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December 7, 2018

DOE ARPA-E OPEN 2018 Program Announces Funding For New Projects

Lynn L Bergeson

By Lynn L. Bergeson

On November 15, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced the latest open funding opportunity for 40 new projects (OPEN 2018).  The funds add up to $98 million and are designed to support research and development (R&D) innovators’ projects to transform the U.S. energy system.  Solicitations for ARPA-E OPEN funding are available for scientists and engineers focused on transformational technologies across ARPA-E’s mission.  The projects fall into nine categories:

  • Centralized Generation;
  • Distributed Generation;
  • Electrical Efficiency;
  • Grid;
  • Grid Storage;
  • Manufacturing Efficiency;
  • Transportation Energy Conversion;
  • Transportation Fuels; and
  • Transportation Vehicles.

Of those selected, approximately 43 percent of OPEN 2018 projects will be led by universities, 35 percent by small businesses, and the remainder by large businesses, non-profit organizations, or federally funded R&D centers.  The 40 projects announced will take place in 21 different states and ARPA-E will announce other new program areas.  A list of winners can be found here.