RD&D Information
Research Areas
PIER Funding Opportunities
Receive Information on Solicitations
See information on all current PIER solicitations
Most PIER funds are awarded through competitive solicitations and interagency agreements to implement the research projects. To receive information on solicitations sign up to the right.
Big Ideas, Small Investments
Not all research is carried out in large corporations or university setting - individuals can have a slice of the PIER investment funds through the Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program. The EISG provides small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions up to $95,000 for hardware projects and $50,000 for modeling projects that show the practical side of new, innovative energy concepts. See more information about the EISG Program
How Much Funding is Available?
The Energy Commission leverages an $86.5 million PIER annual budget to maximize research benefits to Californians. The ratepayer-funded PIER program supports pioneering RD&D in these six areas:
- Energy efficiency and demand response
- Renewable energy technologies
- Advanced electric generation
- Advanced grid technology, transmission and distribution
- Energy-related environmental research and climate science
- Advanced transportation technologies
Federal Funding Opportunity: Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
On June 12, 2013 the California Energy Commission ARPA-E signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) to further advance energy research and the development of innovative, clean, and efficient energy technologies. Innovators in the energy community seeking to maximize their funding and advance energy technologies from a research concept, through the innovation pipeline, and into the market may learn more about potential ARPA-E funding opportunities by visiting ARPA-E's webpage at: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=programs/apply-for-funding.