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Registration is open for the National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP):
This is a coalition of stakeholders organized by the U.S. DOE, who are working to expand access to affordable community solar. NCSP plans to accomplish their goal of more affordable community solar through a network of infrastructure, technical assistance and collaboration. DOE will work to equip partners with tools and information needed to design and implement successful community solar models.
DOE Announces I AM Hydro Competition:
The U.S. DOE has opened up a competition where participants can compete for up to $250,000 cash prize. The Innovations in Advanced Manufacturing for Hydropower (I AM Hydro) Prize is looking for ways to lower costs on manufacturing hydropower components and improving hydropower system designs. Submissions will be judged based on innovation, impact and feasibility. Submissions are due by September 30, 2020.
DOE Announces new Geothermal Manufacturing Prize:
Under the American-Made program, DOE will be hosting a geothermal manufacturing challenge that is meant to spur innovation that addresses manufacturing for geothermal technology that can withstand the harsh geothermal environments. The Geothermal Manufacturing challenge will have 4 phases with a chance to win up to $3.25 million in cash and National Lab vouchers. Submissions are due by August 26, 2020.
DOE Looking for Projects to Support H2@Scale Program:
The U.S. DOE announced a request for proposals of research and development projects that would help support their H2@Scale program. This program looks to find solutions for large-scale, affordable hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilization. Proposals are due July 31, 2020.
U.S. DOE Released a Request for Information on Critical Battery Materials Supply Chains:
The U.S. DOE is looking for information on the challenges and opportunities in the upstream and midstream supply chains for critical battery materials. This request for information (RFI) will support DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge that helps to accelerate the development of energy-storage technologies in the U.S. Responses are due July 31, 2020.
Federal Energy Management Program is Looking to Fund Energy and Water Infrastructure Projects:
The U.S. DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) issued their call to apply for the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2020. This project will provide funding to work that strengthens energy and water infrastructure across federal agencies. Work must improve the energy efficiency of federal operations while simulating economic development. Applications are due July 31, 2020.
DOE Announces Funding for Tribes to Deploy Energy Technology:
This funding through the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will support Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations unleash undeveloped energy resources. Applications are due July 30, 2020.
U.S. DOE looking for Field Validation Projects in the Public Sector:
The U.S. DOE is looking to use $10 million of funding on 5-10 projects that would be run by state, local and tribal governments. These projects will enhance energy efficiency in the buildings, while providing grid flexibility services to the electric grid. The projects will generate data for the U.S. DOE on building technologies in dynamic and variable conditions. Concept papers are due July 27, 2020.
DOE Funding Industry Partnerships on Battery Manufacturing Innovation:
The U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technology Office is soliciting proposals between National Labs and industry partners that pursue innovative ways to manufacture batteries. Up to $12 million will go to help projects that address gaps in enhanced lithium-ion batteries, next-generation lithium-ion batteries, and next-generation lithium-ion battery technology. Industry partners who are interested must reach out to a national lab. All proposals must be submitted by the National Laboratories. Applications are due July 17, 2020.
DOE Launches Solar Desalinization Prize:
DOE is offering a prize for the American-Made Challenge: Solar Desalinization Competition. Participants will need to design and develop a system that uses solar-thermal energy to produce clean water from very-high-salinity water. There will be 4 phases to the competition, where participants can win up to $2.3 million in cash and $200,000 in vouchers at National Laboratories to continue their work on their solar desalinization system. Submissions for this competition are due July 16, 2020.
For further funding opportunities please follow this link to DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office’s Funding Opportunity Exchange.
For additional funding opportunities from USDA please follow this link: https://nifa.usda.gov/page/search-grant. If you are looking for energy-related program opportunities, please use the filters located on the USDA’s webpage; this link is to a list of all of USDA’s funding opportunities.