RFI on Geologic Hydrogen Resource Exploration | DE FOA 0003494

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ARPA-E RFI on Geologic Hydrogen Resource Exploration (DE-FOA-0003494)

1) What is this ARPA-E notice?

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) titled "RFI on Geologic Hydrogen Resource Exploration" (DE-FOA-0003494). It is intended to gather feedback from industry, researchers, and other stakeholders about a possible future research and development (R&D) program focused on geologic (naturally occurring) hydrogen.

2) Is this a funding opportunity or a grant?

No. This is strictly an information-gathering effort. It is not a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), it is not accepting applications or proposals for financial assistance, and it is not offering funding under this notice.

3) Can I submit an application or proposal for funding under this RFI?

No. ARPA-E is not accepting applications or proposals for financial assistance under this RFI. The purpose is to submit information and feedback only.

4) Why is ARPA-E issuing this RFI?

ARPA-E is using responses to help decide whether to create a future program related to geologic hydrogen. If a program is created, the input will help shape technical areas, performance targets, and the types of project concepts that could be included.

5) Does a NOFO exist for this topic right now?

No. The notice states that no Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) exists at this time.

6) What is the main technical focus of the RFI?

The RFI centers on two linked challenges: (1) improving the ability to find and evaluate naturally occurring subsurface hydrogen resources and geologic settings that may be suitable for "hydrogen stimulation" (methods intended to enhance or induce hydrogen generation and/or recovery), and (2) developing credible methodologies to estimate how much hydrogen is actually recoverable from natural accumulations or stimulated systems.

7) What does ARPA-E mean by "geologic hydrogen"?

In this RFI, geologic hydrogen refers to naturally occurring hydrogen found in the subsurface (i.e., hydrogen resources that occur in geologic settings rather than being manufactured at the surface).

8) What is "hydrogen stimulation" in the context of this RFI?

"Hydrogen stimulation" refers to methods intended to enhance or induce hydrogen generation and/or improve hydrogen recovery in the subsurface, according to the RFI description.

9) What kinds of outcomes is ARPA-E looking for from new technologies and methods?

ARPA-E is looking for input on technologies and methods that could, among other outcomes: create an exploration toolset tailored to geologic hydrogen (both onshore and offshore), improve detection accuracy and precision, reduce the cost of exploration campaigns, and shorten the time from early screening to a confident discovery.

10) Is ARPA-E interested in onshore, offshore, or both?

Both. The RFI explicitly references an exploration toolset tailored to geologic hydrogen "onshore and offshore."

11) Beyond detection, what scientific gaps does ARPA-E highlight?

ARPA-E highlights the need for stronger scientific understanding of subsurface hydrogen-generating processes, especially hydrogen produced through serpentinization (water-rock reactions involving ultramafic rocks) and radiolysis of water (hydrogen generation driven by natural radiation).

12) What is serpentinization and why is it mentioned?

The RFI describes serpentinization as water-rock reactions involving ultramafic rocks and notes it as one of the key geologic processes that can generate hydrogen in the subsurface. ARPA-E is seeking input that improves understanding and prediction of hydrogen generation tied to this process.

13) What is radiolysis of water and why is it mentioned?

The RFI describes radiolysis of water as hydrogen generation driven by natural radiation. ARPA-E flags it as another important mechanism for subsurface hydrogen generation where improved understanding could support exploration and resource assessment.

14) What does the RFI mean by "recharge," and why is it important?

Recharge refers to how quickly hydrogen reservoirs may be replenished by ongoing generative processes. The RFI emphasizes recharge because it affects estimates of reserves, sustainable production rates, and long-term project value.

15) What does ARPA-E mean by "recoverable" hydrogen in this context?

The RFI emphasizes the need for credible methodologies to estimate how much hydrogen is actually recoverable, whether from natural accumulations or from stimulated systems. The focus is on practical, decision-relevant estimates rather than simply identifying the presence of hydrogen.

16) What is meant by "end-to-end resource characterization and monitoring"?

As described in the RFI, this refers to approaches that connect discovery through appraisal and ongoing monitoring so that real-world decisions can be made with higher confidence. ARPA-E is interested in methods that improve prediction and site management and that support subsurface engineering, economics, and environmental considerations.

17) Is ARPA-E only asking "can we find hydrogen"?

No. A central theme in the RFI is decision-quality understanding: not only finding hydrogen, but also measuring it, modeling it, managing it, and developing it responsibly at a cost and pace that supports viability.

18) What types of decision support does ARPA-E reference?

The RFI points to approaches that can inform practical management decisions, subsurface engineering (such as designing development strategies around reservoir behavior), clarifying expected economic returns, and addressing environmental impacts and mitigation.

19) Who can respond to this RFI?

The notice indicates an unrestricted eligible applicant field, which aligns with the fact that this is an RFI rather than a competitive award. ARPA-E is seeking feedback from industry, researchers, and other stakeholders.

20) What agency is issuing this RFI?

The issuing agency is the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).

21) What is the opportunity number / identifier?

The RFI is identified as DE-FOA-0003494.

22) What is the submission deadline (closing date) for this RFI?

The closing date listed for submitting information is 2024-12-02.

23) When was this RFI created?

The listing states the RFI was created on 2024-11-04.

24) Where can the full RFI be found?

The full RFI is available through ARPA-E's funding opportunity site at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

25) Why does the listing show an instrument type like "cooperative agreement" if there is no funding?

The listing shows an instrument type as "cooperative agreement," but the posted award ceiling and expected awards are both zero. Based on the information provided, that combination reinforces that this particular notice is not offering funding and is being used only to collect information.

26) What do the award ceiling and expected number of awards indicate for this notice?

Both the award ceiling and the expected number of awards are listed as zero, which indicates no funding is being offered under this notice.

27) What category is this opportunity listed under?

The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, but the notice itself is an RFI and not a funding opportunity.

28) What is ARPA-E trying to improve in exploration campaigns for geologic hydrogen?

Based on the RFI description, ARPA-E is interested in approaches that improve detection accuracy and precision, reduce exploration campaign costs, and shorten the timeline from initial screening to a confident discovery, using toolsets tailored to geologic hydrogen.

29) What kinds of geologic hydrogen resources does ARPA-E want to evaluate?

The RFI discusses both naturally occurring subsurface hydrogen accumulations and geologic settings that could be suitable for hydrogen stimulation to enhance or induce generation and/or recovery.

30) What will ARPA-E do with the responses?

ARPA-E will use the responses to inform whether it should create a future R&D program in this area and, if so, how to define technical areas, performance targets, and project concepts for that future effort.