DOE Opens $30M for Grid Reliaility with Automatic Damping and Inertia For Electrical Networks and Transmission Systems SBIR/STTR (GRANDIENTS SBIR/STTR)
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity: Grid Reliaility with Automatic Damping and Inertia For Electrical Networks and Transmission Systems SBIR/STTR (GRANDIENTS SBIR/STTR)
Overview and Eligible Uses: The GRADIENTS program aims to enhance grid stability and resilience by enabling renewable energy systems to provide services traditionally supported by synchronous generators. Through real-time control co-design (RT-CCD), the program will develop innovative technologies to improve grid performance, mitigate blackout risks, and support renewable integration, advancing the transition to a sustainable and reliable energy grid.
The program includes 3 category areas:
Category 1: Flexible Renewable Generation
Develops intelligent renewable systems with real-time controls, energy storage, and adaptive inverters to enhance grid stability and responsiveness.Category 2: Intelligent Automatic Relays
Creates advanced relays for rapid fault detection, dynamic load-shedding, and improved contingency response.Category 3: Wide-Area RT-CCD
Focuses on real-time optimization of grid operations, integrating renewable resources and improving grid stability through advanced algorithms and validation tools.
Amount: DOE ARPA-E anticipates awarding approximately 6 to 15 awards, with individual awards ranging from $314,363 to $4,505,859, for a total funding amount of up to $30million.
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 9:30 AM (EST), Feb 14, 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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