DOE Announces Funding for Clean Energy Technology Accelerators

The Department of Energy has invested $9.5 million in innovation-accelerating organizations working to commercialize clean energy technology. 

Ten technology incubators and accelerators were awarded funding from the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters, a program by the Office of Technology Transition, DOE said. OTT was established in 2015 to find ways to maximize the benefit of breakthrough research in energy for the public. 

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said the EPIC funding will provide American innovators the tools they need to keep up with global competitors in clean energy.

“This funding fills a critical need for targeted financial support to incubators and accelerators that provide opportunity for aspiring energy entrepreneurs looking to fight climate change, create jobs, and empower underserved communities,” Granholm added.

DOE’s investment will finance work on energy storage hardware, regional innovation growth, grid-efficient building research, solutions for the manufacturing industry, proof-of-concept projects and regional entrepreneurship, among others.

The 10 organizations selected were Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, New Energy Nexus, Clean Energy Trust, Regents of New Mexico State University, Syracuse University, U.S. Research Impact Alliance, Launch Alaska, Colorado State University, E4 Carolinas and VertueLab.

In July October, DOE launched the first part of OTT’s EPIC program by awarding $1 million to 20 incubators developing regional innovation clusters.

OTT managed the EPIC program in collaboration with DOE’s Building Technologies Office, the Arctic Energy Office and the Office of Electricity, according to the department.

Granholm said the investment rounds support the Biden administration’s objective of achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.