This is a competitive grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $115.7 million in grant funds, subject to future appropriations and Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan funding allocations, for hydrogen refueling infrastructure projects that will expand California’s early commercial light duty hydrogen refueling and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) markets and to accommodate the projected FCEV roll-out in 2021-2024. Of the up-to amount, $45.7 million is currently available.

This solicitation encourages projects with fueling agreements with fleets of commercial vehicles and transit buses to increase station throughput and to aid in the transition of California’s commercial vehicle and bus fleets to a zero-emission alternative. The network of hydrogen refueling stations, hydrogen fuel supply, and the use of FCEVs will support California’s air quality improvement and climate change goals. Hydrogen is one of the alternative fuels that contributes to reducing the carbon intensity (CI) of transportation fuels.

Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator, providing entrepreneurs and corporate innovators the resources they need to launch and grow successful cleantech businesses. Our one-of-a-kind innovation ecosystem built over the last 10 years of programming spans key cleantech innovation hubs in the U.S., linking labs and universities, service providers, investors, corporations, governments, and other cleantech incubators and accelerators. Through our annual accelerator, we provide between 100-150 companies in the U.S. a rich program of customer discovery, extensive mentoring, training, investor meetings, startup-corporate matching, and showcasing at both the regional and national levels. Since 2005, more than 70% of our reporting U.S. alumni companies are still operating and have collectively raised over $1.2B in external funding. Join this exciting community and be a part of our global network of innovation.

CalSEED is a $24m grant program created by the California Energy Commission to help early stage California clean energy startups bring concepts and prototypes to market. CalSEED provides Concept Award grants of $150,000 each to 20 – 25 projects each year. Additionally, the CalSEED program holds an annual Business Plan Competition for Concept Award winners. Winners of this Prototype Award competition receive an additional $450,000 in funding.

Learn more about eligibility requirements.

The Keeling Curve Prize is accepting applications for the prize from innovative climate change solutions in the areas of Capture & Utilization, Energy, Finance, Social & Cultural Pathways, and Transport & Mobility. Each year the Keeling Curve Prize gives out 10 awards of $25,000 each.

76West is an unparalleled competition focused on growing entrepreneurs and attracting resources from the U.S. and around the world to build clean energy businesses and jobs in New York State’s Southern Tier region. Each year, 76West awards one grand prize winner of $1 million, and three $500,000 awards, all payable in increments based on specific milestone accomplishments. Along with a cash prize, competition organizers will also seek to provide additional specialized support based on the winners’ business goals. Winning clean energy startups that are located outside of New York State will need to demonstrate economic impact in one of four ways to meet prize requirements. See competition details to learn more.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued its FY 2020 Phase I Release 2 Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0002146) for the SBIR and STTR Programs.  Qualified small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering in any of the research areas sought in the announcement are encouraged to apply.

The following DOE program offices are participating in this Funding Opportunity Announcement:

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

Read the full list of DOE FY 2020 Phase 1 release 2 topics.

The American-Made Solar Prize designed to revitalize U.S. solar manufacturing is accepting applications for its third round. Entrepreneurs with transformative solutions and products to address the problems facing the solar energy industry are requested to apply. The participants would receive access to a diverse and powerful support network that leverages national laboratories, energy incubators, and other resources across the country.

For more information: Click here

The clean energy prize@MIT, a cleantech startup competition aims to identify promising companies and train student entrepreneurs. The competition structured in 4 tracks i.e. Generate, Deliver, Demand and Move, chooses 16 business plans which are eligible for mentoring and support from sponsors and partners. The finalist team be chosen from the 4 semi-finalist teams would be entitled to the grand prize and many more rewards.

For more information: Click here

ARPA-E’s Performance-based Energy Resource Feedback, Optimization, and Risk Management (PERFORM) program intends to quantify grid management risks at the asset and system levels, leading to a transformative grid system with reduced costs and improved reliability. Applicants are expected to give technically relevant innovative solutions targeting areas like: (i) bulk and distribution systems, (ii) centralized and decentralized paradigms, and (iii) vertically integrated utilities, markets, and peer-to-peer transactive energy systems.

For more information: Click here

The Mentor Capital Network (MCN) identifies entrepreneurs with solutions to solve world’s social, economic, and environmental problems and supports by connecting them with peers and advisers from within its network. Interested applicants must go through a 3-tier process involving Business plan review, Challenge calls, Direct fundraising assistance or Indirect support. Selected participants would be eligible for networking with alumni and other forms of assistance.

For more information: Click here

Startup Energy Transition (SET) is inviting applications from clean energy startups with innovative technology solutions. The major areas of interest are Energy efficiency systems, Renewable energy materials, Digital energy systems and Smart mobility. The top 100 applicants will be featured in our annual publication which is circulated to investors, corporates and political stakeholders across the globe and the winners would be entitled to prize money as well.

The John Merck Fund (JMF) focusses exclusively on supporting clean energy transitions in New England by supporting clean tech initiatives in the area. The major goals of the fund include reduction of New England’s greenhouse gas emissions to 20% by 2022 and 80% by 2050 to make the region a leader on climate solutions. The specific areas of interest include modernization of electric power system, adoption of electric vehicles and supporting energy infrastructure.