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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 to Fund “Connected Community” Projects:
A Connected Community is a group of grid-interactive, efficient buildings with diverse, flexible end use equipment and other distributed energy resources that work together to maximize building, community and grid efficiency. The U.S. DOE will spend up to $65 million a portfolio of Connected Community projects in differing climates and geographies with varying building types, DER structures and resource bases. Concept papers for interested participants are due February 17, 2021.
DOE Inviting Applications for the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize:
The U.S. DOE has announced the application period is open for the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize under their Water Power Technologies Office. Applicants are asked to develop new ideas for cutting costs, timelines and risks associated with developing hydropower projects. Applications are due by January 31st, 2021.
DOE Announces $80 Million for Innovative Building Technologies and Practices:
The U.S. DOE released its Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) 2020 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to provide up to $80 million for projects that enhance energy demand flexibility across buildings and the grid, enabling greater affordability, increased energy productivity, and improved occupant comfort. This year’s FOA includes topic areas on advanced building construction, workforce development, and a variety of building technologies, including advanced lighting, HVAC, and thermal energy storage, among others. Applicants must submit a concept paper are due by November 5, 2020.
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 October 30, 2020.
DOE Announces REMADE Funding Opportunity:
The U.S. DOE has announced a $35 million funding opportunity under the Reducing Embodied-Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Manufacturing Institute. The REMADE Institute is looking for research and development on technologies that can increase the circularity of electronic waste, specifically solutions for end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) and other electronic waste. Proposals are due by October 19, 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.