The U.S. Department of Energy will provide $35 million in funding to small businesses, which will “pursue scientific, clean energy, and climate solutions.”
The funding will support 158 projects across 29 states that will develop clean energy technology, ranging from climate research tools to better EV batteries.
The funding will be administered by the DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Funding will be provided only to projects that are relevant to DOE’s missions to stimulate technological breakthroughs, meet federal R&D needs, and boost commercialization by transitioning R&D into deployment.
“Supporting small businesses will ensure we are tapping into all of America’s talent to develop clean energy technologies that will help us tackle the climate crisis," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said. "DOE’s investments will enable these economic engines to optimize and commercialize their breakthroughs, while developing the next generation of climate leaders and helping to build a sustainable future to benefit all Americans.”
The awards include Birch Biosciences’ project on novel, next-generation plastic recycling technology, Coreform’s project for the development of new simulation technology to aid development of a safer product, ExMat Research’s project for the development of phosphorus-monitoring sensors for freshwater, Greenway Energy’s project to commercialize a low-cost and efficient hydrogen energy storage system and Novoreach Technologies’ economic carbon capture solution.
Specifically, Birch Biosciences (Portland, OR) will receive $256,492 for its project; Coreform (Orem, UT) will get $256,500; ExMat Research (Spokane, WA) will receive $250,000; and hydrogen R&D firm Greenway Energy (Aiken, SC) and Novoreach Technologies (Midland, MI), each has been allocated $200,000.