The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a call for transformative energy projects as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA‑E) latest OPEN funding opportunity.
OPEN 2018 will support America’s top innovators with $100 million to be spent through dozens of early-stage research and development projects from both renewable and non-renewable sources.
US DOE said the projects selected under the call will pursue novel approaches to energy innovation across the full spectrum of energy applications.
Rick Perry , US Secretary for Energy, said: “The Department of Energy plays a critical role in keeping the United States safe and secure. One of the ways we do this is by promoting energy innovations that make us more competitive and keep us ahead of the technology curve.
“With OPEN 2018, we are asking American energy entrepreneurs and researchers to show us the next breakthrough in energy security.”
The deadline to submit a concept paper has been set for February 12, 2018.
ARPA-E has issued previous OPEN solicitations in 2009, 2012, and 2015. Open solicitations enable the agency to support transformational projects outside the scope of existing ARPA-E focused programs which are targeted at specific technical areas.
The goal of ARPA-E is to advance high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment.