The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced the selection of 109 new projects across 27 states, totaling nearly $21.8 million in federal funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development programs. Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the U.S. economy.

The projects awarded from EERE are part of today’s announcement made by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. Small businesses are receiving Phase I Release 2 grants that demonstrate technical feasibility for clean energy innovations during the first phase of their research. Most Phase I awards are for $200,000, last for 9-12 months, and are eligible for a follow-up award of up to $1.15 million. 

Of the 109 projects awarded by EERE, nine of them were awarded to women-owned small businesses, nine awards went to small businesses from socially and economically disadvantaged communities, and 13 awards are to first-time applicants.

Highlights include:

• 16 awards with a research emphasis placed on end-user engagement and disadvantaged community partnerships;
• 8 awards to advance the objectives of the Conductivity-enhanced materials for Affordable, Breakthrough Leapfrog Electric and thermal Applications (CABLE) initiative, three of which are funded by the Office of Electricity
• 4 awards from a joint topic of the Building Technologies Office and the Advanced Manufacturing Office to research advanced thermal energy storage technologies in buildings, including industrial buildings
• 3 Building Technologies Office awards to explore Low-Cost Exterior Window Attachments for Disadvantaged Communities.

The SBIR and STTR programs were created by Congress to leverage small businesses to advance innovation at federal agencies. Information on the DOE SBIR and STTR programs is available on the Office of Science SBIR/STTR website.