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/.

Shell UK has announced a new program for energy start-ups – Shell StartUp Engine UK – in partnership with Unreasonable Group (Unreasonable). The program focuses on scale and growth-stage start-ups that are best placed to accelerate a fair and just energy transition, improve access to energy and help consumers make smarter energy choices. CEOs of these start-ups will benefit from high-profile mentorship, access to potential investors and partners, and being part of the Shell and Unreasonable start-up communities.

Have a cleantech idea or startup that will change how we fight climate change and think the Beam Grant will help you take that next step?

Startups who are beginning to build momentum should apply now! If you have incorporated a startup and are in the process of translating your innovation into a first prototype, or demonstrating a physical proof of concept, and can demonstrate access to resources you need to make it to the next stage, you are a strong candidate for this mini-grant.

Are you a founder with a vision to create a real impact? A strong application will be able to describe an informed, well-reasoned rationale for emissions reductions.

Do you have a need for our support? Explain in your application how the  $1,000 award will allow you to advance development. The clearer the plan to use this, and the clearer the value of this support, the more compelling the case.

The GS Beyond Energy Innovation Challenge celebrates purpose-driven startups that address persistent and emerging energy transition problems. The winner of the challenge will receive a $100,000 cash prize, the top three semi-finalists will receive special consideration for a pilot project with GS Group and the top five startups will be invited to pitch energy industry leaders and investors in a virtual event. Presenting companies receive one-on-one mentorship and coaching from Energy Transition Ventures, GS Beyond, GS Futures, Investors, and industry experts as well as exposure to over $1 billion in venture capital.

The competition is a competitive prize for early-stage cleantech startups to win $50K cash (non-dilutive) and admission to our incubator program. Finalists will be invited to pitch at our annual Urban Future Summit in front of an esteemed jury. This year’s judges will be investors from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Generation Investment Management, and Energy Impact Partners.

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 Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI’s) Incubatenergy Labs—a program that connects leading startup companies with electric power utilities from around the world—invites startup companies to apply for the opportunity to propose innovative solutions to the most challenging issues facing the electric power industry. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in the 2021 Incubatenergy Labs Demo Day Challenge.

Startups must apply online to pitch their proposal to a group of electric power utilities in March 2021. Startups that deliver successful pitches at this event will go on to work with EPRI and electric power utility experts to scope and execute a paid pilot research and demonstration project within the service area of a participating utility next summer. This collaborative approach increases the value of the projects for all participants by expanding the reach of the startups and providing valuable investment information for the utilities. Applications can be submitted until January 14, 2021.

The Department of Energy (DOE) American-Made Challenge is seeking innovators, visionaries, and enthusiasts from across a variety of industries to propose innovative solutions that will encourage the development of new ideas to cut the costs, timelines, and risks associated with hydropower development.

The key challenges that the Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is seeking to address are listed below:

• Geotechnical Site Assessment: Activities performed to obtain information needed to design and construct a hydropower foundation system
• Foundation Design: Process of using information from the site assessment to perform analyses and develop a cost-effective foundation system that meets the project design criteria
• Foundation Construction: Activities performed by the contractor, from mobilization through project commissioning, to fully develop the foundation system.

Furthermore, the prize seeks solutions that are low head (less than 30 feet, new stream-reach development (NSD), and applicable to soil foundations. Please note that superstructures, including dams, are excluded from the prize scope.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in high-risk, innovative research, and technology development with the potential for future commercialization. The program is administered by the Energy Department’s Office of Science and awards projects in technology areas across the entire department. It is part of the larger SBIR program across the federal government, which is administered by the Small Business Administration. Learn more about these programs’ past awards in solar energy.

SBIR/STTR Phase I awards are up to $200,000 for six months to one year. For help with the application process, visit this webpage on how to apply for a funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

Watch the CEBN webinar recording about the solar innovation funding opportunities here.

This FOA is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Building Technologies Office (BTO). This section describes the overall goals of BTO and the type of projects that are being solicited for funding support through this FOA.

BTO’s overall goal is to improve the energy productivity of buildings without sacrificing occupant comfort or product performance. Progress towards achieving this goal will make building energy costs more affordable to the benefit of American families and businesses.

The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to research and develop next‐generation building technologies that have the potential for significant energy savings and improved demand flexibility, affordability, and occupant comfort. An additional goal is to advance building construction, remodeling, and retrofit practices, and associated workforces.

The American-Made Challenges’ Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize recognizes the nation’s most innovative incubators. Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions at the U.S. Department of Energy, EPIC will award prizes to competitors that submit the most creative and impactful plans to develop strong clusters, connections, and support for startups and entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on energy-related technologies. Up to 20 teams will be awarded $50,000 each.

This funding opportunity is part of the American-Made Challenges series, which unites the world’s best-in-class research base with the unparalleled entrepreneurial support system of the American-Made Network. Consisting of pioneering maker spaces, dozens of energy incubators, universities, and 17 DOE National Laboratories, the Network is primed to create a sweeping portfolio of innovations to demonstrate the promise of additive manufacturing.

The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeks innovators to design water desalination systems powered by marine renewable energy. The Waves to Water prize, aligned with the Water Security Grand Challenge, is a 5-Stage competition that offers up to $3.3 million in cash prizes, with a goal to demonstrate small, modular, cost-competitive desalination systems that use the power of ocean waves to provide clean drinking water for disaster recovery and for remote and coastal communities.

This funding opportunity is part of the American-Made Challenges series, which unites the world’s best-in-class research base with the unparalleled entrepreneurial support system of the American-Made Network. Consisting of pioneering maker spaces, dozens of energy incubators, universities, and 17 DOE National Laboratories, the Network is primed to create a sweeping portfolio of innovations to demonstrate the promise of additive manufacturing.