Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies SBIR/STTR (SUPERHOT SBIR/STTR)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) has released the SUPERHOT SBIR/STTR funding opportunity, designated as DE-FOA-0003557, focused on developing technologies that can unlock superhot geothermal energy production. This program is situated within the broader mission of ARPA-E to enhance U.S. energy security and maintain technological leadership in energy innovation. Created under the America COMPETES Act and further amended by the Energy Act of 2020, ARPA-E supports high-risk, high-reward R&D initiatives that are not viable through conventional private sector or governmental funding routes. The SUPERHOT initiative specifically targets geothermal reservoirs with temperatures above 375°C and pressures above 22 MPa, which offer vast untapped potential for clean, baseload electricity generation. The SUPERHOT program provides funding for transformative approaches to well construction and heat extraction from these extreme geothermal environments. The opportunity is limited to small businesses and their partners under SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) or STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) eligibility rules. Approximately $30 million in funding is available across two NOFOs, with 5–15 awards expected and individual award sizes ranging from $314,363 to $4,505,859. Funding is structured in a Combined Phase I/II or Combined Phase I/II/IIS format, enabling recipients to pursue proof-of-concept and early-stage development through potential commercialization. Indirect costs are capped at 15% of total project costs, and 5% of federal funds must be allocated to technology transfer and outreach activities. The program is divided into two categories: (1) robust well design and construction—including conventional and novel methods—and (2) efficient heat extraction from superhot reservoirs via fracture-based or non-fracture-based systems. Projects must target lifetimes of at least 15 years for wells operating at extreme conditions. Well designs must meet strict metrics such as power output of >25 MWe per well and cost benchmarks like LCOE <$30/MWh and CAPEX <$3000/kWe. Similarly, heat extraction projects must model supercritical fluid dynamics, induced seismicity, and reservoir longevity. Proposals must include detailed techno-economic justifications and modeling results validated by experimental data. Eligibility is restricted to U.S.-based Small Business Concerns, including those applying independently or leading a team. In STTR proposals, a single research institution must also participate and conduct at least 30% of the work. The Principal Investigator must be employed by the small business or research institution, depending on the program type. Projects that include any participation by foreign entities or foreign nationals from countries of concern must request waivers and receive explicit approval. ARPA-E also requires applicants to register in SAM.gov, complete profiles on SBIR.gov, and use the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal for all submissions. The submission process is multi-phased. Applicants must first submit a concept paper by 9:30 AM ET on February 19, 2025. Full applications are by invitation only and are due by 9:30 AM ET on March 5, 2026. Reviewer comments will be released by March 26, 2026, with replies due by March 31, 2026. Awards are anticipated to be announced in April 2026 and start by July 2026, with a typical performance period of three years, ending by July 2029. Applications must include a technical volume, budget justification, biographical sketches, current and pending support documentation, and other forms as outlined in the ARPA-E template packages. This opportunity does not recur on a fixed annual schedule, but applicants should monitor updates and potential future rounds through ARPA-E’s Exchange portal. Questions about the funding opportunity should be directed to [email protected]. Technical issues with the Exchange system can be addressed to [email protected]. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is also maintained at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs and is regularly updated to reflect common applicant concerns and clarifications to the NOFO.

Include detailed techno-economic justifications and validation modeling; follow all formatting and submission steps strictly.