The ultimate goal of this FOA is a reduction in geothermal well costs. Because drilling costs are highly variable and sensitive to one-off events, average daily drilling penetration rate (e.g. average m/day) is the basis of performance measurement selected in this FOA. This FOA seeks to affect a 25% improvement in geothermal drilling rates by supporting multiple demonstration projects that each target this level of improvement. This metric and performance target will allow for quantitative evaluation of project impacts to support broad deployment of the most successful approaches. The Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office seeks applications from drilling services providers, well service companies, research institutions, geothermal operators and developers, and other entities that can provide real-world, immediate solutions to address the goal of increasing the average daily drilling penetration rates for geothermal wells. Entities that control well access and operations—both commercial and government-funded—are encouraged to apply. Join GTO’s Drilling Demos Teaming Partner List to connect with prospective team members. Letters of intent are due by April 4, and full applications are due June 3.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) Fiscal Year 2022 Research, Development, and Demonstration funding program, which will award up to $25 million for innovative projects in CSP technologies. These projects will accelerate the large-scale development and deployment of solar technology. Projects supported by this opportunity will focus on lowering the cost of CSP technologies and creating new market opportunities for the industry, with the goal of enabling substantial deployment of CSP to decarbonize the electricity grid and energy system. These projects will work to apply CSP to new industries and advance the development of components for next-generation CSP systems based on solid particle heat transfer media. SETO expects to make about 8 to 15 awards, each ranging between $750,000 and $6 million. Diverse teams from universities, federally-funded research and development centers, nonprofit and for-profit companies, community-based organizations, state agencies, and local governments are encouraged to apply. Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a brief, mandatory letter of intent is due on March 16 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

The real estate industry is the largest contributor to humanity’s most significant challenge, the global climate crisis. With buildings accounting for 40% of global energy, greenhouse gases and raw materials, real estate’s adoption of innovative technologies and Net Zero solutions will be a major catalyst to avoiding a climate disaster. The Net Zero Lab is focused on tackling the climate crisis by facilitating the successful collaboration between large, successful real estate owners, operators, vendors, and innovative startups driven to deliver energy efficient and Net Zero focused technology solutions. Upward Enterprise Partners are looking for advanced technologies that are focused on Net Zero and alternative, sustainable energy solutions that will minimize energy consumption and significantly reduce carbon footprint in the built environment under the following categories: heating & cooling, energy generation & storage, building automation, building envelope, energy efficient equipment, software & reporting.

mHUB is looking for early-stage startups working on hardtech and infrastructure solutions in renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture & sequestration, energy storage, vehicle-to-grid, heat sink technologies, distributed energy resources, sustainable buildings and the internet of energy. When accepted to the program you will get the following value:

• An estimated $1M investment in the cohort, comprised of $75K in cash for each startup through a SAFE in exchange for 6% equity, and a minimum of $200K from the program’s corporate partners in the form of convertible notes (funds will be distributed based on partners’ discretion and may not be shared by entire cohort).
• Follow on investment opportunities from mHUB’s Product Impact Fund to support portfolio teams’ future rounds.
• Become part of mHUB, one of the nation’s leading hardtech innovation and manufacturing centers. You will join an ecosystem of more than 1,000 hardtech entrepreneurs and innovators, an active investor network, seasoned industry mentors, regional manufacturers and suppliers, and our hardtech product development community.
• Access to our $6M prototyping, manufacturing and testing workshop, along with technical staff and training.
• Cash equivalent credits towards hardtech development services ($30K per startup), 24-month mHUB membership ($34K value per startup), as well as multiple other services
• Support from our engaged and invested partners Invenergy, Nicor Gas / Southern Company, Evergreen Climate Innovations and legal partner Perkins Coie

Domi Station offers training, mentoring, and hands-on help to get new business ideas off the ground. With rolling admissions and online curriculum, this incubator aims to be flexible. After your application has been approved, Gear Up has a $100 registration fee. Typically spending an average of 6 months in our programs, participants will also be charged with a recurring monthly payment of $150. Domi Station also offers scholarships.

The New Mexico Start-Up Factory™ is bringing laboratory technologies to market. In our innovative model we work with scientists looking to commercialize their technologies. Through our program, technologists are coached through validation of the technology and market, and are then paired with the right management team. A commercialization and business plan/model is formed and if all signs point to a sound market and promising technological development, a company is formed.

Companies and scientists who successfully complete the educational piece of the program are open to investment from the Start-Up Factory™ Fund.

Entrepreneurs & Researchers: C2M is now accepting climate tech applications — low-carbon energy, green chemistry, food, and water technologies covering both mitigation and adaptation — for its 2022 cohort. For those technologies selected, interdisciplinary, hand-picked teams of UC Berkeley grad students will help identify the most viable initial markets, prospective customers and partners, funding sources, and related strategies. Each project receives approximately 1,000 hours of free commercialization assessment.

Selected start-ups will receive coaching and guidance from SeaAhead staff, a designated stand and presentation time at the 2022 IPF, dedicated promotions, and a deeply discounted registration cost at the IPF conference.

Greentown Labs’ newest incubator is seeking startups between TRL 3 and TRL 7 that advance the production, storage and distribution, or management of low-carbon hydrogen. Selected companies will have access to the Greentown Labs mentorship and programming, and have the opportunity to work with ERPI and Shell.

The Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize will provide a total of $2.5 million in funding to up to 10 teams to advance ideas for a just and equitable transition. The winners of Phase One will receive cash awards of $200,000 each. Phase One winners will be eligible to participate in a Phase Two of the prize 12 months later, during which time it is anticipated that a total of $500,000 will be awarded to up to three teams. 

The New York Clean Transportation Prizes program will electrify transportation, reduce air pollution, and enhance clean mobility in disadvantaged communities in New York State. The competitions will each run in two phases. In the first phase, participants must register by July 22, 2021, to be eligible to submit proposals.

The three prize competitions are:

• Clean Neighborhoods Challenge – up to three $10 million grand prizes will be awarded to innovative projects that address local air pollution reduction at scale in disadvantaged communities. The submission deadline is August 24, 2021.
• Electric Mobility Challenge – up to three $7 million grand prizes will be awarded to projects that demonstrate innovative safe and convenient electric mobility options that help solve disadvantaged community transportation needs. The submission deadline is August 25, 2021.
• Electric Truck & Bus Challenge – up to three $8 million grand prizes will be awarded to projects that demonstrate electrified solutions to the deployment of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles or their replacement through other electrified transportation modes. The submission deadline is August 26, 2021.

An independent pool of global experts will help New York State assess applications and guide the project selection process through the different phases of the competitions. Under the first phase of the program, projects selected and located in one of the six New York State investor-owned utility (IOU) territories will be eligible to receive the following award package:

• A $100,000 planning grant
• Up to $50,000 in funding for community partners
• Up to $50,000 in-kind support from NYSERDA provided expert consultants
• Additional support services for project management, community engagement, and measurement and verification