| |
Phase I grants will be made during fiscal year 2008 to small businesses, in amounts up to $100,000. Phase I is to evaluate scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas that appear to have commercial potential. The grant application should concentrate on research that will contribute to proving scientific or technical feasibility of the approach or concept. Success in a DOE Phase I is a prerequisite to further DOE support in Phase II. An important goal of these programs is the commercialization of DOE-supported research. Following the start of Phase I, awardees whose research or R&D has identifiable potential to meet market needs are encouraged to seek commitments from private sector or Federal non-SBIR/STTR funding sources for both Phases II and III. The commitments should be obtained prior to the Phase II grant application submission. The commitment for Phase III may be made contingent on the DOE-supported research or R&D meeting some specific technical objectives in Phase II, which, if met, would justify funding to pursue further development for commercial purposes in Phase III. Having such commitments in place at the time of a Phase II application could result in receiving extra credit during the evaluation of the application. Full details will be provided in the Phase II Funding Notice. APPLICATION DUE DATE: November 27, 2007
The California Energy Commission's Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program provides up to $95,000 for hardware projects and $50,000 for modeling projects to small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts. Research projects must target one of the six PIER program areas, address a California energy problem and provide a potential benefit to California electric and natural gas ratepayers. To encourage participation in the program the application and award process has been simplified and assistance is available in gaining access to technical experts. The deadline for the current funding round is November 30, 2007.
The New England Energy Innovation Collaborative, a new coalition
of energy investors and academics, has announced the creation of a $150,000
prize for new ventures that promote innovative energy technologies or business
services, reports The Boston Globe. The Collaborative has been set up by
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Entrepreneurship Center and
three venture capital firms: Advanced Technology Ventures, Atlas Venture, and
General Catalyst Partners. Applicants to the contest must plan to launch their
company in New England and may not have received prior venture capital funding.
Applications will be accepted through January 22, 2007, and the winner will
be announced at an MIT energy conference on March 10.
The Connecticut Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Office, an initiative
of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT), is piloting
a state-funded SBIR program to advance the development and eventual commercialization
of emerging nanotechnologies by small businesses in Connecticut. This competitive
award is modeled after the national SBIR program in which federal agencies
identify problems or "topics" that can be solved by small businesses and
entrepreneurs through advanced research for the development of innovative,
next-generation products. Each CT SBIR grant will be worth up to $65,000 in
seed money. The submission deadline for proposals is December 1, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is offering about $17 million for the
development of highly efficient organisms that can convert cellulosic biomass
into ethanol. DOE's Funding Opportunity Announcement seeks companies to develop
fermentative organisms, such as yeasts and bacteria, that are genetically stable
and can survive a wide range of environmental conditions. Because the goal
is to build a high-volume cellulosic ethanol industry, the organisms should
thrive on forms of biomass that could be available in sustainable quantities
exceeding 100 million tons per year. Participating companies must be willing
and able to commercialize the organisms they develop and must have a sound
business strategy to license and market the organisms. DOE expects to have
about $17 million for this effort this fiscal year and expects an additional
$10 million in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, subject to congressional appropriations.
Interested parties need to submit a letter of intent by November 16, 2006,
and the full application by January 4, 2007.
This New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 1105 seeks proposals to support the development and demonstration of emerging and innovative technologies moving towards commercialization. Preferred technologies are those that can increase end-use energy efficiency, reduce electric demand in New York State, or are of strategic importance to the State's energy and environmental future. Two rounds are scheduled under this PON and total available NYSERDA funding is $4,000,000. All, or none, of the available funds could be awarded in either round.
The Department of Energy invites small businesses (500 employees or less) to submit grant applications in response to its annual Phase I Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Approximately $38 Million will be reserved for the Phase I competition, which will result in approximately 380 Phase I awards in amounts up to $100,000 each. Applications are due November 17, 2006.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for basic research in solar energy utilization in order to establish a scientific basis that underpins the efficient capture, conversion, and utilization of solar energy in a cost-effective manner. Areas of interest include: 1) Solar to Electric Conversion, 2) Solar Fuels Production, and 3) Solar Thermal Energy Utilization. $20 million expected to be available. Pre-applications are required and are due 6/5/06, final applications due 11/14/06.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) promotes the installation
of clean energy generation in Connecticut. The On-site Renewable DG Program
is a $21 million flexible, integrated-technology financial support program
designed to stimulate demand for behind-the-meter installations of renewable
energy at Connecticut Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CI&I) buildings.
Through the On-site Renewable DG Program, CCEF will offer financial support
to buy down the cost of renewable energy generating equipment. The level of
support for individual awards will vary based on the specific economics of
the installation. Funding is available under this program for installations
of renewable energy generation resources including wind, solar, fuel cells,
biomass, landfill gas, and certain types of hydropower. The solicitation deadline
for this program is June 30, 2007.
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), a major venture capital
firm located in Silicon Valley, recently announced that the firm will be funding
a new $100 million 'green technologies' initiative. While KPCB has funded green
energy technology start-ups in the past on an individual basis, this new initiative
marks the firm's first funding effort specifically targeted at renewable energy
technologies, reports CleanEdge.com. KPCB official John Doerr was optimistic
about the future of renewable energy ventures, saying "greentech could be the
largest economic opportunity of the 21st century." Since the company's founding
more than thirty years ago, KPCB has backed more than 450 ventures, including
AOL, Compaq, Google and Sun Microsystems.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) is seeking funding proposals for three renewable energy programs:
the Renewable Energy Technology Manufacturing Incentive Program, the Renewable
Energy Technology Options Program, and the Renewable Energy Business Development
Program. The Renewable Energy Technology Options Program seeks to, "expand
the level of renewable energy technology manufacturing in New York" while the
Renewable Energy Business Development Program assists New York-based businesses,
or businesses interested in moving to New York, in developing and manufacturing
renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, biomass and hydro power.
Finally, the Renewable Energy Technology Manufacturing Incentive Program offers
assistance for "expanding the level of manufacturing of electric-generating
renewable energy products in New York." Each of the initiatives has separate
deadlines, so review the appropriate funding opportunity at the NYSERDA
Web site.
Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman has announced the availability
of $160 million in cost-shared funding over three years to construct up to
three biorefineries in the United States. The $160 million solicitation is
part of President Bush's Biofuels Initiative which will lead to the use of
non-food based biomass, such as agricultural waste, trees, forest residues,
and perennial grasses in the production of transportation fuels, electricity,
and other products. One of the goals of this initiative is to accelerate research
and make "cellulosic ethanol" cost-competitive by 2012, offering the potential
to displace up to 30 percent of our nation's current fuel use by 2030. The
goal of the solicitation announced today is to demonstrate that commercial
biorefineries can be profitable once initial construction costs are paid. There
is a $100,000,000 cap on any single-demonstration award, and projects are required
to show a 60/40 (industry/government) cost share.
|
