The Office of Basic Energy Sciences, in collaboration with the Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO), announces a topic in the latest Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding opportunity that seeks to develop advanced methods to access the subsurface.

This SBIR/STTR topic seeks applications in subsurface permeability manipulation and fluid control for geothermal energy production. From beneath the surface of the earth, we currently obtain about 80-percent of the energy our nation consumes each year. In the future we have the potential to generate gigawatts of baseload electrical power from domestic geothermal energy sources. The Department of Energy established the Subsurface R&D initiative to more effectively harness subsurface resources while mitigating the impacts of developing and using these resources. One of the topic areas Subsurface R&D is emphasizing for targeted research and development is permeability manipulation and fluid control. 

For additional information regarding the GTO SBIR/STTR topic please click here (topic 18).

Key dates for this SBIR/STTR funding opportunity:

November 3: Phase 1 Round 2 topics released - click here for Round 2 topics

December 4: Phase 1 Round 1 Applications due

January 8: Phase 1 Round 2 Letters of Intent (LOI) due

For additional information including the Funding Opportunity Announcement, timelines, and Phase 1 Release 2 topics, please click here.