The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technologies provides about $150 million annually in cost-shared funding for R&D. Funding is awarded through an open, competitive solicitation process. The solicitations typically require collaborative partnerships, which may include manufacturers, universities, suppliers, national labs, and state government. Industry partners are generally expected to provide matching funds (usually equal to the Federal investment).
Detailed information on the solicitations can be found on DOE’s webpage.
Future Solicitations
Metal Castings: TBD
Ongoing Solicitations
Inventions and Innovations
The Inventions and Innovation (I&I) program provides financial assistance at two levels: up to $40,000 (Category 1) or up to $200,000 (Category 2) - for conducting early development and establishing technical performance of innovative energy saving ideas and inventions. For more information, please visit www.eere.energy.gov/industry/financial/feddoe5.html.
Financing Toolbook
The Toolbook is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to financing and technical assistance. Visit this site for an overview of industrial technology financing, strategies, case studies, federal and state programs, and sponsors.
Advancing Manufacturing Competitiveness: A Practitioners' Guide to Federal Assistance
A Northeast-Midwest Institute publication. The Foreword and Table of Contents, specifically chapters 2 and 3, may be helpful to the reader interested in financing industrial energy efficiency. Chapter 2: Technology Development and Transfer, and Chapter 3: Technology, Business, and Management Assistance will be helpful with resource information.
U.S. Department of Energy -- E-Center
The E-Center is DOE's information web site for conducting business. It includes links on current existing business opportunities and information concerning statutory and/or regulatory information on procurement, financial assistance, personal property, contractor human resources management, professional development, or business practices.
U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Industrial Technology
OIT's web site contains complete information on how to navigate their new solicitations process and contains links for the process itself; the streamlined process for an easier funding mechanism; an active solicitations table; future solicitations; and closed solicitations.
Smart Communities Network
Addresses financing and sustainability issues in business and industry with its National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3) program as well as many other initiatives and loan programs. This particular web site lists numerous links to resources for small businesses to large industries.
Tools
Advanced Energy
A nonprofit specializing in industrial process technologies, motors and drives testing, and applied building science. Their focus is helping utilities, industrial, and residential customers improve their returns on energy investments. Industries can get assistance in testing new equipment, developing new products, and improving manufacturing processes.
Energy Technology Development Group
This company develops integrated systems to monitor and diagnose the operating state of complex engineered processes from electrical and thermal power generation and distribution to the end use of energy in industrial and residential facilities.
Industrial Materials for the Future
This new program within the Office of Industrial Technologies is a combination of the Advanced Industrial Materials (AIM) and Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composite (CFCC) programs. Its purpose is to research, design, develop, engineer, and test new and improved materials for the IOF.
Lean Manufacturing Program, The Center for Robotics and Manufacturing Systems
Located in the College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, this organization offers a comprehensive assistance and training program with emphasis on the areas of metal joining, machining and metal working. The Program components include workshops, certification courses, and networking resources.
National Association of Energy Service Companies
This national association of energy providers works to promote innovative policies in the changing energy field. Its wide membership reflects, energy service companies, utilities, energy equipment manufacturers, electric power and gas marketers, allied trade associations, financial institutions, and others.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST works to increase U.S. global manufacturing competitiveness through developing technologies, measurement methods, and standards. This site contains links for specific industries and resources such as the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of nonprofit centers working to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers.
U.S. DOE, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy network
Industry uses more than one-third of all energy consumed in the U.S. and certain industries use large amounts of energy per unit of product. The highest energy-intensive industries of agriculture, aluminum, chemical, forest products, glass, metalcasting, mining, petroleum and steel are specific areas for energy efficient technologies.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
EIA's energy efficiency report for industrial energy consumption contains statistical and historical data for 1985 to 1991. For those who are interested in as thorough and complete analyses of energy use in the industrial sector as possible, this web site will be of interest.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star Program for Industry
Product manufacturing is enormously energy intensive making energy efficiency the main concern for saving both energy and money. The manufacturing sectors of motors and drives, steam, compressed air, combined heat and power systems are the major users of energy. This web site offers links for programs assisting manufacturers in each category.
U.S. DOE Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) Industrial Assessment Centers
This OIT program provides comprehensive industrial assessments at no cost to small and medium-sized manufacturers. Engineering faculty and student teams located in 26 universities around the country conduct the assessments and energy audits and also provide recommendations to improve productivity, reduce waste, and save energy.
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Industrial Energy Use Analysis
Provides policy makers with energy analysis information of industrial sectors. Synthesized performance data and information is given on energy efficient technologies and policies supporting sustainable activities.