SunShot Incubator Program | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The SunShot Incubator Program (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000838) is a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative funding opportunity designed to help early-stage American solar companies move from an initial proof of concept or business plan into real domestic commercialization and market deployment. It sits under the broader SunShot Initiative, which set an ambitious cost-reduction target: cutting installed solar energy system costs by 75 percent by the end of the decade so solar can reach grid parity and compete without subsidies. In practical terms, the program is meant to push promising innovations out of the lab or prototype stage and into the hands of customers, while also strengthening U.S. manufacturing and technology leadership in solar.

The core purpose of this Incubator program is to tackle the real-world barriers that prevent solar innovations from scaling, getting financed, being manufactured reliably, meeting codes and standards, and being deployed quickly and cheaply. The solicitation makes clear that proposed work should focus on overcoming barriers to scale-up, commercialization, and deployment by 2015, rather than on open-ended research. Another key theme is sustainability after the award ends: DOE is looking to catalyze independent companies that can stand on their own and keep growing without ongoing government support. In other words, this is not intended to create a product or service that depends on continued federal funding to survive; it is intended to help a startup cross the gap to a self-sustaining commercial business.

Program interest areas are broad across solar technology and deployment, and include photovoltaics, balance-of-system components, power electronics, concentrating solar power, and energy storage. It also explicitly encourages approaches that reduce non-hardware or “soft” costs, such as tools or solutions that streamline permitting, interconnection, customer acquisition, design, and other steps that can drive up total installed cost even when hardware prices fall. The opportunity also calls out plug-and-play wiring and installation techniques, reflecting an emphasis on making systems easier and faster to install with fewer specialized labor requirements. Beyond the listed topics, DOE signals openness to other novel, non-incremental technologies that can materially advance SunShot goals and bring meaningful improvements to solar deployment and market adoption.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial federal involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant, often including more active technical and programmatic coordination. The total estimated funding amount for the opportunity is about $10,000,000, and the listing indicates a cost-sharing requirement, meaning recipients must contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources. While the award ceiling and floor are listed as $0 in the source data (often a placeholder in public listings), applicants would need to consult the full announcement for actual expected award sizes, project periods, and budgeting rules.

Eligibility is tightly focused on U.S. startup businesses. The prime recipient must be a startup incorporated in the United States and must incur at least 60 percent of project expenditures, measured by total project cost. For this solicitation, DOE defines a startup as an entity with fewer than 500 employees, excluding employees of any parent companies, subsidiaries, or affiliates, and only independently incorporated startups can apply as standalone applicants. Even if a project team includes partners, the team must be led by an independently incorporated startup business, reinforcing that the program is meant to build new, independent commercial ventures rather than fund large-company initiatives through intermediaries.

Key dates in the announcement include a posted date of January 16, 2013, with a two-step submission process: concept papers due March 5, 2013, and full applications due April 30, 2013. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the energy area and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). For access issues or administrative questions, the contracting officer contact listed is Mary A. Barnes at DOE Headquarters.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Headquarters

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy

Next opportunity: Biodynamics Grant Opportunity

Previous opportunity: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers 2013 (U54)

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for DE FOA 0000838

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000838) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0000838", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.