Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse waters (RECOVER)

The Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse Waters (RECOVER) program is administered by the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This funding opportunity is focused on developing advanced technologies that enable the extraction and recovery of high-value energy materials—primarily ammonia and critical metals—from aqueous waste streams. These technologies are intended to provide transformative alternatives to traditional energy-intensive or environmentally damaging processes like the Haber-Bosch process and hard-rock mining. The RECOVER program aligns with ARPA-E’s statutory goals of improving the nation’s energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing reliance on foreign energy imports, and maintaining U.S. technological leadership in advanced energy solutions. ARPA-E’s RECOVER program seeks to reduce the energy demand by 30% and greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to conventional production methods. It targets three categories of technical development: new materials, process development and derisking, and process integration. Waste stream types eligible for innovation under this program include municipal and animal feedlot wastewater, produced water from oil and gas operations, and mining effluents. The program aims to recover valuable products such as ammonia, phosphorus, and a range of metals critical to U.S. energy and supply chains, including lithium, yttrium, cobalt, and neodymium. Approximately $36–$40 million is available for this program, with ARPA-E anticipating 10–16 awards across two related funding opportunity announcements (DE-FOA-0003510 and DE-FOA-0003511). Individual award amounts are expected to range between $1.5 million and $4 million. The program emphasizes cost-effectiveness, durability, energy efficiency, and selectivity in recovery technologies. It also mandates a minimum 5% allocation of federal funding toward technology transfer and outreach (TT&O) activities. Indirect costs are capped at 15% of total project costs. Matching funds are required unless a statutory exception applies. Eligibility is open to a wide range of applicants, including individuals, for-profit organizations, small businesses, state and local governments, tribal organizations, and both public and private institutions of higher education. All applicants must register with SAM.gov and submit applications through ARPA-E’s eXCHANGE portal. Foreign participation is limited, and special conditions apply to work performed outside the U.S. or with foreign nationals from countries of concern. Applicants must also adhere to ARPA-E’s detailed application formatting and content requirements, including the submission of concept papers, technical volumes, budget justifications, and summary slides. Key deadlines for this funding cycle include the concept paper deadline on December 31, 2024, and the full application deadline on August 28, 2025. Encourage/Discourage notifications are expected in February 2025. Selection notifications are anticipated between June and September 2025, with award announcements projected between September 2025 and January 2026. The performance period will span from September 2025–January 2026 to September 2028–January 2029. The program is not offered on a rolling basis but is expected to recur. Applicants may direct technical questions to ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov and issues with the application portal to ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov. Only ARPA-E Grants Officers are authorized to communicate with applicants during the application period. The application process requires a clear demonstration of technical innovation, scalability, market viability, and alignment with program goals. Applications must include responses to specific technical and market questions listed in the NOFO, and must meet performance metrics tailored to their selected technical category. These include thresholds for selectivity, concentration increase, recovery efficiency, and economic feasibility. Each project must provide a go/no-go milestone at the one-year mark and a detailed commercialization plan by the end of the project period. These criteria are designed to ensure that selected technologies are not only scientifically viable but also positioned for successful deployment and impact in the energy sector.