Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships: Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis

Post Date

April 4th 2016

Application Due Date

May 25th 2016

Funding Opportunity Number

DE-FOA-0001572

CFDA Number(s)

81.049

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Regional Development

The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest in receiving grant applications from U.S. universities/institutions of higher education for basic research to investigate some of the outstanding scientific questions in the synthesis of ammonia (NH3) from nitrogen (N2) using processes that do not generate greenhouse gases (such as CO2, NOx, etc.). Of interest is molecular level research that will provide the scientific basis for novel catalysts and mechanisms for nitrogen activation. Ideally, this research should produce fundamental knowledge that will lead to future catalytic processes for ammonia synthesis that are energy efficient, use renewable sources of energy, and do not produce greenhouse gases. This FOA will not consider proposals on process or reactor design, optimization or plant-level intensification. Research will not be supported whose primary goal(s) or challenge(s) are hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, CO2 capture or conversion, or outside the specific focus on nitrogen activation. See the Summary Criteria section for more information on research areas excluded from this funding opportunity. The EPSCoR-State/DOE-National Laboratory Partnerships are to advance fundamental energy -oriented scientific research collaborations with the DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (DOE FFRDCs hereafter referred to as the National Laboratories) (Information on the DOE National Laboratories can be found at http://www.energy.gov/about-national-labs ). Participation by graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows is required. Junior faculty from EPSCoR jurisdictions are encouraged to apply. Utilization of DOE user facilities is encouraged. (Information on the DOE Office of Science user facilities is available at http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) DOE EPSCoR currently follows eligibility determinations made by the National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) for its RII awards. Entities located within the following jurisdictions will be eligible to apply under this FOA: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming. See the Summary Criteria _ EPSCoR Eligibility section for more in

Number of Awards

3

Eligibility Categories

Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Private Institutions of Higher Education

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, competition and eligibility for award is restricted to domestic universities/institutions of higher education (IHE) eligible for DOE EPSCoR support. Since DOE EPSCoR currently follows NSF EPSCoR eligibility determinations, applicants within the following jurisdictions will be eligible for this FOA: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Funding

• Award Range:

  $1 - $600000

Grant Description

The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest in receiving grant applications from U.S. universities/institutions of higher education for basic research to investigate some of the outstanding scientific questions in the synthesis of ammonia (NH3) from nitrogen (N2) using processes that do not generate greenhouse gases (such as CO2, NOx, etc.). Of interest is molecular level research that will provide the scientific basis for novel catalysts and mechanisms for nitrogen activation. Ideally, this research should produce fundamental knowledge that will lead to future catalytic processes for ammonia synthesis that are energy efficient, use renewable sources of energy, and do not produce greenhouse gases. This FOA will not consider proposals on process or reactor design, optimization or plant-level intensification. Research will not be supported whose primary goal(s) or challenge(s) are hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, CO2 capture or conversion, or outside the specific focus on nitrogen activation. See the Summary Criteria section for more information on research areas excluded from this funding opportunity. The EPSCoR-State/DOE-National Laboratory Partnerships are to advance fundamental energy -oriented scientific research collaborations with the DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (DOE FFRDCs hereafter referred to as the National Laboratories) (Information on the DOE National Laboratories can be found at http://www.energy.gov/about-national-labs ). Participation by graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows is required. Junior faculty from EPSCoR jurisdictions are encouraged to apply. Utilization of DOE user facilities is encouraged. (Information on the DOE Office of Science user facilities is available at http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) DOE EPSCoR currently follows eligibility determinations made by the National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) for its RII awards. Entities located within the following jurisdictions will be eligible to apply under this FOA: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming. See the Summary Criteria _ EPSCoR Eligibility section for more information on participant requirements for this funding opportunity.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of Energy - Office of Science

• Office:

  Office of Science

• Agency Contact:

  Technical/Scientific Program Contact:
  Dr. Tim Fitzsimmons
  301-903-9830

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Technical/Scientific Program Contact

• Agency Email Address:

  tim.fitzsimmons@science.doe.gov