DOE Offers Grants to Small Businesses for Energy Technologies

October 6, 2004

DOE announced on September 28th that it is offering grants to small businesses that are developing new energy technologies. DOE's solicitations for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs offer grants of up to $100,000 for small businesses to evaluate the scientific or technical merit and feasibility of energy technologies that appear to have commercial potential. This year, the bulk of the grants will go towards manufacturing-related projects in accordance with Executive Order 13329, "Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing," signed by President Bush in February.

Each grant application must relate to a specific DOE technical topic. Topics listed under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy include solar photovoltaic technologies; sensors for wind turbines; systems to draw energy from tides, waves, and ocean currents; hydrogen storage technologies; advanced materials for fuel cells, bioproducts, lighting products, and lightweight vehicles; advanced power electronics; sensors and controls for geothermal systems, vehicles, industrial processes, and heating and cooling systems; innovative waste heat recovery technologies; novel cooling systems; and a variety of chemical processes. Related topics listed under the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences include solid-state lighting; capacitors and lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles; hydrogen pipelines, compressors, and storage tanks; advanced membranes for energy-efficient chemical separations; nanotechnologies for chemical processes; and new chemical processes that eliminate the use of solvents. Applications are due by December 13th. See the SBIR and SBTT solicitations.

For more information, see the newly updated fact sheets for the SBIR and STTR programs.