Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year (REMEDY)(SBIR/STTR) | DE FOA 0002505

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002505

The Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) issued the Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year (REMEDY) funding opportunity as a Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) solicitation. The core purpose is to back high-risk, high-reward applied research and development that can materially cut methane emissions from major, hard-to-control sources in the oil, gas, and coal value chain. ARPA-E frames this work as transformational rather than incremental, meaning applicants are expected to propose approaches that could set a new cost/performance trajectory and, if successful, realistically scale into disruptive commercial solutions rather than small, one-off demonstrations.

Programmatically, REMEDY is described as a three-year, approximately $35 million research effort aimed at reducing methane emissions enough to help reverse the growth rate of atmospheric methane and, over time, lower methane concentrations to mitigate climate change. The program targets three emission sources that collectively account for at least about 10% of U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions: methane slip in exhaust from natural gas-fired lean-burn engines (commonly used for compressor stations, on-site power generation, and increasingly in marine repowering); methane associated with flaring that is required for safety at oil and gas facilities (where incomplete combustion or operational issues can lead to methane release); and coal mine ventilation air methane (VAM), which is typically ultra-dilute methane exhausted continuously from operating underground mines.

REMEDY is looking for system-level solutions that can be replicated broadly across facilities, not just a novel component that only works under narrow conditions. ARPA-E sets aggressive performance and economics targets to force that systems thinking. Proposed systems are expected to achieve about 99.5% overall methane conversion, deliver more than roughly 87% net greenhouse gas reduction on a life-cycle basis, and come in with a levelized cost of carbon under $40 per metric ton of CO2-equivalent. In practical terms, that means projects need to show not only that methane can be destroyed or captured at high efficiency, but also that the full system (including energy inputs, operating requirements, and any byproducts) yields a strong net climate benefit at a price point that makes deployment plausible. The FOA also allows recovery of methane or conversion to higher-value products, but only if applicants can still meet the stated techno-economic and environmental metrics.

A notable requirement is that solutions must be able to operate reliably at lean and ultra-lean methane concentrations, which is often where conventional combustion or catalytic approaches struggle. ARPA-E also emphasizes measurement and operational robustness: systems should integrate sensors and/or control algorithms that can quantify emission reductions and ensure consistent operation over time, addressing real-world variability in flow rates, methane concentration, contaminants, and transient conditions. This is aligned with commercialization expectations, since buyers and regulators increasingly need credible, verifiable emissions performance rather than inferred reductions.

The program structure is staged. Stage 1 functions as a screening phase to evaluate the technical approach, feasibility, and projected ability to hit the program metrics. Projects that advance into Stage 2 are expected to confirm performance with stronger evidence, such as a limited field test or a larger extended laboratory-scale demonstration. That staged approach reflects ARPA-E's model of making a modest but focused investment to quickly identify which high-upside ideas can translate into credible prototypes and deployment pathways.

From an applicant and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements and/or grants, and eligibility is limited to small businesses under SBIR/STTR rules. The FOA is identified as DE-FOA-0002505 under CFDA 81.135, with an award ceiling listed at $3,721,115. The solicitation was created April 8, 2021, and the concept paper deadline was May 21, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with ARPA-E encouraging submission at least 48 hours early to avoid last-minute technical issues. ARPA-E requires that concept papers and application materials be submitted through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal; submissions sent by other methods are not reviewed. Support resources include the eXCHANGE User Guide and help via ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov for portal issues, while FOA questions are routed to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov after consulting the agency FAQ page.

Finally, the FOA situates REMEDY within ARPA-E's broader statutory mission to enhance U.S. economic and energy security and reduce energy-related emissions, while explicitly noting it is meant to complement, not duplicate, other methane initiatives such as EPA's Natural Gas STAR and CMOP programs, DOE Fossil Energy flare reduction efforts, and industry-led efforts like the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. The intent is to fill the gap where conventional programs may encourage best practices or incremental upgrades, while REMEDY pushes for breakthroughs that can deliver deep, measurable methane reductions across multiple high-impact, continuous emission points.

• The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the opportunity zone benefits, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year (REMEDY)(SBIR/STTR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 08, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2021 Submission Deadline for Concept Papers is May 21, 2021 at 930 a.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit 48 hours in advance of the deadline.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,721,115.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

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