University Coal Research
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.057
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 291 $79,200,404 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- University Training Research
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 89-0213-0-1-271
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Energy's Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office sponsors the University Coal Research program (CFDA 81.057), which last disbursed awards in May 2023 and supports early-stage research at U.S. colleges and universities focusing on integrated solutions for coal, oil and gas, and geothermal energy production.
The program funds fundamental research and student training across fossil energy technology development. Representative recent awards include engineering design studies on microwave plasma pyrolysis of associated gas for hydrogen and carbon black production ($497,923), technical feasibility assessments for aluminum critical mineral production via landfill mining ($749,980), phytoremediation technologies for coal combustion product impoundment remediation ($396,835), AI-enabled robotic inspection platforms for energy infrastructure sustainability ($516,000), and life cycle assessments of legacy mine site reclamation for biomass development ($400,000). Projects also address advanced materials for high-temperature applications, carbon capture systems, sensor technology for power plant monitoring, hydrogen production from fossil fuels, and computational modeling of multiphase flows. The program emphasizes both research merit and the training of graduate and undergraduate students in STEM.
Awards are predominantly Project Grants (96 percent of 280 awards), with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (3 percent). The Department of Energy dominated funding, accounting for 243 awards totaling $58.2 million, while the Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy provided 48 awards worth $21 million. Combined federal dollars obligated reached $79.2 million across 291 total awards since 1985. Individual awards cluster in the $400,000 to $500,000 range, though the recent portfolio shows award cadence has declined significantly—dropping from 15 awards in 2021 to just 4 in 2023. Projects typically carry 36-month performance periods funded via Electronic Transfer System.
Applicants must be U.S. institutions of higher education. No current grant opportunities are open. The most recent solicitation, DE-FOA-0002596 (University Training and Research for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management—UCR), posted February 2022 with an August 2022 due date and has now closed; no successor opportunity has been posted as of October 2026. The review process typically requires 90 to 180 days. Recipients expending $1 million or more in federal awards annually will be subject to audit under 2 CFR 200.
Objective and description
- Objective
The University Training and Research (UTR) Program, sponsored by the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO), has the following primary mission objectives: (1) expand the research capabilities and education of students in science, technology
- Description
The Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) is actively involved in the University Training and Research (UTR) program, which aims to educate and train the next generation of engineers and scientists. The UTR program supports early-stage research at U.S. colleges and universities, focusing on integrated solutions that support the production of coal, oil & gas, and geothermal energy. HGEO is committed to enhancing the U.S. energy workforce through hands-on training, education, research opportunities, and academic-industry partnerships. These initiatives strengthen regional energy economies, build workforce pipelines, and prepare students and early-career professionals to support the nation's hydrocarbon and geothermal industries.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Only US institutions of higher education can apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
In accordance with 2 CFR 910.124, eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. colleges, universities, & university-affiliated research institutions. Grants are for maintaining and upgrading the educational, training research capabilities of U.S. universities and colleges in the fields of science, environment, energy and technology related to fossil energy and carbon management systems. Applications may be submitted provided the following criteria are met: (1) Principal Investigator (PI) or a Co-PI listed in the application is a teaching professor at the submitting university. If this condition is met, other non-teaching participants may be included as part of the research team; (2) Applications from university-affiliated research institutions must be submitted through the college or university with which they are affiliated; and (3) At least one student registered at that university is to receive compensation for performing research.
- Uses of assistance
Work must be related to program objectives. The eligibility of recipients for DOE financial assistance awards under the UTR Program is limited to U.S. universities, colleges, and university-affiliated research institutions. Projects selected for an award must have a teaching professor as Principal Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator
- Use restrictions
Funding restrictions will be as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Projects awarded through the UCR Program typically have a performance period of 36 months and are usually funded by the Electronic Transfer System (EFT).
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Emphasis is on the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research and the factors listed as generic goals in the formal solicitation for proposals.
- Award procedure
Applications reviewed by qualified experts in accordance with 2 CFR 200 with specific emphasis on the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research and the factors listed in the formal solicitation for proposals.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Approximately 90 to 180 days.
- Renewals
Ability to receive a no-cost time extension will be discussed within the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the award terms and conditions.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 291 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petroleum Technology Transfer Council | $8,802,000 | 11% |
| 2 | United States Energy Association Inc. | $4,557,824 | 6% |
| 3 | The Administrators Of Tulane Educational Fund | $2,929,452 | 4% |
| 4 | The University Of Texas At El Paso | $2,019,210 | 3% |
| 5 | West Virginia University Research Corporation | $1,798,658 | 2% |
| 6 | The Trustees Of Princeton University | $1,599,985 | 2% |
| 7 | University Of Tennessee | $1,425,094 | 2% |
| 8 | Carnegie-Mellon University | $1,395,849 | 2% |
| 9 | University Of North Dakota | $1,341,092 | 2% |
| 10 | University Of Utah | $1,331,110 | 2% |
10 of 100 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$132,367 |
| FY2025 | -$7,903 |
| FY2024 | -$18,607 |
| FY2023 | $2,646,141 |
| FY2022 | $1,199,153 |
| FY2021 | $5,535,822 |
| FY2020 | $5,590,184 |
| FY2019 | -$1,138 |
| FY2018 | -$50,465 |
| FY2017 | -$17 |
| FY2016 | -$25,739 |
| FY2015 | $2,302,116 |
| FY2014 | $2,398,671 |
| FY2013 | $2,699,667 |
| FY2012 | $2,789,148 |
| FY2011 | $4,485,578 |
| FY2010 | $4,107,655 |
| FY2009 | $2,409,192 |
| FY2008 | $1,764,365 |
| FY2007 | $4,010,379 |
| FY2006 | $6,510,861 |
| FY2005 | $6,832,160 |
| FY2004 | $6,399,030 |
| FY2003 | $6,839,103 |
| FY2002 | $6,777,923 |
| FY2001 | $3,444,265 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.057?
Assistance Listing 81.057 is University Coal Research, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for University Coal Research?
Its CFDA number is 81.057: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.057 awarded?
291 grant awards under 81.057 have obligated $79,200,404 in federal funds to 100 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.057?
The recipients obligated the most under University Coal Research are Petroleum Technology Transfer Council ($8,802,000), United States Energy Association Inc. ($4,557,824) and The Administrators Of Tulane Educational Fund ($2,929,452).
How much did 81.057 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.057 obligated -$7,903 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 81.057?
No opportunity listed under 81.057 is open now. The latest, University Training and Research for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management - UCR, was posted on February 17, 2022.
On GovTribe
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