DOE Awards $23 Million for Small Businesses Focused on Clean Energy Innovations

By Sahir Surmeli

Earlier this week the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $23 million in funding for 23 new projects focused on developing clean energy technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. These small businesses will receive $1 million each over the next two years, through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) combined Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, to advance innovative concepts into prototype technologies.  Most of these Phase II funding recipients also received Phase I funding in 2015 when projects were selected based on scientific and technical merit and commercial potential. For more details regarding the DOE funding announcement, read on!

The 23 funding recipients will look to advance their promising clean energy technologies focused on improving manufacturing processes, boosting building efficiency, increasing transportation sustainability, and generating electricity from renewable sources. The recipients hail from 13 different states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

A few examples of projects receiving funding include:

  • Global Research & Development’s low-cost ceramic membranes for purifying water from various contaminated water streams for a variety of medical, environmental and industrial applications.
  • Xergy’s Electro Chemical Compression (ECC) technology that can drastically reduce the energy requirements for hot water heaters in the U.S.
  • TIAX’s development of a low-cost, high-performance battery for start-stop applications that will reduce the fuel consumption and pollutant emission associated with idling in traffic.
  • Continuum Dynamics’ on-blade devices for improving the reliability of wind turbines, thereby enabling larger wind turbines and reducing energy costs.

EERE’s SBIR and STTR programs post Funding Opportunity Announcements every year.  The FOAs provide an opportunity for small businesses to apply for SBIR/STTR grants within specific topics.  You can find current postings here.

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Sahir Surmeli

Member / Co-chair, Energy & Sustainability Practice

Sahir Surmeli is a Mintz business counselor who advises companies, boards, entrepreneurs, investment banks, and venture and private equity investors as they build and grow companies. He handles public offerings, 144A and private financings, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.