New DOE solar technologies funding for early stage Concentrated Solar Power direct heat

On December 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released new funding for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I program for Fiscal Year 2023. The SBIR/STTR programs are competitive funding opportunities that encourage U.S.-based small businesses to engage in high-risk, innovative research and technology development with the potential for future commercialization.

SBIR/STTR provides funding in two phases: Small businesses can receive up to $200,000 in Phase I to prove the feasibility of an idea; successful awardees can then receive up to $1.1 million in Phase II for prototype development.

Mandatory letters of intent for this funding opportunity are due Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET

Please review the FOA for more information.

In the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), funding is awarded to companies that are working to advance the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. SETO seeks solutions in the following subtopics, found under :

• Heliostat Components and Systems for Low-Cost, Autonomous, and High-Concentration Solar Collectors
• Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) Technologies for Gen3 CSP or Industrial Decarbonization
• Solar Hardware and Software Technologies: Affordability, Reliability, Performance, and Manufacturing
• Transferring Novel Solar Technologies from Research Laboratories to the Market (open to STTR applications only)

SETO, through the American-Made Network, is providing free Application Education Services. You can email the following points of contact for more details.

• ADL Ventures (ADL): Oliver Booth
• Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN): Annabelle Swift
• Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN): Thomas Jensen
• New Mexico State University Arrowhead Center (NMSU): Dana Catron
• University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI): Amanda Buchanan