Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002308
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Idaho Field Office and the Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), issued Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002308 titled "Silicon-Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composite Cladding for Nuclear Fuels" to accelerate the development and demonstration of an advanced nuclear fuel cladding concept for today’s light water reactors (LWRs). This opportunity sits within DOE-NE’s broader Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Program, which expanded after the 2011 Fukushima accident in response to Congressional direction. The ATF Program’s central milestone is to enable one or more advanced LWR fuel concepts to reach commercial implementation in the United States by 2030, improving reactor safety margins while preserving or enhancing normal operating performance.
The specific technical focus of this FOA is a non-metallic cladding design made from silicon-carbide (SiC) ceramic matrix composites, particularly concepts that use woven SiC fibers embedded in a ceramic matrix to form fuel rod cladding. DOE highlights that all ATF concepts face a hard practical constraint: they must fit geometrically into existing commercial LWR cores and be compatible with current plant configurations, rather than requiring new reactor designs. At the same time, these fuels are expected to provide a meaningful safety benefit over conventional zirconium-based cladding, especially under severe accident conditions involving loss of active cooling. SiC composite cladding is attractive in this context because its non-metallic nature and high-temperature capability suggest it could tolerate higher transient temperatures and maintain integrity longer during accident scenarios, aligning with the ATF objective of extended coping time and reduced accident progression risk.
Alongside the promise, DOE emphasizes that SiC composite cladding brings major manufacturing and engineering challenges that differ from traditional metallic cladding production. Unlike metal tubes that can be cast, extruded, or drawn with mature industrial methods, woven-fiber composite structures require different fabrication routes and quality controls. A key hurdle called out in the FOA is the joining process, particularly how to attach end caps to a composite tube without creating weak interfaces, leaks, or defects that could compromise fuel pin integrity. The opportunity is therefore not just about materials properties in the lab; it is aimed at resolving practical, production-relevant issues that must be solved before the concept can be credibly inserted into a commercial reactor and later scaled.
The main objective of the award is to increase the likelihood that SiC ceramic matrix composite cladding can successfully meet the ATF Program goals by enabling an earlier, near-term irradiation test in an operating U.S. commercial reactor. DOE indicates that, using funding aligned with Congressional FY2020 guidance, the selected applicant is expected to work in cooperation with an existing U.S. utility to carry out this reactor irradiation sooner than would otherwise be possible under current programs. In other words, the FOA is structured to pull the technology forward from development into a more realistic demonstration environment, where actual reactor conditions can validate performance and help retire risk for later commercialization.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during project execution (for example, technical reviews, milestones, and shared decision-making compared with a simpler grant). Eligible applicants included for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) and small businesses. DOE anticipated making one award, with an award ceiling of $5,250,000. The FOA was created on July 28, 2020, with an original application deadline of October 8, 2020, no later than 7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The listing also references CFDA number 81.121 and classifies the activity area under Energy, with Opportunity Zone Benefits noted in the source record.Apply for DE FOA 0002308
- The Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Silicon-Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composite Cladding for Nuclear Fuels" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 28, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 08, 2020 No later than 700 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). (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 $5,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002308, titled "Silicon-Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composite Cladding for Nuclear Fuels."
Which DOE offices are sponsoring or issuing the FOA?
The FOA was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Idaho Field Office and the Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE).
What larger DOE program does this FOA fall under?
This FOA sits within DOE-NE's Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Program, which expanded after the 2011 Fukushima accident in response to Congressional direction.
What is the ATF Program trying to achieve by 2030?
The ATF Program's central milestone is to enable one or more advanced light water reactor (LWR) fuel concepts to reach commercial implementation in the United States by 2030, improving reactor safety margins while preserving or enhancing normal operating performance.
What is the technical focus of this FOA?
The FOA focuses on a non-metallic nuclear fuel cladding design made from silicon-carbide (SiC) ceramic matrix composites, particularly concepts that use woven SiC fibers embedded in a ceramic matrix to form fuel rod cladding.
What type of reactors is this cladding concept intended for?
The cladding concept is intended for today's commercial light water reactors (LWRs).
Does DOE expect these cladding concepts to fit into existing reactors?
Yes. DOE highlights a practical constraint for all ATF concepts: they must fit geometrically into existing commercial LWR cores and be compatible with current plant configurations, rather than requiring new reactor designs.
What safety goal is DOE trying to address with Accident Tolerant Fuel concepts?
ATF concepts are expected to provide a meaningful safety benefit compared with conventional zirconium-based cladding, especially under severe accident conditions involving loss of active cooling. The intent is to improve safety margins and align with objectives such as extended coping time and reduced accident progression risk.
Why is silicon-carbide (SiC) composite cladding considered attractive for accident tolerance?
DOE notes that SiC composite cladding is attractive because its non-metallic nature and high-temperature capability suggest it could tolerate higher transient temperatures and maintain integrity longer during accident scenarios.
Is this FOA only about demonstrating materials properties in a laboratory setting?
No. DOE emphasizes that the opportunity is aimed at resolving practical, production-relevant issues needed for credible insertion into a commercial reactor and later scaling, not just lab-scale materials characterization.
What manufacturing or engineering challenges does DOE emphasize for SiC composite cladding?
DOE emphasizes that SiC composite cladding introduces major manufacturing and engineering challenges that differ from traditional metallic cladding production. Woven-fiber composite structures require different fabrication routes and quality controls than metal tubes made by mature casting, extrusion, or drawing methods.
What specific technical hurdle is called out as a key challenge?
A key hurdle highlighted in the FOA is the joining process, particularly attaching end caps to a composite tube without creating weak interfaces, leaks, or defects that could compromise fuel pin integrity.
What is the main objective of the award?
The main objective is to increase the likelihood that SiC ceramic matrix composite cladding can successfully meet ATF Program goals by enabling an earlier, near-term irradiation test in an operating U.S. commercial reactor.
What kind of demonstration does DOE want to accelerate?
DOE indicates the selected applicant is expected to carry out a reactor irradiation test in an operating U.S. commercial reactor sooner than would otherwise be possible under current programs.
Is partnership with a U.S. utility part of the expectation?
Yes. DOE indicates the selected applicant is expected to work in cooperation with an existing U.S. utility to conduct the irradiation test.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
In this FOA context, a cooperative agreement indicates DOE expects substantial involvement during project execution, such as technical reviews, milestones, and shared decision-making compared with a simpler grant.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses) and small businesses.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making one award.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $5,250,000.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on July 28, 2020.
What was the application deadline and time zone?
The original application deadline was October 8, 2020, no later than 7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing references CFDA number 81.121.
How is the activity area classified?
The activity area is classified under Energy.
Does the source record mention Opportunity Zone Benefits?
Yes. The source record notes "Opportunity Zone Benefits."
What conventional cladding material is being compared against for safety benefit?
The FOA describes a safety benefit relative to conventional zirconium-based cladding, particularly under severe accident conditions involving loss of active cooling.
What is the intended practical outcome of conducting earlier irradiation testing in a commercial reactor?
The intent is to validate performance under actual reactor conditions, help retire risk for later commercialization, and pull the technology forward from development into a more realistic demonstration environment.
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