DOE Opens $30M for Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies SBIR/STTR (SUPERHOT SBIR/STTR)
Submission deadline for full application is 9:30 AM (EST), Feb 19, 2025.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity: Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies SBIR/STTR (SUPERHOT SBIR/STTR)
Overview and Eligible Uses: The SUPERHOT program focuses on unlocking the potential of superhot geothermal resources (temperatures >375°C and pressures >22 MPa) to provide scalable, low-emission, and cost-effective baseload electricity. Leveraging advancements in Enhanced and Advanced Geothermal Systems, the program aims to expand geothermal energy production beyond natural hydrothermal systems, targeting gigawatt-scale deployment with a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) under $30/MWh by 2040.
SUPERHOT seeks to advance technologies for durable well construction and efficient heat extraction from superhot geothermal reservoirs. By addressing challenges in material durability, system reliability, and energy transfer efficiency, the program aims to establish geothermal energy as a competitive and sustainable power source while bolstering U.S. leadership in clean energy innovation.
The program covers two category areas:
Category 1: Well Design and Construction:
Enhanced Well Design: Modifications to traditional casing and cement designs to endure superhot conditions using advanced materials and techniques.
Novel Well Design: Exploration of innovative designs, such as borehole wall sealing and hybrid approaches for deeper wells.
Test Equipment: (Not included in SBIR/STTR funding) Facilities and tools for validating superhot well technologies.
Category 2: Heat Extraction:
Fracture-Based Systems: Investigating the creation, geometry, and longevity of fractures under superhot conditions to enhance energy flow in EGS.
Non-Fracture-Based Systems: Exploring closed-loop AGS approaches to optimize heat transfer without reliance on fractures.
Amount: DOE ARPA-E anticipates awarding approximately 5 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 19, 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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