[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44345-44346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15208]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Expression of Interest Regarding the Scope of an Intended 
Solicitation for Superconductivity Partnerships With Industry (SPI) 
Projects

AGENCY: Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), as part of its 
Superconductivity Program for Electric Power Systems, is currently 
pursuing the development of electric power equipment incorporating high 
temperature superconductors (HTS) through PSIs. The purpose is to 
accelerate future commercial availability of the more efficient, higher 
capacity new technology enabled by HTS for modernizing the electricity 
infrastructure.
    The DOE is contemplating issuing a solicitation in FY-2006 in 
response to continued industrial interest and due to the impressive 
technical accomplishments made to date by participating industry teams. 
Applications of interest could address the next stage of HTS power line 
R&D, or begin R&D for power equipment based on the expected 2006 
availability of second generation (2G) HTS wires in limited quantity. 
The purpose of this notice is to request expressions of interest in 
responding to the contemplated solicitation. DOE also welcomes comments 
on the content of the solicitation.

DATES: Written comments are to be filed electronically by e-mailing to: 
hq.doe.gov">SPI.comments@tms-hq.doe.gov no later than 5 p.m. eastern time September 
16, 2005. Comments can also be submitted at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-2, 
Attention: SPI Comments, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 
Room 6H-034, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
    Note that U.S. Postal Service mail sent to DOE continues to be 
delayed by several weeks due to security screening. Submission via 
FedEx or electronically is therefore encouraged.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Daley, Office of Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-2, Attention: SPI Comments, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE intends offering to share the cost of 
multi-year projects that advance program equipment goals where the 
industry contribution is typically 50% or more of the total project 
costs. DOE contemplates that proposals submitted pursuant to a future 
solicitation would be prepared by vertically integrated teams that 
include an equipment manufacturer, an end user such as an electric 
utility, and a HTS wire supplier. In addition, each team would be able 
to access (via separate Cooperative Research and Development 
Agreements) the capabilities of national laboratories currently 
participating in the superconductivity program in performing their 
project. These teams would be responsible for design, manufacture, 
installation and testing the technology of their choice. The program 
currently has a major focus on HTS power lines, but also has cost-
shared projects for HTS generators, transformers, motors, fault current 
limiters and flywheel systems.
    The DOE is contemplating issuing a solicitation in FY-2006 in 
response to continued industrial interest and due to the impressive 
technical accomplishments made to date by participating industry teams. 
Applications of interest could address the next stage of HTS power line 
R&D, or begin R&D for power equipment based on the expected 2006 
availability of second generation (2G) HTS wires in limited quantity. 
Subject to availability of funds, DOE anticipates that awards for the 
contemplated solicitation will range from hundreds of thousands of 
dollars to several million dollars per year and for project periods of 
up to four years. The SPI awards would be cost-shared cooperative 
agreements between DOE and the industry team. The solicitation would 
also require that greater than 50% of manufacturing expenditures be in 
the United States. Further, the solicitation would require that the 
application include energy and economic benefits analysis, technical 
performance expectations, product or system design studies, and a plan 
for eventual product commercialization. A resulting award would fund 
first-of-a-kind equipment R&D concluding with its operation and 
testing, but would not commit DOE to follow-on phases or projects.


[[Page 44346]]


    Issued in Washington, DC on July 26, 2005.
Kevin M. Kolevar,
Director, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 05-15208 Filed 8-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P