Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Storage, Validation and Testing (Section 40305): Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Phases III, III.5, and IV

Background
The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) projects. Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, designed to modernize and upgrade American infrastructure to enhance U.S. competitiveness; drive the creation of good-paying union jobs; tackle the climate crisis; and ensure stronger access to economic, environmental, and other benefits for disadvantaged communities.

Grant Details
The overall objective of this FOA is to accelerate the development of new or expanded commercial-scale geologic carbon storage projects and associated CO2 transport infrastructure, through a focus on detailed site characterization, permitting, and construction stages of project development. This FOA is expected to remain open for five years to facilitate expeditious development of secure geologic carbon storage facilities. As required by the BIL, the selection process will give priority to projects with substantial CO2 storage capacity and projects that will store CO2 from multiple carbon capture facilities. This FOA is for CarbonSAFE Phase II: Storage Complex Feasibility, CarbonSAFE Phase III: Site Characterization and Permitting, and CarbonSAFE Phase IV: Construction with specific areas of interest outlined in the document.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include individuals, domestic entities, federal entities, foreign entities, incorporated consortia, unincorporated consortia. Cost sharing requirements are detailed in the document. Additionally, there are specific requirements for DOE/NNSA and non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs included as a subrecipient.

Period of Performance
The FOA is expected to remain open for five years. The period of performance includes various phases such as Storage Complex Feasibility (Phase II), Site Characterization and Permitting (Phase III), and Construction (Phase IV).

Grant Value
The BIL will invest a total of $2.5 billion for the five-year period encompassing fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for Carbon Storage Validation and Testing (Section 40305).