NOFO: DE-FOA-0003373, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007 (b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling | DE FOA 0003373

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003373

NOFO DE-FOA-0003373 is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity administered through the Golden Field Office under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), specifically targeting Provision 41007(b)(2) on wind turbine technology recycling. The program is designed to fund research and development that makes wind energy technology more circular over its full life cycle, with an emphasis on reducing waste, recovering valuable materials, and building stronger domestic manufacturing and supply chains. In practical terms, the opportunity is part of a broader federal push to ensure that the clean energy transition delivers not only lower emissions, but also durable U.S. industrial capacity, workforce benefits, and progress on environmental justice priorities.

The core purpose of the NOFO is to support innovative and practical approaches that increase the reuse and recycling of wind energy technologies. The scope is anchored in BIL section 41007(b)(2) and, through that provision, references section 3003(b)(4) of the Energy Act of 2020. The funded work is expected to move beyond general concepts and focus on implementable technical pathways that can scale, reduce total cost, and improve environmental performance. While the notice is framed around wind technologies broadly, it is especially relevant to the growing volume of end-of-life wind turbine components and the need to avoid landfilling large composite structures while also improving access to critical raw materials.

The NOFO highlights several priority R and D directions. One major theme is improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of recovering raw materials from wind technology components and systems. This can include better processes for separating and reclaiming metals and other materials from generators, nacelles, power electronics, and balance-of-system components, as well as tackling harder-to-recycle materials found in blades and composite structures. Another major theme is minimizing environmental impacts associated with recovery and disposal, which typically means reducing hazardous byproducts, lowering energy use and emissions from recycling processes, improving worker safety, and preventing pollution during disassembly, transport, and processing.

A third focus area is advancing the technologies and processes used to disassemble and recycle wind energy devices. That emphasis recognizes that recycling is not just a materials science problem; it is also a logistics and engineering challenge involving how equipment is taken apart in the field, how components are handled and cut down to manageable sizes, and how those steps affect downstream recycling economics. Related to that, the NOFO explicitly encourages development of alternative materials, designs, and manufacturing processes that make future wind technologies easier to disassemble and recycle in an environmentally responsible way. This includes design-for-disassembly concepts, materials selection that supports higher-value recycling, and manufacturing approaches that reduce the complexity and cost of later resource recovery.

In addition to technical work, the NOFO also points to strategies that increase consumer acceptance of and participation in wind technology recycling. This reflects the reality that recycling systems only work when there is coordination across many actors, including wind plant owners and operators, OEMs and blade manufacturers, recyclers, transport providers, and host communities. Projects that address participation barriers, market confidence in recycled feedstocks, product standards, traceability, or business models that make recycling the default end-of-life pathway align with the intent described in the opportunity summary.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, meaning DOE typically expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, technical direction, milestones, and regular reporting). The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 81.087 (energy-related assistance). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, which generally signals that a wide range of applicants may apply (such as private companies, universities, nonprofits, state and local entities, and national laboratories where allowed), subject to the specific rules and requirements stated in the full NOFO.

Key program details included in the listing indicate an anticipated maximum award size (award ceiling) of $8,000,000 and an expectation of about 7 awards. The original closing date is February 11, 2025. The opportunity was created on December 11, 2024. Applicants are directed to review the full announcement and submission requirements on EERE Exchange (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov), which is where DOE typically posts the complete technical topics, eligibility nuances, cost-share requirements if applicable, required application forms, merit review criteria, and compliance obligations.

Overall, DE-FOA-0003373 is aimed at accelerating a real-world, scalable wind recycling ecosystem in the United States by funding R and D that makes recycling cheaper, cleaner, and more practical, while also pushing upstream improvements in materials and design so that the next generation of wind technology is built with end-of-life recovery in mind.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOFO: DE-FOA-0003373, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Provision 41007 (b)(2), Wind Turbine Technology Recycling" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for DE FOA 0003373

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