Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON) | DE FOA 0002534

FAQs: ARPA-E RFI "ELECTRRON" (DE-FOA-0002534)

1) What is ELECTRRON (DE-FOA-0002534)?

ELECTRRON is a Department of Energy ARPA-E Request for Information (RFI) titled "Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON." It is a notice seeking technical and strategic input to inform ARPA-E's internal planning and potential future program design.

2) Is ELECTRRON a grant or funding competition?

No. This is not a grant competition and it is not requesting applications or proposals for funding.

3) Is there a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for ELECTRRON?

No. There is no FOA associated with this RFI at this time.

4) Are there any expected awards or an award ceiling listed?

No. The notice states there is no award ceiling and no expected awards because this is an RFI (information-gathering) rather than a funding opportunity.

5) What is ARPA-E trying to learn from this RFI?

ARPA-E is gathering technical and strategic input that can be used to shape and decide whether to launch a future program focused on reducing the resistivity of electrical conductors.

6) What is the technical focus of ELECTRRON?

The RFI focuses on ideas, approaches, and enabling technologies that could reduce the resistivity of electrical conductors.

7) What kinds of ideas does ARPA-E want to see?

The RFI emphasizes novel, unconventional concepts and enabling technologies. The framing suggests ARPA-E is especially interested in high-risk, high-reward directions rather than incremental improvements.

8) Why is ARPA-E interested in lower-resistivity conductors?

Lower resistivity conductors reduce resistive (I^2R) losses during electricity transport, which improves efficiency and can reduce emissions by lowering the amount of generation needed to deliver the same usable electricity.

9) How does this relate to electrification and future grid needs?

ARPA-E connects the motivation to the growing importance of electricity transport as industrial processes, transportation, and buildings become increasingly electrified. It also frames improved conductors as important for a future grid that is more distributed and more reliant on renewables like wind and solar.

10) How does conductor resistivity connect to power transfer strategies?

The RFI notes two broad engineering approaches to increasing power transfer without proportionally increasing losses: transmitting at higher voltages (to lower current for the same power) or transmitting at higher current (which increases the need for low-resistance conductors to keep losses manageable). By focusing on resistivity reduction, ARPA-E is probing for conductor technologies that could make high-current operation more practical and efficient.

11) What engagement options were offered besides a written submission?

ARPA-E offered a hybrid engagement format: stakeholders could submit a written response and/or participate in an online "incubator" discussion forum and a live "ask me anything" (AMA) session hosted on the Polyplexus platform.

12) Was participation in the online incubator or AMA required to respond?

No. Participation in the online components was encouraged but not required in order to submit feedback.

13) When did the Polyplexus incubator take place?

The incubator ran from June 11, 2021 to June 25, 2021.

14) When was the AMA scheduled?

The AMA was scheduled for June 18, 2021 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

15) Who moderated the interactive discussions?

The incubator and AMA were designed as interactive, evidence-based discussions moderated by an ARPA-E Program Director.

16) Where were written RFI responses submitted?

Written responses were to be emailed as a PDF to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov.

17) What was the submission deadline for written responses?

Written RFI responses were due no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2021.

18) What file format was requested for written submissions?

Written responses were to be submitted as a PDF.

19) Who could respond to this RFI?

Eligibility was effectively unrestricted and open to any entity type (subject to any clarifications in the full text), consistent with RFIs intended to gather broad input from academia, industry, national labs, startups, and other stakeholders.

20) How will ARPA-E use the information submitted?

ARPA-E noted that information provided may be used to support internal program planning, including shaping and deciding whether to develop a future funded program. The RFI itself does not indicate that funding is available now.

21) Where can I find the complete RFI and full requirements?

ARPA-E directed respondents to the complete RFI at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov for full requirements and guidance on what to include in a response.

22) Does responding to the RFI guarantee future funding?

No. The RFI is intended to gather input for planning purposes. It does not constitute a funding opportunity and does not promise that ARPA-E will launch a future program.

23) Is registration required for the online engagement components?

The incubator and AMA were hosted on the Polyplexus platform, and registration was free under that site's terms.