by Rebecca Walker — July 26, 2010—The Department of Energy (DOE) announced it will make available $30 million in funding to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new clean energy technologies.
This initiative builds on efforts by DOE’s existing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program to develop near-term clean energy technologies and to support American small businesses. Small companies previously awarded Phase II grants through SBIR or STTR are eligible for funding. This is the first time DOE has offered Phase III awards under these small business programs. The money will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and FY2010 budget appropriations.
Projects that include developed technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and impact on U.S. manufacturing and job creation are encouraged to apply. Among the technology areas of interest are biomass technologies for algal biofuels production, buildings technologies for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solid state lighting OLEDs, advanced materials and bio-fueled solid oxide fuel cells, and high temperature tools and sensors for geothermal technologies.
Other areas of inquiry include industrial technologies ranging from sensors and controls to advanced materials, solar technologies aimed at lowering the cost of photovoltaics, vehicle technologies focused on internal heating in DC bus capacitors as well as magnetic materials for motors.
Also considered will be lightweight vehicle materials, advanced wind power technologies, electricity delivery and energy reliability such as smart grid technologies, and superconducting and advanced materials for energy storage. Successful applicants may receive up to $3 million over 3 years to research, develop, and deploy new technologies.
For more information, see the DOE press release.
