WPTO Releases $45 Million Opportunity to Advance Tidal and Current Energy Systems: WPTO released a $45 million funding opportunity to advance a comprehensive approach to tidal and current energy development in the United States. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this opportunity will make the first large-scale investment in a tidal and/or current energy research, development, and demonstration site in the United States. Tides and currents are incredibly predictable, meaning these resources could help balance other sources of renewable energy and play an important role on the 100% clean energy grid. This opportunity will also fund community-led planning and project execution to pursue community-scale tidal and/or current energy solutions. This investment represents WPTO’s largest funding opportunity to date. The deadlines for concept papers are 5 p.m. ET on June 5, 2023, for topic area 1, and 5 p.m. ET on July 13, 2023, for topic area 2. Applicants must submit a concept paper to be eligible to submit a full application.

DOE Offering Up to $553 Million for Hydroelectric Incentives Program: The application period is now open for existing eligible hydroelectric facilities to apply for up to $553.6 million through the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentives. Administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO), the program is designed to enhance existing hydropower and pumped storage facilities for capital improvements directly related to grid resilience, dam safety, and environmental improvements. The deadline to submit letters of intent is 5 p.m. on June 22, 2023.

Concept Paper Deadline Tomorrow: $450 Million Funding Opportunity to Deploy Clean Energy Projects on Mine Lands: Concept papers for DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations’ $450 million funding opportunity are due 5 p.m. ET tomorrow, May 11, 2023. This opportunity seeks to deploy clean energy projects, which can include pumped storage hydropower, on current (operating) and former (abandoned or inactive) mine land across the United States. These projects will help revitalize energy communities, create good-paying jobs, and improve public health.

Deadline Approaching for $50 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Clean Energy Deployment on Tribal Lands: DOE’s Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian tribes, which include Alaska Native regional corporations and village corporations, intertribal organizations, and tribal energy development organizations, to:

• Install clean energy-generating systems and/or energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings.
• Deploy community-scale clean energy-generating systems or community energy storage on tribal lands.
• Install integrated energy systems for autonomous operation (independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid) to power a single or multiple essential tribal buildings during emergency situations or for tribal community resilience.
• Provide electric power to tribal buildings that otherwise would be unelectrified.

The deadline to apply for this funding opportunity is 5 p.m. ET on May 16, 2023.

ETIPP Accepting Applications for Technical Assistance from Remote and Island Communities: DOE is accepting applications for technical assistance through ETIPP, which works alongside remote and island communities seeking to transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience. Applicants must consult with an ETIPP regional partner before applying. The deadline to apply is May 19, 2023.

Phase I of $15 Million Energizing Rural Communities Prize Closing Soon: The Energizing Rural Communities Prize challenges individuals and organizations to develop partnership plans or innovative financing strategies to help rural or remote communities improve their energy systems and advance clean energy demonstration projects. The application period for Phase I closes on May 24, 2023.

Ocean Energy Safety Institute Accepting Proposals for Marine Energy Technologies: The Ocean Energy Safety Institute released a request for proposals focused on two target areas:

• Small-scale marine energy solutions that enhance the safety, security, and sustainability of offshore wind energy and oil and gas operations.
• Utility-scale marine energy solutions, leveraging experience from wind energy and oil and gas, that enhance the safety, security, and sustainability of marine energy operations.

The deadline to submit proposals is June 19, 2023.

Grid Deployment Opens Hydroelectric Incentive Applications: The DOE Grid Deployment Office is accepting applications for $200 million in funding from the Hydroelectric Incentives Program, supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Hydroelectric Incentives Program aims to incentivize investment in hydroelectric facilities to ensure generators continue to provide clean electricity to the grid. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 20, 2023.

Submit Applications for TEAMER Technical Support: TEAMER is accepting applications for their tenth round of technical support. TEAMER requests for technical support are a collaboration between the technology developer or researcher and the facility chosen to help meet the recipients' technical objectives. The deadline to apply is July 7, 2023.

DOE Launches $7.75 Million HBCU Clean Energy Innovation Prize: DOE is launching the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize to help develop advanced clean energy programming opportunities and connections for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The deadline to apply for Phase 1 of the prize’s Inspire Track is Aug. 24, 2023.

WPTO Launches Prize to Harness the Power of Ocean Waves: InDEEP will award up to $2.3 million to competitors investigating novel technologies for harnessing and converting the power of ocean waves into usable types of energy. The first phase is now open for submissions and will close on Aug. 25, 2023.

Recapping WPTO’s Semiannual Stakeholder Webinar: Missed the latest WPTO semiannual stakeholder webinar? Look no further. Dive into information the WPTO team shared with hydropower and marine energy stakeholders about current and upcoming funding opportunities, recent accomplishments, and new initiatives.