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

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002534

The Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) called Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON), listed as DE-FOA-0002534. It is not a grant competition and it is not asking for applications or proposals for funding. There is no Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) associated with it at this time, no award ceiling, and no expected awards. The entire point is to gather technical and strategic input that ARPA-E can use to shape and decide whether to launch a future program.

The technical focus is straightforward: ARPA-E is looking for ideas that could reduce the resistivity of electrical conductors. The RFI emphasizes novel, unconventional concepts, approaches, and enabling technologies, suggesting ARPA-E is especially interested in high-risk, high-reward directions rather than incremental improvements. The motivation is tied to how central electricity transport is to modern energy systems and how much more it is expected to grow as industrial processes, transportation, and buildings become increasingly electrified. Lower resistivity conductors reduce resistive (I^2R) losses, which improves efficiency and can reduce emissions by lowering the amount of generation needed to deliver the same usable electricity. ARPA-E also frames better conductors as important for a future grid that is more distributed and more reliant on renewables like wind and solar, where power may need to move across different routes and scales compared to traditional centralized generation.

The RFI also highlights the basic engineering reality that increasing power transfer without proportionally increasing losses can be approached in two broad ways: transmitting at higher voltages (which lowers current for the same power) or transmitting at higher current (which increases the importance of low-resistance conductors to keep losses manageable). By centering this RFI on resistivity reduction, ARPA-E is implicitly probing for conductor technologies that would make high-current operation more practical and efficient, and potentially complement high-voltage strategies as electrification expands.

A notable feature is the "hybrid" engagement format. Interested parties can respond in the traditional way by submitting a written response, and/or they can participate in an online "incubator" discussion forum and a live "ask me anything" (AMA) session hosted on the Polyplexus platform (registration is free under that site’s terms). The incubator ran from June 11, 2021 to June 25, 2021, and the AMA was scheduled for June 18, 2021 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These sessions were designed to be interactive, evidence-based discussions moderated by an ARPA-E Program Director, giving participants a chance to influence the direction of thinking and to engage directly with program leadership. Participation in the online components was encouraged but not required to submit feedback.

For submission logistics, written RFI responses were to be emailed as a PDF to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2021. Eligibility was effectively unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications in the full text), which is typical for RFIs intended to collect broad input from academia, industry, national labs, startups, and other stakeholders. ARPA-E notes that the information provided may be used to support internal program planning, reinforcing that the outcome could be the design of a future funded program, but that no funding opportunity exists yet. For full requirements and guidance on what to include in a response, ARPA-E directed respondents to the complete RFI at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

• The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the opportunity zone benefits, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI): Enabling eLEctrical Conductor Technologies for Resistance ReductiON (ELECTRRON)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 11, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2021 Responses to this RFI should be submitted in PDF format to the email address ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2021. For further instruction, please review the RFI in its entirety at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

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