The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer competitively awarded grants to small businesses to support scientific excellence and technological innovation.
Wind Energy Technologies Office
December 27, 2024
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On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs released the FY25 Phase 1 Release 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity. The opportunity includes funding for qualified small businesses to carry out projects in the topic area of Maintenance for Next-Generation Wind Plants.
SBIR and STTR programs offer competitively awarded grants to small businesses to support scientific excellence and technological innovation. Research topics are selected through the DOE SBIR/STTR Programs Office working collaboratively with DOE's program offices.
Letters of Intent are required and due January 14, 2025, and full applications are due February 26, 2025.
Core Objectives:
- Increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through federally supported research and development (R&D).
- Stimulating technological innovation in the private sector.
- Improving the return on investment from federally funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation.
TOPIC AREA:
As part of the SBIR/STTR grant programs, DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) seeks to fund projects in the following topic and subtopics.
TOPIC: Maintenance for Next-Generation Wind Plants. Efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) are essential to reduce costs and improving the performance of land-based and offshore wind farms. Offshore wind faces particularly high operational costs due to challenges in accessing turbines and performing maintenance. To address these issues, WETO's Operations and Maintenance Roadmap for U.S. Offshore Wind highlights key opportunities for innovation. This SBIR topic seeks proposals for advanced or autonomous O&M technologies that can improve efficiency, enhance worker safety, and reduce downtime, lowering operational costs, and supporting a more sustainable wind energy industry.
Subtopic 1: Cranes and Alternatives for Major Component Maintenance
As turbines grow taller, heavier, and more remote, maintaining them becomes more challenging. Technologies under this topic should focus on:
- Designing advanced cranes or strategies for heavier, higher lifts.
- Developing alternatives for craneless installation and maintenance.
- Improving safety during maintenance, especially at height or offshore.
- Reducing costs and increasing efficiency for mobilization and deployment.
- Supporting cost-effective maintenance for floating offshore wind systems.
Subtopic 2: Autonomous Maintenance and Decision Support
This topic focuses on advanced technologies to improve system health and reduce labor demands, particularly in challenging environments. Proposed technologies should aim to:
- Develop sensors that collect and transmit critical data from hard-to-reach or costly areas.
- Enhance sensor durability and performance for use throughout a turbine's lifespan.
- Use data fusion to predict failures, inform maintenance strategies, and recommend actions.
- Apply digital tools to optimize maintenance, create new value streams, or improve coordination.
- Advance robotics or automation for inspections and maintenance, from technician support to full autonomy.
For information on the SBIR program, deadlines, and application portal, including full descriptions of this topic and its subtopics visit Phase I Release 2 Topics document under C60-14.
Key Dates
| Topics Released | Tuesday, November 12, 2024 |
| WETO Topic Webinar | Thursday, November 21, 2024, 2:00 P.M. ET |
| Notice of Funding Opportunity Issued | Friday, December 27, 2024 |
| Letter of Intent Due Date | Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 5:00 P.M. ET |
| Application Due Date | N/A |
Additional Information:
- Register for the WETO Topic Webinar.
- Download the full notice of funding opportunity on the SBIR website.
- For NOFO-specific support, contact [email protected]
- Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities. Also sign up for our newsletter to stay current with the latest WETO news.