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.

Small Innovative Projects (SIPS) in Solar 2022: Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power and Photovoltaics funding program will award up to $5 million for projects that seek to fund innovative research and development seedling projects in photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies in an effort to accelerate the large-scale development and deployment of solar technology. SETO expects to make about 15 to 23 awards, each ranging between $250,000 and $400,000. 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 1-2 paragraph, mandatory letter of intent is due on February 28 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

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.

U.S. DOT’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awards contracts to small businesses to pursue research on and develop innovative solutions to our nation’s transportation challenges.  For the U.S. DOT SBIR Program, Phase I offers can be funded up to $200,000 unless otherwise noted in Section VIII. The period of performance of the resulting contract shall be six months. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is looking for proposed research the would explore the creation of a tool or application that can help transit agencies select the right battery electric bus for their unique systems—taking into consideration terrain, climate, length of route, etc.—and to create models to predict the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of this change in transportation type. Click above to view the full list of research topics.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is accepting applications for the latest round of funding under the Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program under Section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. A total of $7 million is available for qualified facilities based on the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) generated in calendar year 2020 (CY20).

This solicitation will provide funding to projects that fall into any one or both of the following categories:

1. Training for Existing Workers and Individuals in Formal Training Programs
2. Career Pathways for New Workers/New Entrants in Clean Energy

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

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced $15 million is available for the Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program (CNCED) as part of Round XI of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative announced last week. The funding will accelerate the design, planning, and construction of regionally significant, community-scale carbon neutral economic development projects for buildings, campuses and communities, and large portfolio owners. The program supports Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate and clean energy agenda including an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The third round of the Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program includes two categories in which funding is available:

Category A:

• Facility-level carbon neutral building performance, which includes commercial, light-industrial, mixed use and municipal buildings, new construction, gut rehab and change-of-use projects (no size limit) with up to $2 million available for each awarded project. Eligible costs include: design, energy modeling, energy efficiency, controls, renewables, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, storage, and commissioning.

Category B:

• Campus, community and large portfolio owner projects, which includes the planning, technical analysis, and design of carbon neutral performance for the community. Projects must be at least 1 million square feet or cost at least $50 million to implement. Projects in this category could include colleges and universities, downtown revitalization initiatives, neighborhoods, and office parks with up to $5 million available for each awarded project.

Funding awards will be prioritized for projects that are easily replicable and located in disadvantaged communities. A total of 21 projects have been awarded over $23 million in incentives since the Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program was launched in 2018. For more information or to apply for this program please visit https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/.

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has issued a $13 million solicitation for Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT). This funding opportunity seeks new energy projects that will aid federal facilities improve the efficiency of their operations and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Solar Energy Technologies Office is seeking applicants for the FY21 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator funding program. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is January 11, 2021, by 5 pm ET. The goal is to advance solar hardware and systems integration, including the creation of a consortium dedicated to developing control technologies for a modernized electric grid. Be sure to register for the webinar on January 6, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET. SETO staff will go over all the topic areas in this funding opportunity and answer questions.

The Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding opportunities are now open for FY2021. Please see the list below of Offices that are offering funding opportunities:

• Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response
• Office of Fossil Energy
• Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
• Office of Fusion Energy Sciences
• Office of Electricity
• Office of High Energy Physics
• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Office of Nuclear Energy
• Office of Environmental Management

The detailed list of Funding Topics is available here and the full Funding Opportunity Announcement is available here.

ADL Ventures has launched a wildfire ignition prevention challenge with PG&E. The initiative is seeking hard tech innovators that might be able to help PG&E harden its grid. The winner of the challenge will receive consideration for a demonstration or development contract through one of several PG&E innovation programs.