The Department of Energy is making available up to $9 million for roughly 50 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through the Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which help small businesses develop technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. SBIR and STTR programs are funded by federal agencies with large research and development budgets that set aside a fraction of their funding for competitions among small businesses. Small businesses that win awards in these programs keep the rights to any technologies they develop and are encouraged to commercialize them. The programs help small businesses bring innovative technologies to market that help spur economic growth and diversify the nation's energy portfolio. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is the only program Office participating in Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0000715 posted on grants.gov and FedConnect. While this solicitation comprises only EERE topics, it is being run –like all Department of Energy SBIR solicitations—by the DOE/SBIR office.
This FOA marks the first time that the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued three Phase I solicitations in a single year. This “Release 3” is intended to give small businesses more topics and more opportunities to apply for SBIR/STTR Phase I grants in a given year. It includes 8 broad topics and 30 subtopics aligned with EERE programs (see below). Detailed application instructions, including eligibility requirements, can be found on DOE’s SBIR Funding opportunities website under Reference Number DE-FOA-0000715.
EERE leads the Federal government’s research and development (R&D) efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy. It invests in clean energy R&D designed to reduce the cost of technologies that enable the efficient use of energy and/or the generation of renewable energy. EERE’s SBIR/STTR efforts are part of an integrated portfolio that will lead to economic and environmental benefits. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) EERE program is interested in receiving proposals for research and development projects that offer potential for achieving EERE technology cost and performance targets. This FOA seeks Applications to select and fund SBIR Phase I research and development (R&D) projects in the follow topics and subtopics:
1. Advanced Manufacturing: a. Manufacturing Process b. Advanced Materials
2. Biomass: a. Cellulosic and Algal Biofuels b. Biobased Products
3. Buildings: a. Solid State Lighting (SSL) Devices and Packages;
b. Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps
c. High COP Electric Water Heaters
d. GSHP Ground Loop Cost Reduction
e. Fast Payback Solar Hot Water
f. Building Envelope Materials
g. Building Controls and
h. Commercial Building Power Meters
4. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies a. Transportation Fuel Cells b. Hydrogen Storage
5. Solar: a. PV module b. Power Electronics & Balance of System (Hardware)
c. Balance of System (Non-Hardware) and
d. Concentrating Solar Power
6. Vehicles: a. Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries; b. Exhaust Aftertreatment Materials
c. Innovative Engine Boosting Technologies
d. Differential Compression and Expansion Technologies
e. Subsystem Component Technologies
f. Thermoelectric Technologies
g. Materials for Traction Drive Motor Laminations, Cores, or Structures and
h. Engine Friction Reduction
7. Water: a. Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy b. Hydropower Applications
8. Wind: a. Logistics for Land-Based Wind Power
b. Development of a Met-Ocean Package for Offshore Wind