The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) opened a nearly $5 million funding opportunity to support programs that accelerate the commercialization and adoption of water power systems and solutions. This opportunity will support programming and services for entrepreneurs and small businesses in hydropower and/or marine energy.

Water power technologies, including hydropower and marine energy, are key to achieving a clean electricity sector by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.

This opportunity will fund projects in one topic area, Water Power Incubation and Acceleration, focused on enabling entrepreneurship, accelerating water power innovation, and supporting business creation and growth in communities and regions throughout the United States.

The funding opportunity will consist of two phases. In the first phase, WPTO anticipates awarding up to $100,000 each to up to eight projects, expected to last six to nine months. WPTO will then select up to four of those projects to move onto the second phase. Those projects will be eligible to receive up to $1 million each and are expected to last two to three years.

Applicants must submit a concept paper by 5 p.m. ET on August 7, 2024, to be eligible to submit a full application.

WPTO will host an informational webinar at 1:30 p.m. ET on July 11, 2024, to discuss the funding opportunity and its areas of focus.

Learn more about other open funding opportunities within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.