DOE Wants Small Businesses to Apply for Grants in Clean Energy Technologies

The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is accepting grant applications from small businesses for some new topics under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Small businesses that win awards in these programs keep the rights to any technologies they develop and are encouraged to commercialize them.

EERE recently announced new topics for grant monies including:

• Integrating Energy Efficient Solid-state Lighting with Advanced Sensors and Controls
• Prototype Fuel Cell-Battery Electric Hybrid Truck for Waste Transportation
• Software Tools for Photovoltaic Soft Cost Reductions and Grid Integration
• US Offshore Wind Personnel and Equipment Transfer Systems
• Novel Membranes and Non-Platinum Group Metal Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

The SBIR/STTR application process starts with a Letter of Intent, which eligible businesses must file by December 16, 2013. In addition, an information webinar on the topics will be held November 4, from 1 to 2:30 pm Eastern Time.

New this year, the EERE SBIR team is providing additional resources and support to potential SBIR/STTR applicants, with a focus on underserved populations. Minority- and woman-owned small businesses that seek to move their cutting-edge technologies to market are strongly encouraged to apply to the program.