The letter of intent is due on July 15, 2009 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time and the application is due on August 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Please note: Important information regarding registration and other pre-submission requirements are included in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Please refer to the FOA for details.

Anticipated Notice of Selection: October 2009
Anticipated Award Date: January 2010
Total Funding Available: $45,000,000
Award Instrument: Grant

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility will be restricted to collaborations made up of state and local governments and university(ies). While the prime application must be a state or local government, university or non-profit, National Labs and/or private industry will be permitted to participate as a partner with other entities. Potential end users of the facility may not partner due to conflict of interest. Federally Funded Research and Development Center Contractors are not eligible for an award under this announcement, but they may be proposed as a team member on another entity’s application, subject to further guidelines in the FOA.

Program Description

Through this FOA the Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to support research and development for a large drivetrain testing facility, which will feature an instrumented dynamometer test stand and will enable the wind industry to develop, test and validate large-scale wind turbine drivetrain systems domestically. Drivetrain testing is required to demonstrate compliance with wind turbine design standards, reduce wind turbine costs, secure product financing, and reduce the technical and financial risk of deploying mass-produced wind turbine models.

DOE envisions awarding a single $45,000,000 financial assistance grant award to assist in the design and construction of an accredited dynamometer testing facility capable of performing Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) of 5 to 15 MW rated wind turbine drive trains and generators, including all required supporting systems. The facility should incorporate features to accommodate large direct drive generators in addition to generator/gearbox drivetrain configurations.

Cost Sharing

The cost share must be at least 35% of the total allowable costs of the project, or at least 25% of the total allowable costs of the project provided that the applicant submits a justification for reduced cost sharing requirements describing the applicant’s efforts to secure non-federal cost sharing at the higher level and explaining why doing so creates an undue financial burden.

Topic Areas

Title	Total Funding Available	Number of Awards	Anticipated Award Size	Award Ceiling/ Floor	Period of Performance
Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility	$45M	1	$45M	$45M/None	5 years (DOE share should be spent within 3 years)