Energy Department Announces New Grant Topics to Help Small Businesses Develop Clean Energy Technologies

The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) today announced nine topics and 26 new subtopics under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that will help small businesses develop and deliver market-driven clean energy technologies.

This year, EERE's areas of interest range from energy-saving buildings and manufacturing to sustainable transportation and renewable electricity generation. Today’s announcement includes a new type of subtopic—the technology transfer opportunity—which aims to have small businesses commercialize intellectual property from Energy Department-funded labs and universities. Small businesses that are selected for any EERE SBIR/STTR funding keep the rights to new technologies they develop, and are encouraged to transfer these technologies to the marketplace.

SBIR grant applications must respond to a specific EERE subtopic, which include:

Carbon fiber production processes Solid-liquid separations for algal systems Integrated storage and distributed generation for buildings Technology transfer opportunity for fuel cell quality control devices Technology transfer opportunity for geothermal co-produced applications Concentrating solar thermal desalination Silicone-carbide Schottky diodes for electric drive vehicle power electronics Innovative small, low-head hydropower turbines Active load alleviation strategies for wind turbine blades

View the full list of topics and subtopics.  

The SBIR/STTR application process starts with a mandatory letter of intent, which eligible businesses must file by Monday, December 15 before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Only those who have filed letters of intent may apply.

Other key dates for potential applicants include:

New this year, the EERE SBIR team is providing additional resources and support to potential SBIR/STTR applicants, especially minority- and woman-owned small businesses that seek to move their cutting-edge technologies to market. This includes the launch of a new web-based interactive, all-in-one tool that will help make the application process quicker and easier.

Sign up to receive EERE SBIR email updates, including webinar registration info, and learn more about the program.