SRS Phase 2 CFE Power Generation RFI.pdf

Request for Information – DOE Cleanup to Clean Energy Power Generation at the Department of Energy Savannah River Site

Introduction:

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to identify potentially capable parties having an interest in developing carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) projects of 200+ MW on DOE-owned land at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The SRS is one of the largest consumers of electricity within the DOE complex. The Site is located on 310 square miles (approximately 200,000 acres) of Federally owned and largely forested land in eastern South Carolina along about 18 miles of the Savannah River near the town of Jackson, SC.

America’s energy security, economic resilience and climate leadership require the Nation to dramatically increase clean-energy production over the next several decades. DOE is playing a critical leadership role in achieving this goal, not only through policy implementation but also the strategic use of DOE Federal facilities and lands.

In accordance with the President’s Executive Order (EO) 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, agencies are seeking to reduce carbon emissions across Federal operations.

As defined in the EO, CFE includes: “electrical energy produced from resources that generate no carbon emissions, including marine energy, solar, wind, hydrokinetic (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, renewably sourced hydrogen, and electrical energy generation from fossil resources to the extent there is active capture and storage of carbon dioxide emissions that meets EPA requirements.”

The EO requires Federal agencies to achieve 100 percent CFE on a net-annual basis as early as 2030 with at least 50% CFE generated to match actual electricity consumption on an hourly basis and produced within the same regional grid where the energy is consumed. In addition, agencies are directed to authorize use of their real property assets, including land, for the development of new CFE generation and storage through leases, grants, permits, or other mechanisms, to the extent permitted by law.

As the Federal leader on clean-energy research and development and the steward of more than 2 million acres of land, DOE has both a unique opportunity and clear responsibility to lead and identify innovative solutions to achieve the President’s mandate.

On July 28, 2023, the Secretary of Energy announced DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy (C2CE) initiative where DOE will make available some of its underutilized land for the development of CFE projects. The SRS supports the critical national security missions and cleanup activities to protect public health and the environment and ready the Site for future uses.

Phase 1 of the SRS Cleanup to Clean Energy program, focused on power generation using well established solar technology to achieve the 2030 net 100% CFE goal. This RFI is focused on Phase 2 which takes a longer-term approach with the goal of facilitating CFE technology development to support delivery of energy to the surrounding communities and perhaps eventually making SRS energy self-sufficient.

Due Date for Responses: 12:00pm EST on June 10, 2024

Point of Contact: Jeff Hynds (jeff.hynds@srs.gov)

Project Description:

The proposed Phase 2 of the C2CE program at SRS would facilitate development of new clean energy generation and storage technologies by providing a secure location for developers to build, validate and operate their technologies under a long-term land lease agreement. Further, DOE would like to better understand which CFE technologies safe, reliable, and cost-effective.

The first steps to achieving the goals of the program are to understand what CFE technologies could be available and determine whether one or more of the technologies could be successfully sited on DOE owned land at SRS. To that end, DOE invites all developers of viable CFE generation and/or storage technologies to respond to this Request for Information.

This program provides the potential opportunity to lease Federal land within the boundaries of the SRS. The proposed SRS program is not a funding opportunity for technology development nor a procurement contract.

DOE will not provide any monies or other tangible support for any technology development related to this RFI or any future CFE technology development programs should they occur. The cost of any CFE technology development will be solely the responsibility of the Entity responding to this RFI. Further, as this program is not an acquisition by DOE, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) do not apply.

Capability Statement:

The following request is designed to provide information to the Department of Energy of any prospective developer of CFE power generation facilities with capabilities to achieve the goals described above.

Please provide in your response to the following:

1. Entity’s Name, Address, Point of Contact, Phone Number, and E-Mail Address.

2. Entity’s business size certified status, number of years in business, and DUNS number.

3. A narrative describing the organization and team’s experience in power generation/storage system development, financing, deployment, and operation that also reflects on the technology/systems the respondent proposes to deploy.

4. Detailed description, including the potential capacity, of the power generation/storage system and the technology(ies) proposed by the Entity.

5. The advantages and risks of the respondent’s system and technology(ies)

6. Identification and discussion of the Critical Technology Elements of the proposed power generation/storage system.

7. Evidence supporting the Entity’s claim that their technology has or can be readily deployed and safely operated.

8. A detailed description of the site requirements for the Entity’s proposed power generation/storage system including, but not limited to acreage, exclusion zone, site topography, cooling and potable water resources, supplemental electricity, geotechnical issues, waste disposal, sanitary sewer, and any other special considerations.

Disclaimer:

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

SRS is not seeking proposals through this RFI and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future SRS Cleanup to Clean Energy program, if conducted. No proprietary information should be included in any submittal.

How to Respond:

ALL interested Entities should notify in writing via e-mail by 12:00pm EST on June 10, 2024. Submit your response and information by e-mail to: SRSCleanEnergy@srs.gov with the subject line “SRS CFE RFI Response”. Responses are limited to 10 pages (11-point font, 1-inch margins). Please include contact name(s), address, phone, and e-mail. Any questions regarding the RFI should be included in the RFI response. These questions will be addressed after the RFI response due date with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to everyone submitting a response.

Information Day:

The U.S. Department of Energy will host an information day on potential use of Savannah River Site land for utility-scale energy. More information is available at the following link:

DOE to Host Information Day for Generating Clean Energy at Savannah River Site (govdelivery.com)

(https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOEOEM/bulletins/39a5058)

The information day will be held on May 23, 2024. It will be open to the public and will include discussions on the opportunities for CFE projects of 200 megawatts or larger at SRS. DOE is soliciting industry interest for these projects to be built and operated on DOE-owned land at SRS.

RSVP to the information day by submitting the attendee(s) name via email to EMCleanEnergy@em.doe.gov.

Overview Map of Savannah River Site