WETO seeks to fund multiple projects for the development of offshore wind environmental monitoring technologies and energy storage systems that can be used to mitigate variability and uncertainties of wind.
Wind Energy Technologies Office
January 18, 2024
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The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer competitively awarded grants to small businesses to support scientific excellence and technological innovation.
Core objectives:
- Increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through federally supported research and development (R&D).
- Stimulating technological innovation in the private sector.
- Encouraging participation by women-owned and minority-owned small businesses.
- Improving the return on funding from federally funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation.
TOPIC AREAS:
As part of the SBIR/STTR grant programs, DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) seeks to fund projects in the following topics and subtopics.
Topic: Offshore Wind Environmental Monitoring Technology Development and Energy Storage for Wind. These technologies play a crucial role in assessing and mitigating the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind energy projects and are designed to collect comprehensive data on various environmental parameters, allowing developers and regulators to make informed decisions and ensure development.
Subtopic: Offshore Wind Energy Technology Solutions to Advance Monitoring for Wildlife Risk. These technologies facilitate a proactive approach to wildlife risk mitigation, ensuring the coexistence of renewable energy projects and ecosystems which is crucial for gaining insights into wildlife behavior and minimizing potential risks, particularly in the challenging offshore environment. This subtopic solicits innovative R&D applications that help better observe and understand birds and bats; detect whales in real time in and around offshore wind construction areas; improvements to wildlife tracking and tagging technologies; and oceanographic data collection and other techniques (including e.g., cameras and acoustics) to improve our ability to predict and detect whale presence based on understanding where their food source is and how sound travels underwater.
Joint Topic with the Office of Electricity: Energy storage for wind. Energy storage systems that can be used to mitigate variability and uncertainties of wind energy and ensure a stable and reliable energy supply. Overall, energy storage for wind is a key component of a reliable energy system that can harness the abundant energy resource of wind while addressing its inherent intermittency.
Subtopic: Compact Long Duration Storage for Wind. This subtopic solicits innovative R&D applications that can store energy and are a critical component of an affordable, reliable and resilient electric grid and maximize the value of wind storage systems. Proof of concept design for an innovative long duration storage technology, capable of being either co-located with individual wind turbines, or installed at the wind plant collector station, for either/or both land-based and offshore wind applications.
For information on the SBIR program, deadlines, and application portal, including full descriptions of these topics and their subtopics visit Phase I Release 2 Topics document under C58-20 and C58-21.
Key Dates:
| FOA Issue Date | Thursday January 18, 2024 | ||
| Letters of Intent Due | Friday, February 2, 2024, 5:00pm ET | ||
| Applications Due | Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 11:59pm ET |
*Date Subject to Change
Additional Information:
- Download the full funding opportunity on the SBIR website.
- For FOA-specific support, contact sbir-sttr@science.doe.gov
- Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities. Also sign up for our newsletter to stay current with the latest WETO news.