GENSETS SBIR/STTR | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The GENSETS SBIR/STTR opportunity (GENerators for Small Electrical and Thermal Systems) is a funding call run by ARPA-E within the U.S. Department of Energy. ARPA-E was created by Congress to push high-risk, high-reward energy technologies that are still too early for typical private investment, with an emphasis on breakthroughs that can bend the usual incremental cost and performance curves and eventually become genuinely disruptive in the marketplace. In plain terms, ARPA-E is looking for applied R&D that can move a promising idea into a believable early-stage technology path, including prototypes and clear routes to manufacturing and scale, rather than basic science or small improvements to mature platforms.

This specific program focuses on small generator and engine technologies that could make residential and small commercial combined heat and power (CHP) practical at scale. CHP in this context means using piped natural gas at a home or commercial site to generate electricity on-site and then capturing and using the waste heat for local heating or cooling. The rationale is that if lots of buildings generated power locally and reused the exhaust heat instead of throwing it away, the U.S. could cut primary energy use substantially. The announcement highlights potential impacts of more than 5 quadrillion BTU (quads) in annual primary energy savings and more than 200 million metric tons of annual CO2 reductions, cited as roughly 10 percent of CO2 from U.S. electricity generation and about 4 percent of total U.S. annual CO2 emissions, if the approach were widely adopted.

Technically, GENSETS is centered on a demanding set of performance and commercialization targets for a roughly 1 kWe (1 kilowatt electric) generator suitable for buildings. ARPA-E is looking for concepts that can reach about 40 percent fuel-to-electric efficiency, last around 10 years, come in at about $3,000 per system, and maintain low emissions. The program is open to a range of engine and generator approaches, including internal combustion and external combustion engines, turbines, and solid-state conversion devices. Examples of solid-state approaches named in the notice include thermophotovoltaics, thermionic emitters, and thermoelectrics. A key point is that while the program is framed around a 1 kWe class system for residences, ARPA-E expects that a successful core technology could be adapted upward to larger systems with even better efficiency for commercial applications.

From a funding mechanics standpoint, this is issued under ARPA-E's SBIR/STTR structure, meaning it is aimed at eligible small businesses under SBA rules. SBIR emphasizes small-business-led innovation and commercialization, while STTR additionally emphasizes formal collaboration between a small business and a research institution. ARPA-E notes it administers SBIR/STTR awards in multiple phases (Phase I, Phase II, and Phase IIS), consistent with the broader federal SBIR/STTR framework. The funding instrument type for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more substantial federal involvement and technical interaction during the project than a standard grant.

The posted opportunity details indicate an estimated total funding level of about $7,000,000 with an expectation of roughly 4 awards, and an award ceiling listed at $3,225,000 (with a floor of $0). Cost sharing is required. The CFDA number referenced is 81.135 (Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy). The original posting date is July 16, 2015, with an application deadline of August 17, 2015, and an archive date of November 16, 2015, which signals that this particular FOA is historical rather than currently open. Applications, when it was open, had to be submitted through ARPA-E's eXCHANGE portal (arpa-e-foa.energy.gov), and ARPA-E stated it would not review full applications submitted by other means. A contact for access issues was provided in the notice: Contract Specialist Stephanie B. Young (stephanie.young@hq.doe.gov).

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