U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette Announces $599,560 for Small Business Research and Development Grants in Georgia
U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will award 256 grants totaling $53 million to 211 small businesses in 35 states and the District of Columbia. These awards include three in Georgia totaling $599,560. Funded through DOE's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, today's selections are for Phase I research and development.
"A cornerstone of the American economy, small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs throughout the country. I applaud our Department's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for awarding over two hundred small businesses across 35 states and the District of Columbia a total of $53 million dollars for research and development projects. Now more than ever, we want to lend support to our country's small businesses to ensure they are thriving again soon," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette.
The Phase I grants will allow small businesses to research technical feasibility of new innovations that advance the mission of the Department. Phase I grants are 6-12 months in duration with a median award amount of $200,000. Successful Phase I grantees will be eligible to apply for Phase II awards in fiscal year 2021 that will allow them to develop novel prototypes or processes to validate their Phase I research findings. Phase II grants have a median award amount of $1,100,000 and a duration up to 2 years.
Below are the grants for Georgia:
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, $199,987 for Microencapsulated Salt Hydrate Based Filaments for FDM 3D Printing. Buildings use large amounts of energy for heating and cooling and it is difficult to cost effectively store heat during periods of excess generation or reduced demand. TCPoly is working with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to create new materials that can efficiently store heat at low cost, enabling more energy efficient building and improved grid stability.
Nuclear Energy, $199,943 for Elasto-Hydrodynamic Seal for sCO2 Applications. Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles hold great potential for nuclear power production because they are more efficient than traditional water-based, air-breathing, direct-fired, open Brayton cycles or indirect-fired, closed Rankine cycles. Ultool is developing technology for the Elasto-Hydrodynamic seal for sCO2 turbomachinery, which will support DOE's sCO2 Power Cycle Program.
Nuclear Energy, $199,630 for Novel Plating Process for Mitigating Stress Corrosion Cracking in Dry Storage Canister Welds. The technology proposed uses accurate mathematical modeling approved by the aerospace and defense industry to determine the best coating to prevent stress-corrosion failure of dry storage canisters containing spent nuclear fuel. This technology will protect the public by preventing leakage of radioactive materials.
Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the U.S. economy. The SBIR and STTR programs were created by Congress to leverage small businesses to advance innovation at federal agencies. Additional information on the DOE SBIR and STTR programs is available HERE.