Request for Information (RFI): Domestic Turbine Manufacturing Needs

The Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking insights from entities involved in domestic gas turbine manufacturing for the 60 Hz US market. The RFI targets original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), direct component suppliers (Tier 1), sub-suppliers (Tier 2), and material suppliers (Tier 3) to gather comprehensive information about manufacturing constraints, raw materials, component supply, manufacturing processes, workforce gaps, and technologies to improve production throughput. This information-gathering exercise aims to address the growing electricity demand, with turbines currently providing 77% of electricity generation and projected electricity needs expected to increase 50% by 2050. The RFI is specifically focused on understanding current manufacturing challenges, including extended turbine lead times that can reach up to 7 years and limited production capacity. Responses must be submitted electronically to TurbineManufacturingRFI@netl.doe.gov by January 30, 2026.

While this RFI is not a direct funding opportunity, it may lead to a future Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) based on the collected insights. The initiative is part of the Fossil Energy Research and Development program (CFDA 81.089), which supports technological innovations aimed at minimizing environmental impacts of fossil fuels and advancing towards net-zero emissions. The program typically issues cooperative agreements and project grants with values ranging from $350,000 to over $209 million, though no specific funding amount is currently indicated for this RFI. The research and development efforts will likely be performed at research facilities, industrial sites, and field demonstration locations across the United States, with project periods generally ranging from one to five years.