U.S. Energy Department Allots $72 Million to 296 Projects for Clean Energy Technological Breakthroughs

The U.S. Energy Department has announced $72 million to small-scale businesses for scientific projects related to clean energy and climate change. In total, 296 projects will receive funding across 44 states encompassing a wide range of focus areas, including renewable energy, nuclear energy, cybersecurity, advanced materials and manufacturing, microelectronics, and artificial intelligence. This investment will help advance projects that support the nation’s goal of achieving a 100 percent clean electric grid by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050. The funding is intended to commercialize breakthroughs in climate solutions and fortify the nation’s position as a global leader in scientific innovation, and lead to a sustainable future.

U.S. small businesses facilitate the transition from discovery to innovation, bridging the gap between scientific laboratories and the commercial marketplace. The agency’s Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR, programs support the transition process by translating breakthroughs into practical products and services that benefit consumers and drive economic growth across various sectors. Funded by the agency’s SBIR and STTR programs, selected projects will focus on Phase I research to establish technical feasibility. Phase I awardees can compete for larger Phase II awards, including Fast-Track options. The median Phase I award is $200,000 for 6-12 months. Investing in new technology is an ideal response to the climate crisis, and the funding provided by this program will be an incentive for small businesses to pursue clean energy and innovative climate solutions and combat climate change.

Selected projects, which span various research areas, include:

1. Gulf Wind Technology: On-blade load management techniques for wind turbine deployment.
2. ecoLong LLC: Scalable decarbonization programs for clean energy adoption.
3. Faraday Technology, Inc.: Environmentally friendly recycling of platinum group metals in fuel cells.
4. EC Power Group, Inc.: Fast-charging battery technology for transportation electrification.
5. EvolOH, Inc.: Simplified clean hydrogen production with reduced water purity requirements.
6. UBERSPARK INC.: Robust cybersecurity for distributed energy resources.
7. Wyonics LLC: Domestic extraction and recovery of rare earth elements.
8. Physical Sciences Inc.: Improved process monitoring of nuclear waste streams.
9. Pitch Aeronautics: Drone-deployable sensors for dynamic line rating and renewable energy integration.
10. Tetramer Technologies: Enhanced separation process for closed nuclear fuel cycles and reduced emissions.

In January, the department allocated $35 million to small-scale businesses for scientific projects totalling 158 projects across 29 states to support the development of various clean energy technologies such as climate research tools and advanced batteries for electric vehicles.