Topic #: CW26-T05 · Branch: DOE · Status: Open
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) and Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) are supporting an Open Topic for Cutting Edge Energy Generation and Power Management Technologies that will bring new sources of reliable, affordable, and secure energy to the grid.
Posted: 10/30/2026 · Opens: 10/30/2026
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) and Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) are supporting an Open Topic for Cutting Edge Energy Generation and Power Management Technologies that will bring new sources of reliable, affordable, and secure energy to the grid.
The Integrated Energy Systems Office [1] drives research and development of energy solutions that enhance grid reliability and resilience, foster U.S. technological leadership, and reduce the cost of energy for Americans. The Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office [2] enables research, development, testing, and commercialization of technologies to advance next-generation hydropower, pumped storage systems, and marine energy to deliver flexible, reliable energy, as well as advances integrated energy-water technology solutions [3,4]
Areas of Interest Applications to this topic should address innovative technologies within the missions of the Offices.
Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office a. Hydropower and Pumped Storage
b. Marine Energy o Co-development of marine energy technologies with end users o Innovations in marine energy subsystems and components
c. Integrated Energy-Water Technology Solutions
Integrated Energy Systems Office d. Aero Mechanical Energy Systems • Innovations for economical recycling of wind energy technologies that would reduce waste, recover critical minerals, and/or reduce the cost of wind component recycling [5]. • Innovations for maximizing performance and/or reliability of existing wind energy assets [6].
e. Thermal Energy Systems • Innovations to reduce costs and improve the reliability of solar-thermal components and integrated systems for deploying Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) with thermal energy storage. Key applications include produced water thermal-desalination, remote mining, fuel conversion, growth of the food and beverage industry, manufacturing and other high temperature industries. • Innovations that streamline operations, enhance reliability, and boost performance across solar-thermal fields and plants [7].
f. Advanced Photovoltaics • Innovations for low-cost, reliable space photovoltaic (PV) panels that are less reliant on critical materials and have the potential to be fabricated with high-volume-manufacturingcompatible methods. Innovations include but are not limited to advancements in III-V wafer reuse, high-performance durable silicon PV for space deployment, perovskite manufacturing and stability, and perovskite manufacturing equipment and metrology development. • Technologies and innovations for economical recycling of PV technologies that will increase the volume and value of recovered minerals and materials, particularly silver, silicon, copper, tellurium, glass, aluminum, and steel. • Innovations for maximizing performance and/or reliability of existing PV cells, modules, and fleets.
g. Systems Integration, Interconnection, and Analysis • Innovations to address potential cybersecurity threats to integrated energy systems arising from distributed energy resources and their supply chains. • Innovations in power electronic system control technologies to improve grid stability and reduce system outages.
h. Permitting and Impact Reduction • Innovations that increase the safety of plug-in PV systems, including those that address the technical issues of breaker masking and back-feed.
• Innovations that can track and monitor permitting processes, and/or increase capacity for state and local governments and/or developers to improve permitting timelines and outcomes.
Not of Interest Technologies that are specifically not of interest for this topic include: • Carbon capture • Hydrogen production • Offshore wind technologies, including hybrid wind/marine energy generation systems • Non-concentrating solar-thermal systems • Geothermal energy technologies, fossil energy technologies, or nuclear energy technologies • Battery chemistry
References 1. Integrated Energy Systems Office, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/integrated-energy-systems-office. 2. Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/water/hydropower-and-hydrokinetic-office. 3. Multi-Year Program Plan, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/water/multi-year-program-plan. 4. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/water/small-businessinnovation-research-sbir-and-small-business-technology-transfer-sttr. 5. Wind Turbine Recycling Assessment Report: Guide for the Recycling Industry, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/wind-turbine-recyclingassessment-report-guide-recycling-industry. 6. Blade and Drivetrain Testing Advance Wind Turbine Efficiency and Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/articles/blade-anddrivetrain-testing-advance-wind-turbine-efficiency-and-reliability. 7. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), First Solar Thermal Energy Planner (STEP 1) and Nationwide Industrial Heat and Power Analysis, NLR/TP-5700-96614, 2026, https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/integrated-energy-systems-office.