The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA).

The Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration funding opportunity will award $26 million in funding for projects that demonstrate the reliable operation of a power system that has up to 100% of its power contribution coming from solar, wind, and battery storage resources.

• Topic 1: Wind and Solar Grid Services Design, Implementation, and Demonstration (3-5 projects, $3-6 million each)
• Topic 2: Protection of Bulk Power Systems with High Contribution from Inverter-Based Resources (3-4 projects, $2-3 million each)

The University of Utah, in support of the Department of Energy’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) is seeking applications under this solicitation for advancing Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technologies. This solicitation covers testing and evaluation of new and innovative EGS tools, techniques, and supporting science in the following EGS lifecycle categories:

• Reservoir characterization (coupled imaging, drilling for interrogation and monitoring, high-temperature tools and sensors)
• Reservoir creation (formation access, fracture characterization, zonal isolation, stimulation technologies)
• Reservoir sustainability (long-term testing, monitoring, and operational feedback)

This FOA supports the development of workforce programs and partnerships that will facilitate the continued deployment of solar energy technologies, while supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for career advancement, including through union membership. As part of the whole-of-government approach to advance equity and encourage worker organizing and collective bargaining, this FOA and any related activities will seek to encourage meaningful engagement and participation of labor unions and underserved communities and underrepresented groups, including consultation with Tribal Nations.

Areas of interest include:

• Apprenticeship readiness (pre-apprenticeship) or apprenticeship partnerships
• Community-led training partnerships
• Clean energy sector partnerships

Note that a Letter of Intent and Concept Paper are due before the final application deadline.

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The Frontline Resource Institute is releasing two grant opportunities through the Collective Action Fund at the Tides Foundation. Intended for environmental and climate justice organizations serving frontline communities, both opportunities will assist in building organizational capacity and promoting shared learning and peer exchange among grant recipients. Recognizing that organizations have different needs depending on their longevity, financial capacity, and development journeys, FRI plans to disburse funds via two tracks: (1) Organizational Strategy Development and (2) Organizational Capacity Building and Organizational Durability.

The Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment FOA will award $300,000–$13 million for projects that help communities design and deploy geothermal district heating and cooling systems, create related workforce training, and identify and address environmental justice concerns.

The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) anticipates making approximately 1–10 awards under the initial phase, with individual awards varying between $300,000 and $750,000. In the second phase, following a downselect, GTO anticipates making 1–4 awards, with individual awards between $2.5 million and $10 million. GTO seeks diverse teams to form U.S. community coalitions.

This FOA will fund innovative solar photovoltaics (PV) R&D that reduces the cost of PV modules, reduces carbon and energy intensity of PV manufacturing processes, and optimizes PV technology for new, specialized markets.

This FOA will fund R&D on innovative cell- and minimodule-level technologies focused on three major goals:

•Enable cost reduction on an LCOE basis through development of durable, high-efficiency cell and module PV technology

•Identify pathways to reduce the carbon intensity and energy intensity of industrial processes required to fabricate PV cells and modules

•Increase technical viability of PV cells and modules tailored for emerging integrated PV sectors, such as building-integrated PV (BIPV) and vehicle-integrated PV.

Astanor is an impact investor, delivering financial, social and environmental returns in equal measure. We believe in the future of an agrifood system that provides affordable nutrients for 10 billion people, preserves and regenerates natural resources, actively contributes to decarbonization and protects land and ocean biodiversity.

We partner with companies providing the breakthrough technologies and critical infrastructure necessary to enable a greatly improved food ecosystem – one in which positive outcomes for human and environmental health are prioritized alongside profitability and convenience.

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