The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Fossil Energy, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled “Domestic Turbine Manufacturing Needs” under DE-FOA-0003604. Released on November 20, 2025, this RFI seeks public input from stakeholders involved in gas turbine manufacturing, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and material suppliers in the 60 Hz U.S. electricity market. The purpose is to gather information to better understand the existing constraints within the domestic supply chain and to guide future strategic investments and research efforts to ensure the timely and reliable supply of turbines critical for electricity generation.
This RFI arises in response to growing concerns over the rising electricity demand forecasted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. With projections showing a 50% increase in demand by 2050 and turbines currently accounting for 77% of electricity generation, DOE is prioritizing supply chain reliability. The Department has identified challenges such as extended wait times for turbine delivery (as long as seven years) and increased pricing, primarily driven by bottlenecks in supply, manufacturing, and workforce shortages.
Respondents are invited to provide information across four main categories: manufacturing technology constraints, workforce limitations, sub-supplier constraints, and material supply challenges. Specific questions address issues such as lead times, equipment availability, production limitations, specialized labor needs, availability of raw materials, and quality control measures. The RFI covers a broad set of manufacturing methods including forging, casting, machining, coating, additive manufacturing, and joining techniques.
The DOE requests submissions to include detailed explanations of how current technologies, equipment, workforce skills, or material sourcing affect turbine production. Additionally, it seeks input on R&D efforts, potential innovations, and alternative technologies that could reduce lead times and improve throughput. Information about supply chain dynamics, such as the role of sub-suppliers and materials availability, will also inform future strategic planning.
Submissions must be sent via email to TurbineManufacturingRFI@netl.doe.gov with the subject line “U.S. Turbine Manufacturing RFI Response” by 5:00 PM ET on January 30, 2026. Only electronic submissions in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats are accepted. Respondents should also include organization name, point of contact, and contact information at the beginning of their responses.
While this RFI is not a funding opportunity announcement and does not provide financial support at this stage, the DOE may issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the future based on the insights gathered. Responses to the RFI do not confer any competitive advantage or disadvantage, and all information will be treated for planning purposes only.
Clearly structure responses by process and constraint category; avoid generalizations; align with DOE's stated interest in throughput, lead-time, and workforce.
