Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC)

Energy Frontier Research Centers sit under the DOE Office of Science, through Basic Energy Sciences, as multi-institution research centers built to tackle fundamental energy-science questions. The program launched in 2009, now spans a historical total of 107 centers across 43 states and the District of Columbia, and continues as a flagship center competition for multidisciplinary energy research. The awards are four-year grants and the current eighth-class competition was posted on February 18, 2026, under FOA DE-FOA-0003614. Historically, centers run at about $3 million to $4 million per year, or roughly $12 million to $16 million over the full project period. The program is open to U.S.-based non-profit organizations, universities, and research organizations, while for-profit applicants and individuals are not eligible. The fit is strongest for consortia that can bring together several institutions around a hard scientific problem in energy science. Successful applicants need a clear center structure, a shared research agenda, and enough coordination to make the collaboration feel like a single research engine rather than a bundle of separate projects.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.