The American-Made Solar Prize encourages the rapid development of innovative solar energy solutions capable of addressing the tough challenges facing the solar industry. Solar Prize competitors participate in three contests—the Ready! Set! and Go! Contests to transform their ideas into concepts and then early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing. Competitors have the chance to win $3 million in cash prizes and other resources to help them advance in the competition and accelerate the development of their solution.

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 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has announced the Innovations in Advanced Manufacturing for Hydropower (I AM Hydro) Prize to dramatically lower costs of hydropower components and systems designs by leveraging advancements in manufacturing and material.

I AM Hydro is inspiring disruptors and innovators to compete for up to $250,000 in cash prizes and help support the hydropower industry using the ingenuity of advanced manufacturing.

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.

Each year, this accelerator finds 15-20 companies that best fit their mission and fund each company up to $1 million to improve systems that impact people’s lives: energy, water, food & agriculture, mobility, and the circular economy.

The DOE Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) is launching a $1,000,000 prize competition to award cash prizes to the nation’s most innovative incubators for creative plans to build clusters supporting entrepreneurs and innovators launching businesses focused on energy-related technologies. OTT welcomes incubators, organizations that aid in the development of new business ventures, business accelerators, co-working startup communities, or any other organizations that self-identify as advocates for innovation and entrepreneurship. This prize also seeks to strengthen innovation clusters or geographic concentrations of specialized skills, industries, and technologies that have the ability to turn their talents towards energy innovation.

To compete, competitors must submit a ten-slide presentation and a 90-second video. OTT anticipates selecting up to 20 winning competitors for cash prizes of $50,000 each.

The Clean Fight NY, is a new not-for-profit clean energy accelerator for growth-stage companies looking to scale in New York. First up, Clean Buildings: high-impact solutions to decarbonize NY buildings, at speed. Powered by New Energy Nexus, supported by NYSERDA.

• Focused on business development with corporate and investor partners
• $1.25M/cohort, up to $500k/company in grants to support partnerships resulting from corporate matchmaking
• $25k-$30k/company in technical support to help scaling
• No relocation for the program, no equity stake
• US or international growth-stage companies welcome

Note: exclusively seeking applicants from state, local and tribal government entities.

This funding opportunity will invest up to $10 million to allow state, local, and tribal government entities to compete for funding designed to meet DOE goals via field validation of high impact commercial building technologies.

The objective of this funding is to generate and disseminate data on the field performance of novel approaches to integrate advanced building technologies, that can inform commercial and multi-family building efficiency, demand flexibility, and building-to-grid programs. Projects funded through this FOA will have the potential to significantly reduce energy use in U.S. commercial buildings, develop new value streams for commercial building owners, and provide the end use flexibility required to dynamically balance the distribution grid.

Note: exclusively seeking applicants from federal agencies

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)’s mission is to help federal agencies advance the energy efficiency, resilience, and security of their operations. FEMP assists Federal agencies in meeting energy-related goals by bringing expertise from all levels of project and policy implementation to identify affordable solutions and facilitate public-private partnerships.

AFFECT 2020 FAC will build on FEMP’s prior AFFECT grant program efforts to provide direct funding to Federal agencies for the development of energy and water efficiency projects and processes. The purpose of the funding is to initiate, supplement, improve or otherwise increase the viability and adoption of energy efficiency and operational resilience at U.S. Federal government-owned facilities. In addition, AFFECT will address the issue of aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance and repairs.

Applications are sought from Federal agencies for technical solutions that are in alignment with DOE EERE priority areas of interest: Resilient/Efficient/Secure (these areas of interest are not mutually exclusive and may overlap).

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks opportunities to co-create, co-design, and co-invest in the research, development, piloting, and scaling of innovative and cost-effective interventions to support the advancement of self-reliant energy sectors in developing countries.

USAID invites organizations, companies, government agencies, academic and research institutions, and investors to propose innovative approaches to address the diverse set of challenges faced by countries that are striving to achieve universal access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy services. USAID developed this BAA for Energy Sector Self-Reliance to expand the Agency’s ability to engage with a wide range of implementing partners and service providers within the global energy sector, and develop new means to rapidly deliver tailored, best-in-class assistance and technologies to help strengthen national and regional energy systems.

Nexus and IN2 are granting two $15,000 grants for clean energy startups that can demonstrate positive impacts on underserved communities. New Energy Eligibility Criteria for $15,000 Clean Economy Grants:

a) Location: must be a California-based clean energy organization
b) Number of employees: must have at least two W2 employees
c) Must demonstrate impact on underserved communities
d) Must demonstrate financial need and urgency

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission. This announcement encourages programs or projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students and teachers, and prepare the 21st century STEM workforce. AFRL’s Workforce Development programs or projects include, but are not limited to:

• Internships (High School through Doctoral)
• Fellowship Apprentice/Residency Programs
• College or University project-based learning programs
• Formal or informal workforce development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and DOD STEM Mission

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications that will accelerate the development of new or enhance/increase existing anaerobic digestion capacity and infrastructure in the United States. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic (plant and animal) materials. Food waste diverted from landfills and incinerators can be managed at AD facilities. The AD process generates renewable energy (biogas) and a product that can improve soil health (digestate).

Each year Women Founders Network creates a unique opportunity for Female Founders. What makes their pitch competition different than other fast pitch competitions is the valuable leadership and in-kind sponsorships that offered as part of the program. This individualized attention allows the top women entrepreneurs to become pitch-ready in a way that sharpens their plans to scale their companies and makes their business more appealing to Angel and VC investors.