Commercialization of Subsurface Energy Technologies
🏛 National Energy Technology Laboratory
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This is a Request for Information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Energy, not a funding opportunity. DOE is not accepting applications for funding at this time.
The RFI invites input from all stakeholders, particularly the financial and investment sector. Respondents should have interest in subsurface energy technologies, including coal, oil & gas, or geothermal development.
This initiative seeks to connect private capital and public-private partnership opportunities with industry. Responses help DOE gauge investor interest in commercializing subsurface energy technologies.
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Program description
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to notify parties of its potential interest in connecting private capital/ public-private partnership programs to industry opportunities. This initiative provides HGEO’s technical expertise across the Office of Subsurface Energy’s three core program areas: Coal, Oil & Gas, and Geothermal. Ultimately, the goal is to use HGEO’s research and development (R&D) capabilities to support industry and capital.Through this RFI, DOE requests input from all stakeholders, particularly the financial sector, to gauge investor interest in the development and commercialization of subsurface-energy technologies. This is solely a request for information and not a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). DOE’s HGEO is not accepting applications for funding at this time.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Response letter or statement (format not specified in RFI announcement)
- Organization information and background
- Details on subsurface energy technology interests
Program contact
- 👤 National Energy Technology Laboratory
- 📞 304-285-4298
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 81.089 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$299,999,930
-
$251,005,250
-
$209,999,996
-
$138,084,542
-
$134,151,343
-
$75,109,803
-
$64,327,580
-
$62,077,501
-
$57,762,896
-
$55,835,381
Top States by Funding
- IL 18 awards $631.3M
- CO 8 awards $454.8M
- TX 12 awards $400.6M
- AL 3 awards $309.3M
- ND 10 awards $209.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 81.089). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,100,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $966,340,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $496,500,000 |
FAQ
Is this a funding opportunity?
No. This is a Request for Information only. DOE is not accepting applications or offering funding at this time.
Who should respond to this RFI?
All stakeholders are invited, especially the financial sector and investors interested in subsurface energy development.
What are the core program areas covered?
The three core areas are coal, oil & gas, and geothermal energy within subsurface technologies.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is October 5, 2026.
Will this RFI lead to future funding opportunities?
The RFI gathers information on investor interest. Future funding opportunities may be developed based on stakeholder input.
💡 Tips for applicants
- View this RFI as a market research opportunity. Respond if your organization has interest in subsurface energy commercialization.
- Emphasize your expertise, capital availability, and interest in the three core program areas: coal, oil & gas, or geothermal.
- Highlight specific barriers to commercialization you face. DOE uses this feedback to design future initiatives.
- Position your response around public-private partnerships and how DOE's R&D capabilities could benefit your projects.
- Keep responses concise and focused on investor perspective. This is about gauging interest, not detailed technical proposals.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Missing the RFI deadline of October 5, 2026. Misunderstanding this as a funding opportunity and submitting a full proposal. Failing to emphasize your financial sector or investment angle.
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