DOE helps small energy-technology firms through the 'valley of death'

Abstract

Earlier this fall, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its award of grants totaling $57 million to help 33 small companies scale up manufacturing capabilities for their proven clean-energy technologies. The news might have passed unnoticed amid the steady stream of funding announcements that have flowed out of DOE as a result of last year's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), but for the description of the funding source. The Small Business phase-three Xlerator grants that were unveiled on 15 September are the first instances of a new source of early stage federal financing intended to bring small businesses' innovative energy technologies to the marketplace. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.