Current RFPs and Funding Opportunities

Opportunities posted here are provided for reference and inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by NIREC.

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CleanTech Open Business Competition
CleanTech Open
Amount: $20,000; $10,000 - Region
Up to $250,000 Grand Prize
Important Dates:
May 10, 2012 - Final Entry Date (EXTENDED)
November 13-14, 2012 - Global Forum & Awards

This business plan competition consists of a number of key activities: extensive mentoring, training, business clinics, access to investors and capital, numerous opportunities to showcase to the media and the public, and the competition itself.

Energy Innovation Hub - Batteries and Energy Storage
U.S. Department of Energy; Chicago Service Center
Awards: 1
Funding: $120,000,000
Letter of Intent: May 1, 2012
Deadline: May 31, 2012

The Hub will provide a critical mass research effort to overcome the current technical limits for electrochemical energy storage to the point that the risk level will be low enough for industry to further develop the innovations discovered by the Hub and deploy these new technologies into the marketplace. To achieve these goals, the Batteries and Energy Storage Hub will foster unique collaborations bridging fundamental scientific research and technology development.

Energy Storage SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunity
Department of Energy
Awards: 8
Total Funding: $13,000,000
Funding Amount: $225,000 to $3,225,000
Notice of Intent: May 14, 2012
Application Deadline: May 23, 2012

ARPA-E seeks to fund the development of transformational technologies that reduce the barriers to mass adoption of electrical energy storage for stationary and transportation applications.  For stationary applications, this solicitation focuses on two emerging research areas for low-cost stationary energy storage: (1) low-cost, grid-scale storage, particularly for electric distribution systems supporting high local-penetration of electric vehicles with high-rate charging demands and (2) low-cost storage for consumer-side of the meter applications.   For transportation applications, this solicitation focuses on developing electrical storage technologies in three areas : (1) new battery chemistries; (2) new battery architectures and (3) novel electric storage systems.

Request for Information: Defense Production Act Title III Technology Marketing Research Addressing Availability of Fuel Cell Systems
Deadline: May 14, 2012

This is a Request For Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(e), published to solicit information about Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs), capabilities and market information related to the identified technologies of interest for planning purposes. Of particular interest are potential technical, manufacturing and market barriers to establishing a viable business for the technologies of interest. Descriptions of the three topic areas are given below. The following definitions are provided: Fuel Cell BOP Equipment: components and sub-systems, including blowers, heat exchangers, flow controllers and valves, sensors, power electronics, humidifiers, and fuel processors, that are designed to meet the operational and quality requirements of fuel cell systems and are produced to recognized industry standards. Fuel Cell Stack and Stack Components: the fuel cell stack, including cells, current collectors, manifolds, and end plates, that are designed to meet the operational and quality requirements of fuel cell systems and are produced to recognized industry standards. Tactical Fuel Cells: fuel cell systems in the power range of 50W to 25kW that address USG and commercial applications, including man-portable power, battery charging, auxiliary power, UUV/UAV/UGV applications, remote sensing, emergency backup power, and range extending of light and heavy electric vehicles.

2012 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards
Wall Street Journal
Award: Publication in WSJ
Deadline: May 18, 2012

The Wall Street Journal invites individuals, companies, organizations and government agencies world-wide to apply for the Technology Innovation Awards. We're looking for technological breakthroughs in such areas as medicine, software, wireless and consumer electronics. Innovations should go far beyond marginal improvements in existing products and services.

Building Research Interactions through Collabortive Development Energy (BRIDGE)
U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative
Total Funding: Up to $9M
Deadline: May 21, 2012

DOE is supporting efforts by collaborative research teams to significantly lower the cost of solar energy systems. The Bridging Research Interactions through collaborative Development Grants in Energy (BRIDGE) program allows applied research teams to access the tools and staff expertise at existing DOE Office of Science research facilities so fundamental scientific discoveries can be rapidly transitioned to existing product lines and projects. The BRIDGE program is the first within the SunShot Initiative to provide engineers and scientists developing solar technologies with the tools and expertise of the Department's Office of Science research facilities, including major facilities for x-ray and neutron scattering, nanoscale science, advanced microcharacterization, environmental molecular sciences, and advanced scientific computing. This collaborative approach will accelerate innovations to lower the cost of solar technologies.

Workshop: Green Technology Entrepreneurship Academy
Center for Entrepreneurship, University of California, Davis
Award: Tuition, Room, Board
Deadline: May 25, 2012

Develop the commercial potention of your cleantech innovation by working with leading investors, entrepreneurs and others in the green tech sector. This one week academy is a springboard for moving green tech research out of the lab and into the marketplace. The academy is taught by venture capitalists, university faculty, industry executives and angel investors, who serve as mentors and guest speakers and provide participants with the knowledge and networks needed to take the next steps forward. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Call for Entries: Nominations for Geothermal Energy Association Honors
Geothermal Energy Association
Deadline: May 25, 2012

The purpose of GEA Honors is to recognize individuals and companies that have made significant contributions to the development of the geothermal industry. Categories include: technology advancement, environmental stewardship and economic development.

Sunshot Incubator Program
U.S. Department of Energy
Award: (amount not given; $12M in program funding)
Deadline: May 29, 2012

The DOE SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the installed costs of solar energy systems by 75% by the end of the decade, achieving grid parity for subsidy-free solar energy. The SunShot Incubator Program facilitates American small business' transitions from a proof of concept or business plan to domestic commercialization or deployment. The emphasis on proposed activities should be focused on addressing barriers to scale-up, commercialization, and deployment by 2015. This funding opportunity seeks to create independent businesses which can fully support themselves and continue to grow after the end of the award period. This opportunity is not for creating a product, organization, service, or other entity or item which requires continued government support. Areas of programmatic interest include but are not limited to (1) photovoltaics, (2) balance of systems, (3) power electronics, (4) concentrating solar power, (5) tools to address non-hardware costs of solar energy, (6) plug-and-play wiring and installation techniques, (7) energy storage, and (8) other proposals that bring novel, non-incremental technologies that facilitate SunShot goals in any area of solar energy deployment to market. Prime recipients must be a startup business incorporated in the United States and must incur at least 60% of expenditures under the project, as measured by the Total Project Cost. For the purposes of eligibility to apply to this FOA, the term 'startup business' is defined as an entity with less than 500 employees not including the employees of any parent companies, subsidiaries or other affiliated companies.

Bio-Oil Stabilization and Commoditization
U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Station
Deadline: May 29, 2012 (Letter of Intent due May 1)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is intended for research and development (R&D) at either (1) Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 2 through 3 in Topic Area 1 or (2) TRL 4 through 6 in Topic Area 2, that will accelerate the development of thermochemical liquefaction technologies to produce a bio-oil feedstock from biomass considered to be a high-impact feedstock or from algal biomass.  The bio-oil feedstock produced must be utilized within a petroleum refinery and leverage its existing capital for further processing to final fuels (such as renewable: gasoline, diesel, jet fuel) that will contribute to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Renewable Fuels Standard volumetric goals for advanced biofuels. 

U.S. Offshore Wind: Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects
U.S. Department of Energy: Golden Field Office
Deadline: May 31, 2012

The U.S Department of Energy seeks to provide support for regionally-diverse Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects through collaborative partnerships. By providing funding, technical assistance, and government coordination to accelerate deployment of these demonstration projects, DOE can help eliminate uncertainties, mitigate risks, and help create a robust U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Industry. The primary goals of the Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects are to: 1. Install innovative offshore wind systems in U.S. waters in the most rapid and responsible manner possible, and 2. Expedite the development and deployment of innovative offshore wind energy systems with a credible potential for lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) below 10 cents / kWh or the local hurdle price at which offshore wind can compete with other regional generation sources without subsidies. With over 4,000 GW of gross potential that is relatively close to key load centers, offshore wind energy can help the nation reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, diversify its energy supply, provide cost-competitive electricity to key coastal regions, and stimulate economic revitalization of key sectors of the economy.

HVACR to Home Performance-Heading, Ventilation, air Conditioning and Refrigeration

ECPA Regional Energy Competition: US Mission to Costa Rica
U.S. Department of State
Awards: 6
Award Amount: $100,000 - $250,000
Total Funding: $850,00
Deadline: June 4, 2012

The U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rica seeks grant / cooperative agreement proposals in amounts of no less than $100,000 up to a maximum of $250,000 from organizations interested in promoting clean energy in Central America and the Caribbean.

Plug-and-Play Photovolaics
U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative
Total Funding: Up to $25M over 5 Years

DOE is supporting the development of commercial plug-and-play photovoltaic (PV) systems that make installing a solar energy system as easy as plugging in an appliance. This funding advances the concept of a market-ready plug-and-play PV system, which is envisioned as an off-the-shelf product that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. The homeowner simply plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility. As part of the SunShot Initiative, this funding opportunity is designed to reduce costs and simplify installations so that solar can be more accessible for Americans. This solicitation targets universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders with an interest in transforming the residential solar market. By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems.

Improving the Accuracy of Solar Forecasting
U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative
Funding: Up to 49M over 3 years
Deadline: June 19, 2012

DOE is supporting efforts to improve the accuracy of solar forecasting at sub-hourly, hourly, and day-ahead timeframes. By gaining a better understanding of changes in solar irradiance due to cloud formation, movement, and other weather-related factors, utility companies and power system operators can more accurately anticipate changes in solar power production and take actions to ensure the stability of the national power grid.As part of the SunShot Initiative, this funding opportunity is designed to accommodate an expanding U.S. solar market. Advancements in solar generation, transmission technology, resource forecasting, operational practices, and regulatory procedures will collectively enable the successful integration of high levels of solar penetration on the grid. By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
U.S. Department of Defense
Deadline: June 27, 2012

Sample Topics:
3 KW Lightweight Efficent Generator
High Amperage Large-scale Electrical Energy Storage
Advanced Battery Technologies and Manufacturing Process Improvements

Regional Test Centers: Validation of Photovoltaic Modules and Systems
U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative
Deadline: June 30, 2012

Under this Notice of Opportunity for Technical Assistance (NOTA), DOE will provide technical assistance to the photovoltaic (PV) industry and other stakeholders in the form of validation testing and systems monitoring through DOE Regional Test Centers (RTCs). While the primary mission of the RTCs is to develop standards and establish the technical basis for bankability, the RTCs will also function as test beds for large-scale systems and provide independent validation of PV performance and reliability. Recipients of technical assistance will install PV modules and/or systems at all three RTC sites, if appropriate. Technologies may include photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications. The DOE/RTCs would provide the land, the grid tie, and the testing / data monitoring required to support an assessment of product/system performance, consistency of PV module quality, degradation rates, and/or PV system reliability issues. Technical assistance will not be provided for research, development, or early-stage testing and evaluation. The focus of the RTCs is to accelerate adoption of renewable energy generation sources by helping U.S. PV manufacturers validate new commercially ready technologies.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Phase 1 Funding Opportunity Announcement
Awards: 45
Total Funding: $7,000,000
Award Funding: Up to $150,000
Deadline: July 3, 2012

The objectives of these programs include increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through DOE-supported research and development (R&D), stimulating technological innovation in the private sector, and improving the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. DOE will support high-quality research or R&D on advanced concepts concerning important mission-related scientific or engineering problems and opportunities that are likely to lead to significant public benefit from promising research.

 

Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering
National Science Foundation
Deadline: September 18, 2012

This program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment.

Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Software Grant
Autodesk
Deadline: ongoing

Free design and engineering software for early-stage clean technology companies in North America working to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Valued up to $150,000.

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
National Science Foundation
Amount: varied
Deadline: accepted anytime

This opportunity promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects.

 

Opportunities posted here are provided for reference and inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by NIREC.

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