New DOE Funding Opportunity To Strengthen Microgrids in Remote and Industrial Regions

May 13, 2026 | By Thomas Young | Contact media relations

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The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is launching a new funding opportunity through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C‑MAP), with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE).

This latest solicitation offers up to $2.5 million in direct project funding supported by $1 million in technical assistance to help energy providers, local governments, and community organizations develop or enhance microgrids serving remote or isolated regions across the United States.

Microgrids play a critical role in delivering affordable, reliable, resilient, and secure electricity in remote areas with high energy costs and poor grid reliability. By generating, storing, and managing electricity within a defined boundary, microgrids can operate independently or alongside the larger grid—supplying energy needs locally.

This second C‑MAP funding round places a strong emphasis on measurable microgrid solutions that support industrial development, including projects serving large energy users such as critical mineral operations and enterprise‑scale computing centers. Strengthening microgrid infrastructure in these regions can help industrial, commercial, public safety, and national security facilities access the dependable energy systems they need to operate and grow. In addition, all projects should support the development of common configurations and development approaches that additional communities and industries can replicate within their own contexts.

“C‑MAP is delivering critical support to parts of the country facing some of the highest electricity costs and lowest reliability. Through NLR’s customized, innovative technical assistance—developed in close coordination with partners across the country—we’re helping communities and high‑demand industries implement microgrid solutions that keep essential services running and maintain operations year‑round," said NLR Laboratory Program Manager for Grid Integration Murali Baggu.

Funding and Support

Selected projects will receive $200,000–$575,000 in direct funding, along with up to 24 months of technical and administrative support from DOE national laboratories and partners. Awardees will develop replicable microgrid models and advance OE‑supported research toward commercialization.

Topic Areas

The solicitation covers five areas of microgrid development and deployment:

1. Regional Microgrid Coordination: Supporting regional collaboration to improve reliability, security, and affordability for community-based microgrids
2. Microgrid Integration with Large Load Energy Consumers: Providing resources to allow local utilities to work more closely with consumers with high energy needs
3. Microgrid Development: Assisting detailed design efforts for major upgrades of new or existing microgrid energy systems
4. Microgrid Transformation: Providing direct support for the implementation of innovative microgrid improvements
5. Microgrid Assessment for Industrial or Other Large Load Energy Consumers: Assisting large energy consumers considering implementation of an advanced microgrid energy system.

Eligibility

Eligible prime applicants include nonprofit entities supporting community-based microgrid energy systems, such as:

• Energy cooperatives
• State and local governments
• Federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and villages, including Alaska Native villages and regional corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
• (Topic Area 5 only) U.S. businesses with required SAM registration and DUNS number.

Proposed microgrids applications must be in areas of the United States with no more than 10,000 people where electricity prices are high.

Proposals are due July 2, 2026.

Learn More

Register for the informational webinar about the funding solicitation on May 26, 2026.

For full details on the solicitation, eligibility, and application process, visit www.energy.gov/c-map or contact the program team at [email protected].

About C‑MAP

The Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership brings together organizations and energy‑sector stakeholders committed to advancing next‑generation microgrid technologies. NLR administers C‑MAP with support from other DOE national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and other partners to strengthen energy systems in under‑resourced and industrially important remote regions.

In addition to this funding opportunity, C‑MAP offers free resources to support communities, organizations, and industries at any stage of microgrid planning or development. Through Microgrid Support Services, applicants and stakeholders can request short‑term, on‑demand technical assistance to help address specific microgrid questions or challenges. C‑MAP also hosts the Community Microgrid Innovation Exchange (C‑MIX), an online library featuring hundreds of publicly available tools, case studies, reports, webinars, and other resources designed to guide users from early concept through deployment.

Learn more about all C-MAP resources.