Conservation Research and Development
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.086
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 3,081 $8,318,891,096 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Energy Efficiency
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 89-0321-0-1-270
- 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 administered 3,081 conservation research and development grants totaling $8.32 billion in combined federal obligation across six distinct funding agencies through Assistance Listing 81.086, with the most recent award disbursed on August 21, 2026.
The program funds applied research, development, and pilot-scale demonstration projects advancing energy efficiency technologies across buildings, vehicles, solid-state lighting, advanced materials and manufacturing, and industrial efficiency. Recent awards exemplify this scope: lithium resource assessment and recovery from Nevada brines ($2.04 million, Project Grant DEEE0011404); silicon carbide powder production via laser-driven chemical vapor deposition for high-power microelectronics ($1.008 million, Cooperative Agreement DEEE0011723); iron production by molten sulfide electrolysis ($8.48 million, Cooperative Agreement DEEE0011211); and industrial decarbonization technologies addressing electrification of industrial heat, efficient energy use in industrial systems, and organic wastewater treatment ($3.125 million, Cooperative Agreement DEEE0011618).
The portfolio is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (2,560 awards, 83 percent) with smaller Project Grant activity (517 awards, 17 percent). The Department of Energy as a consolidated entity holds 1,647 awards valued at $5.62 billion in federal dollars obligated; the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy independently funded 1,415 awards at $2.66 billion. The Office of Fossil Energy contributed 16 awards at $28.4 million. Award activity has been volatile in the past five years—2023 saw 218 awards, 2024 dropped to 172, 2025 fell to 19, and 2026 rebounded to 86 through August. Combined federal and non-federal obligations total $16.38 billion, indicating a cost-share contribution of approximately $8.06 billion from recipients.
A critical minerals and materials accelerator opportunity (DE-FOA-0003589, posted April 7, 2026) solicited Cooperative Agreement applications addressing production and material efficiency for critical materials including rare earth elements from manufacturing scrap, postconsumer scrap, and mixed feedstocks; processes to refine and alloy gallium; and related activities. Topic Area due dates extended via Modification 0002 (April 21, 2026): Topic Area 1 due May 29, 2026, Topic Area 2 due June 25, 2026, and Topic Area 3 due July 23, 2026. Applicant types are unrestricted. Applications flow through eXCHANGE and grants.gov per standard DOE procedures.
Objective and description
- Objective
The goal of this program has been to conduct a balanced, long-term research effort in Buildings Technologies, Vehicle Technologies, Solid State Lighting Technologies, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies, and Industrial Efficiency and De
- Description
This Assistance Listing is used to provide funding to conduct balanced, long-term research in energy efficiency technologies.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
For-profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, State and local governments may apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
For-profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, State and local governments benefit.
- Uses of assistance
Assistance may be used in the form of cooperative agreements, or grants to nonprofit institutions and organizations to develop and transfer energy conservation technologies to the scientific and industrial communities, States, and local governments.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Award project periods range from 1 to 3 years.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
The cost principles and award regulations that apply to this program are contained in 2 CFR 200 as adopted and amended by 2 CFR 910. Application due dates will be posted in the individual Notices of Funding Opportunities posted at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ and http://www.grants.gov.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Selection will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, the availability of funds, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in specific solicitation document(s) at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
- Award procedure
All applications which pass an initial review will receive an objective merit review. The objective merit review will be based on evaluation criteria set forth in the competitive solicitation(s) or criteria set forth in 2 CFR Part 200 as adopted and amended by 2 CFR 910. Evaluations will be conducted by Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) program personnel at DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. This responsibility may also be delegated to DOE Field Offices. Final decisions will be made by the CMEI Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, and the Director of the Federal Energy Management Program.
- Time to approval or disapproval
60 to 180 days
- Renewals
Grants and/or cooperative agreements may be modified or extended. Renewals are subject to review by the headquarters program office and subject to the availability of funds.
- Appeals
Unsuccessful applicants are entitled to a debriefing by DOE program officials with a clear explanation of why the proposal was not accepted for funding.
Grant opportunities
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Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 3,081 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Motor Company | $198,045,463 | 2% |
| 2 | Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation | $197,862,208 | 2% |
| 3 | Johnson Controls Inc. | $196,136,660 | 2% |
| 4 | Aptiv Services US, LLC | $195,463,521 | 2% |
| 5 | General Motors LLC | $189,901,291 | 2% |
| 6 | United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC | $164,397,995 | 2% |
| 7 | General Motors LLC | $162,697,353 | 2% |
| 8 | Xalt Energy MI, LLC | $160,971,408 | 2% |
| 9 | The Pennsylvania State University | $159,851,012 | 2% |
| 10 | LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc. | $151,431,952 | 2% |
10 of 1,096 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$4,385,861 |
| FY2025 | $127,167,471 |
| FY2024 | $603,029,109 |
| FY2023 | $508,199,166 |
| FY2022 | $196,037,848 |
| FY2021 | $313,349,960 |
| FY2020 | $339,987,079 |
| FY2019 | $182,028,114 |
| FY2018 | $158,909,626 |
| FY2017 | $105,765,558 |
| FY2016 | $182,231,168 |
| FY2015 | -$141,511,997 |
| FY2014 | $46,988,724 |
| FY2013 | $180,432,120 |
| FY2012 | $131,375,659 |
| FY2011 | $274,655,569 |
| FY2010 | $2,706,205,003 |
| FY2009 | $325,187,018 |
| FY2008 | $52,312,521 |
| FY2007 | $70,195,323 |
| FY2006 | $77,218,617 |
| FY2005 | $84,666,190 |
| FY2004 | $78,436,081 |
| FY2003 | $94,528,340 |
| FY2002 | $73,791,041 |
| FY2001 | $79,542,611 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.086?
Assistance Listing 81.086 is Conservation Research and Development, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for Conservation Research and Development?
Its CFDA number is 81.086: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.086 awarded?
3,081 grant awards under 81.086 have obligated $8,318,891,096 in federal funds to 1,096 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.086?
The recipients obligated the most under Conservation Research and Development are Ford Motor Company ($198,045,463), Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation ($197,862,208) and Johnson Controls Inc. ($196,136,660).
How much did 81.086 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.086 obligated $127,167,471 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 81.086?
None of the latest 50 opportunities under 81.086 is open now. The latest, Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity, was posted on April 7, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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