The opportunities posted here are provided for reference and inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.  Click on the title link for further information on submissions.

Sustainability Research Networks Competition (SRN)
National Science Foundation
Funding:  $36,000,000
Preliminary Proposal Due:  December 1, 2011
Deadline: April 1, 2012

The goal of the competition is to support the development and coalescence of entities to advance collaborative research that addresses questions and challenges in sustainability science, engineering, and education. SRNs will link scientists, engineers, and educators, at existing institutions, centers, networks, and also develop new research efforts and collaborations.

Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2012 (SBIR)
National Science Foundation
Funding:  $15 Million
Awards:  100
Deadline:  December 12, 2011
Then, March 15, June 15 and Sept 15, annually

The SBIR program solicits proposals from the small business sector to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Sustainable Bioenergy
USDA
Award Ceiling: $10,000,000
Deadline: December 15, 2011

The Sustainable Bioenergy Challenge Area RFA focuses on the societal challenge to secure America’s energy future. In the Sustainable Bioenergy Challenge Area RFA, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of reducing the National dependence on foreign oil through the production of sustainable bioenergy. Project types supported by AFRI within this RFA include single-function Research, multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.

Support of Advanced Coal Resarch at U.S. Colleges and Universities
National ENergy Technology Laboratory
Award Ceiling $300,000
Deadline: December 19, 2011

This award supports long-term, high-risk meritorious fundamental research that advances the science of coal technologies at U.S. colleges and universities. Since its inception in FY1979, the UCR Program has maintained three objectives, to be achieved simultaneously, which are: (1) to improve our understanding of the chemical and physical processes involved in the conversion and utilization of coal in an environmentally acceptable manner; (2) to maintain and upgrade the coal research capabilities and facilities of U.S. colleges and universities; and (3) to support the education & training of our next generation of scientist and engineers.

Green Technology Entrepreneurship Academy
Center for Entrepreneurship, University of California, Davis
Award: Tuition, Room, Board
Applications Open: January 2012
Program Date: June 25-29, 2012

Develop the commercial potential of your cleantech innovation by working with leading investors, entrepreneurs and others in the green tech sector. This one week academy is a springboard for moving green tech research out of the lab and into the marketplace. The academy is taught by venture capitalists, university faculty, industry executives and angel investors, who serve as mentors and guest speakers and provide participants with the knowledge and networks needed to take the next steps forward.

A12-051  Wind Energy Systems for Base Camp Applications
U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1
Funding: Up to $150,000
Deadline: January 11, 2012

Develop a rugged, deployable wind energy system for use in military base camp applications that can be packaged, shipped, and deployed from TRICON shipping containers. Cost per watt and capable operational conditions are the key focus areas.

AF121-069 Advanced Space Energy Storage that Incorporates Long Cycle Life at High Depths of Discharge
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1
U.S. Air Force
Funding: Up to $150,000
Deadline: January 11, 2012

Develop an energy storage system with high specific energy density > 200 Wh/kg that is capable of 5 years of ground storage and 60,000 cycles at depths of discharge > 60% and showing a pathway to 100%.

AF121-073 Anti-reflective Coating for High-Efficiency Solar Cells
U.S. Air Force
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Funding: Up to $150,000
Deadline: January 11, 2012

Develop an advanced broadband antireflective coating active from ~300 to 1800 nm to enable high-efficiency solar cells.

AF121-075 Rigid-Panel-Solar-Array Deployment Synchronization Mechanisms for Rapid Assembly and Reduced Cost
U.S. Air Force
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Funding: Up to $150,000
Deadline: January 11, 2012

Develop modular deployment synchronization technologies for rigid-panel solar arrays

Sustainable Energy Pathways
National Science Foundation
Funding: $500,000 – $2,000,000
Awards: 20
Deadline: February 2, 2012
The Sustainable Energy Pathways solicitation calls for innovative, interdisciplinary basic research in science, engineering, and education by teams of researchers for developing systems approaches to sustainable energy pathways based on a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and societal issues. The SEP solicitation considers scalable approaches for sustainable energy conversion to useful forms, as well as its storage, transmission, distribution, and use. The following Topic Areas illustrate the broad scope of sustainable energy interest areas of this solicitation: Energy Harvesting and Conversion from Renewable Resources; Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions; Critical Elements and Materials for Sustainable Energy; Nature-Inspired Processes for Sustainable Energy Solutions; Reducing Carbon Intensity from Energy Conversion and Use; Sustainable Energy Transmission and Distribution; Energy Efficiency and Management.

Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS)

National Science Foundation
Full Proposal Due: February 7, 2012
Supplemental Deadline:  April 1, 2012

The Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS) program invests in the design and analysis of intelligent and adaptive engineering networks, including sensing, imaging, controls, and computational technologies for a variety of application domains.  There are many clean energy topics of interest for EPAS proposals.

Annual Partnership Solicitation: Partnerships in MCA Countries
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Deadline: Ongoing through February 12, 2012

Partnerships in MCA countries as follows: Republics of Zambia, Indonesia, Cape Verde, and Ghana; Kingdom of Lesotho; United Republic of Tanzania. Category Explanation… Waste-to-Energy; Renewable Energy; Green Prosperity Initiatives; Low Carbon, environmentally sustainable and community-oriented development;  et.al.

Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering
National Science Foundation
Awards: $300,000 to $600,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012

The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment.

Smart Grid Data Access
U.S. DOE, National Energy Technology Laboratory
No. of Awards: 12
Award Ceiling: $2,500,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012

Seeking applications aimed at empowering consumers to better manage their electricity use by enabling access to electricity consumption data by customers and their authorized third parties and providing or supporting the use of third party tools and software products that utilize the available data to deliver a value added service to the customer. Projects under this Funding Opportunity Announcement will be comprised of two Phases. Under Phase I applicants will need to demonstrate the capability for electricity customers and or designated third parties to access their usage data and the functionality of their proposed tool or software product to provide this access. Phase II involves adoption of the tools and software products demonstrated in Phase I to an entire service territory, region or community within the jurisdiction of the applicant or the utility partner of the applicant.

Environmental Sustainability
National Science Foundation
Awards: $300,000 to $600,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012

The Environmental Sustainability program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society’s need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions. There are four principal general research areas which are supported, but others can be proposed: Industrial Ecology, Green Engineering, Ecological Engineering, Earth Systems Engineering.

Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Software Grant
Autodesk
Deadline: ongoing

Free design and engineering software for early-stage clean technology companies in North America working to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Valued up to $150,000.

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
National Science Foundation
Amount: varied
Deadline: accepted anytime

This opportunity promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry’s perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects.