Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)

Background
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to invest in innovative social science research that generates actionable insights to improve large-scale solar (LSS) siting processes and outcomes for host communities—particularly those that are disadvantaged—and the solar industry. The FOA aims to advance the Biden Administration’s goals to achieve carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and to deliver an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050.

Grant Details
The funding opportunity supports research on the social dimensions of siting to produce insights that can accelerate LSS deployment while promoting equitable and meaningful benefits for host communities. The FOA seeks proposals for projects that examine how siting practices affect outcomes such as community acceptance or opposition, permitting and land use decisions, predictability, timeliness, procedural and distributional justice, and community impacts. The FOA also encourages leveraging multiple social science disciplines such as anthropology, behavioral sciences, communication, economics, political science, public administration, sociology, and urban planning.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include domestic entities and foreign entities with cost-sharing responsibilities. Applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. The FOA also includes limitations on the number of concept papers and full applications eligible for review.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is expected to be from May to August 2024.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not specified.