DOE Opens $25M for Harnessing Autonomy For Energy Joint Ventures Offshore SBIR/STTR
Submission deadline for full application is 9:30AM (EST), Feb 13, 2025
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity:
Harnessing Autonomy For Energy Joint Ventures Offshore SBIR/STTR(HAEJO SBIR/STTR)
Overview and Eligible Uses: The HAEJO program by ARPA-E seeks to establish a U.S.-led seaweed cultivation industry at gigaton scales to support energy, environmental, and industrial needs without using fresh water, fertilizer, or land. The program focuses on developing technologies to improve offshore seaweed farm economics, enhance biostimulant applications, and explore new seaweed-based energy commodities. It aims to reduce production costs, increase scalability, and accelerate adoption in U.S. markets.
It focuses on improving the economics of seaweed farms through advanced sensors, depth cycling, and dewatering systems while addressing key challenges in adopting seaweed-based biostimulants for agriculture. By reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and exploring new energy products derived from seaweed, the program seeks to drive sustainable growth, support U.S. energy independence, and position the nation as a global leader in sustainable seaweed cultivation and utilization.
Smart Aquafarm Sensors
In situ sensors to monitor seaweed growth, nitrogen levels, and crop health.
Infrastructure monitoring for real-time farm maintenance and predictive analysis.
Offshore Engineering
Depth cycling systems to optimize nutrient access in deep waters.
Dewatering technologies to reduce biomass weight and transport costs at sea.
Enabling Markets
Development of precise seaweed-based biostimulants for large-scale agriculture.
Exploration of new energy products derived from seaweed.
Amount: DOE ARPA-E anticipates awarding approximately 15 awards, with individual awards ranging from $314,363 to $4,505,859 with a total amount of $25 million.
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Eligible Applicants:
SBIR Applicants:
Small Business Concerns (SBCs) may apply individually or as the lead for a project team.
SBCs must perform at least 66.7% of work in Phase I and 50% in Phase II/Phase IIS.
STTR Applicants:
Only SBCs can apply as the lead organization for a project team.
SBCs must perform 40% of work, and a partnered Research Institution must perform at least 30%.
Joint SBIR/STTR Applicants:
SBCs partnered with a Research Institution may apply for both SBIR and STTR funding.
SBCs must meet SBIR work percentage requirements, while Research Institutions must perform 30-33.3% of work in Phase I and 30-50% in Phase II/Phase IIS.
Eligible Subrecipients:
Research Institutions:Must participate as subrecipients in project teams and perform 30-60% of work in STTR projects.
Other Subrecipients: Eligible entities include for-profit entities, nonprofits, government-operated labs (GOGOs), state/local/tribal governments, and foreign entities (with waivers).
Subrecipients must collectively perform no more than 33.3% of work in Phase I and 50% in Phase II/Phase IIS for SBIR projects.
Foreign Participation: Foreign entities and nationals from Foreign Countries of Concern require waivers and ARPA-E approval.
Principal Investigator (PI) Requirements
SBIR:The PI must be employed by the SBC and perform more than 50% of their work for the recipient.
STTR:The PI must be employed by either the SBC or the partnered Research Institution and meet employment requirements.
Applicants with multiple prior SBIR/STTR awards must meet DOE benchmarks:
Phase II Transition Rate: 25% of Phase I awards must transition to Phase II.
Commercialization Rate: Applicants must average at least $100,000 in sales/investments per Phase II award or meet patent benchmarks.
Key Dates:
Submission deadline for full application is 9:30AM (EST), Feb 13, 2025.
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.
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