Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) | DE FOA 0002697

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002697

The Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002697) is a U.S. Department of Energy program run through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), with administration tied to DOE's Golden Field Office. The main purpose of the opportunity is to fund research and development that speeds up large-scale solar deployment in a way that supports national decarbonization goals: a fully decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a decarbonized broader energy sector by 2050. The focus is not just on adding solar capacity, but on doing it in a way that is equitable and creates practical benefits for communities that host energy infrastructure.

At the center of the FOA is agrivoltaics, meaning the intentional co-location of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and agricultural activity on the same land. FARMS is aimed at solving the real technical and operational barriers that show up when agrivoltaics is attempted at megawatt scale, where projects are large enough to resemble utility or large commercial solar development rather than small pilot plots. DOE is effectively looking to move agrivoltaics from a concept that works in limited demonstrations into approaches that can be replicated widely, with evidence-based designs and management practices that protect or enhance agricultural productivity while also generating significant electricity.

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. That typically signals a more hands-on partnership structure than a simple grant, where the federal agency expects substantial involvement during the period of performance (for example, coordination on milestones, reviews, or technical direction). The program sits under the energy funding activity category, with CFDA number 81.087, which is commonly associated with DOE EERE financial assistance programs.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many entity types, as long as applicants meet any specific conditions described in the full announcement's eligibility section. In practice, programs like this often attract teams that combine solar developers or technology providers, universities and national labs, and agricultural partners such as farmers, grower associations, extension services, or rural institutions, because agrivoltaics needs both energy and agricultural expertise to produce credible results.

In terms of funding scale, the FOA lists an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per award and anticipates about six awards. That points to a portfolio approach: DOE intends to fund multiple projects exploring different technical pathways, crop systems, climates, array configurations, or operational models, rather than betting everything on a single concept. The closing date listed for the original competition was August 30, 2022, with a creation date of May 17, 2022, which places it in the period when DOE was ramping up solar innovation efforts alongside broader climate and infrastructure priorities.

Overall, FARMS is best understood as a targeted R&D push to make large agrivoltaic projects more technically bankable and agriculturally credible. By investing in the evidence, designs, and operational strategies needed for megawatt-scale co-location, DOE is trying to reduce land-use conflicts, expand rural economic opportunity, and help solar scale faster without forcing an either-or choice between energy production and agricultural land use.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS)" 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 May 17, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2022. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0002697

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