Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0003390
This grant will support projects to test and advance new mining technologies, aiming to speed up their adoption and commercialization through proving grounds, R&D, and collaborations.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
National Energy Technology Laboratory has archived this opportunity.
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
Due Dates: November 5, 2025 (Notice of Intent only; full NOFO expected late 2025)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20M per award; anticipated total program funding $80M; up to 4 awards expected; project duration not yet specified.
Summary: This initiative aims to de-risk and accelerate the commercialization of advanced mining technologies through proving grounds, R&D, and collaborative partnerships.
Key Information: This is a Notice of Intent only—applications are not yet being accepted; details may change when the full FOA is released.
Description
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for an upcoming funding opportunity focused on establishing "Mine of the Future" proving grounds. The initiative's core objective is to de-risk and accelerate the adoption of innovative mining technologies, particularly those relevant to the extraction and processing of critical minerals and materials (CMM).
The program will support:
- The development and operation of dedicated mine technology proving grounds for large-scale, real-world testing and optimization of advanced mining technologies.
- Accelerated R&D projects for up to two signature mining technologies at each proving ground, advancing these technologies from bench scale (TRL 3) to field scale (TRL 6).
- Collaborative partnerships among government, industry, and academia to leverage expertise and infrastructure, and support technology maturation and workforce development.
The broader goal is to enhance U.S. leadership in the mining sector, improve supply chain security for critical minerals, minimize environmental impacts, and foster a skilled workforce through hands-on training at these proving grounds.
