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

The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, leads efforts to develop high-risk, high-reward energy technologies with the potential to transform the energy landscape in the United States. Established through the America COMPETES Act and further expanded by the Energy Act of 2020, ARPA-E funds early-stage research projects that support national goals of economic and energy security. Its mission includes reducing reliance on foreign energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving infrastructure resilience, and enhancing energy efficiency across sectors. Distinct from other DOE offices that focus on incremental progress along established technology roadmaps, ARPA-E seeks technologies capable of creating entirely new cost/performance trajectories and enabling disruptive market adoption. The funding opportunity "Stimulate Utilization of Plentiful Energy in Rocks through High-temperature Original Technologies SBIR/STTR (SUPERHOT SBIR/STTR)"—DE-FOA-0003557—supports transformative research aimed at unlocking superhot geothermal energy, a vast and underutilized resource. The SUPERHOT program specifically targets geothermal reservoirs exceeding 375 °C and 22 MPa in pressure, with the aim of creating robust, scalable systems capable of operating for 15 years or more. Despite the vast energy potential found in Earth’s crust, current geothermal power generation in the U.S. is limited due to reliance on rare natural hydrothermal systems. This initiative supports the development of Enhanced and Advanced Geothermal Systems to expand resource availability and produce low-cost, baseload electricity at scale. Funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is reserved for small businesses, particularly those qualifying under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Applicants must be scientifically distinct from one another and may only apply to one of the two SUPERHOT NOFOs issued by ARPA-E. Two main technical focus areas are supported: (1) robust well construction including new materials and validation services; and (2) heat transfer technologies, including fracture and non-fracture-based methods for extracting heat from superhot reservoirs to a working fluid. A total of $30 million is available across two related opportunities, with individual awards under this NOFO ranging between $314,363 and $4,505,859. ARPA-E anticipates issuing between 5 and 15 awards, though it reserves the right to make more, fewer, or no awards based on the quality of submissions and availability of appropriated funds. The application process is staged and begins with a concept paper submission. Key dates include a concept paper deadline of February 19, 2025, followed by encourage/discourage notifications by April 7, 2025. Full application materials must be submitted by March 5, 2026, through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal, with reviewer comments released March 26, 2026, and applicant replies due by March 31, 2026. Final award selections are expected in April 2026, with awards issued around July 2026. The period of performance for funded projects will span three years, from July 2026 through July 2029. All application materials must be submitted through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, and applicants are prohibited from using alternative submission methods. Eligibility is restricted to small businesses, specifically Small Business Concerns as defined in the SBIR/STTR policy directive. Applicants must meet transition and commercialization benchmarks if they have received more than 15 Phase II awards in the past decade. ARPA-E has removed its former cap of 15% on indirect costs for this funding cycle. Importantly, no cost share or matching funds are required for this opportunity. The funding supports cooperative agreements and grants for applied research and development activities that move beyond basic science, with the potential to accelerate commercialization of breakthrough geothermal energy technologies. For more information, applicants should consult the full NOFO available on ARPA-E eXCHANGE. General inquiries may be sent to [email protected], and technical assistance with the submission portal should be directed to [email protected]. During the application window, ARPA-E maintains a “quiet period,” and communication is only permitted with the designated Grants Officer. Updates and clarifications are posted to the eXCHANGE portal, where applicants are encouraged to register for timely alerts.

Submit scientifically distinct projects; ensure compliance and responsiveness; highlight transformative energy impacts and commercialization pathways