The Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is advancing cutting-edge technology with research and a range of competitive opportunities—such as hydropower grants or marine energy technical assistance—to modernize the U.S. hydropower fleet and drive U.S. leadership in marine energy, with the goal of delivering low-cost, reliable power, and resiliency to the nation's electricity grids.

Types of funding announcements include:

Current Funding Opportunities

New EERE eXCHANGE Log-In Process: To make the sign-in process more secure, the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange (eXCHANGE) has been updated to integrate with Login.gov—a secure service used by the public to sign into participating government agencies. All potential applicants and reviewers must have a Login.gov account to apply to open opportunities. Please read the MFA Quick Guide for more information.

Technology AreaType of FundingSolicitation TitleOpen DateClose Date
HydropowerTechnical AssistanceTechnical Assistance for Hydropower Hybrids and Pumped Storage Hydropower3/1/2024Statements of interest due 4/1/2024
Marine EnergyFOAMarine Energy University Foundational R&D1/16/2024Full applications due 4/22/2024
HydropowerFOAStrategies to Increase Hydropower Flexibility11/16/2023Full applications due 5/3/2024
Hydropower; Marine EnergyFellowshipClean Energy Innovator Fellowship - Fellows Applications4/9/20245/3/2024
Marine EnergyPrizeInnovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP) Phase II11/7/20235/7/2024
Marine EnergyPrizePower at Sea Prize - CONCEPT Phase11/13/20237/26/2024
Marine EnergyTechnical SupportRequest Technical Support from the Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research ProgramRolling Rolling

Although WPTO attempts to maintain current information on these solicitations, the official source for funding information is EERE Exchange.

To explore closed funding opportunities, please visit the Past Opportunities page.

Other DOE Funding Opportunities

For other DOE funding and technical assistance opportunities that may be relevant for water power technologies, WPTO recommends looking into the following offices: 

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E): ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E issues periodic funding opportunities focused on overcoming technical barriers around a specific energy area as well as open topics to identify high-potential projects that address the full range of energy-related technologies.  

Grid Deployment Office (GDO): GDO works to provide electricity to everyone, everywhere, by investing in critical energy sources—like hydropower—to bolster and improve the energy grid. GDO manages DOE’s three hydroelectric incentive programs

Loan Programs Office (LPO): LPO offers four distinct loan programs to finance a wide array of energy infrastructure projects across the country. Water power projects may be eligible for DOE loan guarantees, especially under the Innovative Clean Energy Loan Guarantee Program or the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program. 

Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED): OCED is a multi-technology office with funding for demonstration programs that could support hydropower or marine energy technologies. OCED partners with private sector entities to accelerate market adoption of clean energy technologies, including long-duration storage technologies such as pumped storage hydropower.  

Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER): CESAR supports development and deployment of advanced cyber applications, technologies, and threat collaboration efforts with the U.S. energy sector. 

Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC): MESC works to strengthen manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure.