The Energy Department began accepting applications on November 24 for its FY 2015 Phase 1 grant topics, including a Wind Program topic, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. SBIR/STTR grants are intended to help small businesses develop and deliver market-driven clean energy technologies.

Under this SBIR/STTR funding opportunity, the Energy Department seeks applications for innovations that address the load constraints and challenges associated with longer turbine blades. There has been an increasing trend among wind turbine manufacturers to increase the length of the turbine blades in order to boost wind turbine performance at low wind speed sites, and reduce the levelized cost of energy produced by wind plants. However, increasing the size of a wind turbine's rotor is accompanied by transportation, logistics, and manufacturing constraints that must be addressed to in order make these improvements economically feasible. Additionally, a new generation of active load control strategies could significantly increase wind plant efficiency at low wind speed sites.

The Wind Program SBIR/STTR grant topic, "Active Load Alleviation Strategies for Wind Turbine Blades," focuses on active control strategies to manage and mitigate the loads experienced by large wind turbines. Grant applications for this topic must focus on innovative active wind turbine blade load alleviation concepts, identifying and solving problems related to manufacturing, integration into the blade manufacturing process, reliability of the technology, routine maintenance, and repair.

A mandatory letter of intent is due no later than December 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The submission deadline for full applications is February 3, 2015. Read the full Funding Opportunity Announcement on the SBIR/STTR's Funding Opportunity Announcements webpage.

For more information on funding opportunities for wind power research, development, testing, and deployment, see the Wind Program's Financial Opportunities webpage.