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§ Grant
Grant program for startups, researchers, and corporations, funding transformational energy technology R&D and commercialization.
Individual project awards range from $250,000 to $10 million, typically covering two to three years of research.
Energy researchers, scientists, engineers, and early-stage startups from universities, national labs, and businesses. A 5-20% cost-share is required.
Yes, ARPA-E provides non-dilutive grants and cooperative agreements. The agency does not take equity.
The agency funds high-risk, high-reward technologies across all energy sectors including storage, generation, efficiency, and transportation.
ARPA-E is highly competitive, funding only projects with transformative potential. The agency has funded over 1,300 projects since 2009.
ARPA-E Energy Innovation is a non-dilutive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy that funds high-risk, high-reward research for transformational energy technologies. The initiative provides project funding ranging from $250,000 to $10 million per project, typically requiring a 5% to 20% cost-share, to support critical advancements in batteries, grid systems, geothermal, and nuclear power. Applicants submit concept papers and full applications through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal in response to specific Funding Opportunity Announcements with rolling deadlines across targeted programs like OPEN, IDEAS, and SCALEUP. The agency's portfolio has successfully supported early-stage technological development for prominent companies including Fervo Energy, Sila Nanotechnologies, Antora Energy, Solid Power, and Phononic Devices. This resource is intended for energy researchers, scientists, engineers, and early-stage startups seeking non-dilutive capital to advance disruptive, pre-commercial energy innovations toward scalable commercial viability.
ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) funds high-risk, high-reward energy research through grants of $250,000 to $10 million. Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, the program targets transformative energy technologies that could fundamentally change how the world generates, stores, and uses energy. Projects typically run two to three years with a focus on bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial application.
Energy researchers, scientists, engineers, and early-stage startups are eligible. Applicants must provide a 5% to 20% cost-share depending on the specific funding opportunity. The program is open to universities, national laboratories, small businesses, and large corporations, though it prioritizes projects with transformative potential rather than incremental improvements.
Awards range from $250,000 to $10 million per project, covering research, development, and demonstration activities. ARPA-E provides active program management through dedicated technology managers who work closely with funded teams. Recipients also gain access to ARPA-E's annual Energy Innovation Summit and its network of investors, industry partners, and follow-on funding sources.
ARPA-E releases focused funding opportunity announcements through its website and the federal grants portal. Each announcement specifies technical areas of interest, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines. Applications undergo rigorous merit review by external technical experts. The agency also periodically issues open solicitations that accept proposals across all energy technology areas.
ARPA-E has funded over 1,300 projects since its founding in 2009, with portfolio companies attracting over $12 billion in follow-on private funding. Notable alumni include companies in advanced battery technology, nuclear fusion, grid-scale energy storage, and carbon capture.