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Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR) 2026 Grant

DOE-ARPAE

In context

This call is open to small and medium-sized businesses, startups and universities and 2 others, at idea and R&D stage and prototype and pilot stage. Funding is a grant. Coverage is read from the notice itself: United States.

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Summary

ARPA-E's UNLOCK SBIR/STTR program funds applied research and experimental development to improve recovery and output from subsurface resources such as oil, gas, geothermal, minerals, and coalbed methane, including water management. It is aimed at small businesses, with research-institution partners for STTR, developing transformative early-stage or demonstrated technologies.

Summary by Raise Lens from the official notice · 23 Oct 2026Accurate?

About this grant

ARPA-E's UNLOCK SBIR/STTR program (NOFO DE-FOA-0003631) funds applied research and experimental development aimed at improving recovery efficiency and output from key subsurface resources. The background identifies substantial technical hurdles in extracting oil, gas, geothermal energy, minerals and metals, and coalbed methane from low-permeability, geologically complex formations. In unconventional oil and gas, the notice cites low recovery factors, steep production decline, well interference from infill drilling, limited fracture conductivity and connectivity, ineffective enhanced oil recovery in ultra-low permeability rock, refracturing uncertainty, and large volumes of produced water. For enhanced geothermal systems, the notice highlights difficulty sustaining conductive fractures, thermal short circuiting, proppant degradation at high temperature, circulation losses, scaling, and sensor longevity. For in-situ leaching, it highlights poor lixiviant-rock contact, containment and groundwater protection, and wastewater management. For coalbed methane, it highlights dewatering, wastewater, and permeability characterization. The program seeks crosscutting, next-generation technologies that enhance stimulation and recovery, expand flow pathways, improve far-field sensing and characterization, and manage water across diverse subsurface systems. ARPA-E favours transformative projects with significant technology risk and disruptive potential, and it accepts both early-stage proof-of-concept ideas and projects with some existing demonstration. Basic research is redirected to DOE Office of Science, and roadmap-driven early-stage work may be redirected to applied energy offices. The NOFO anticipates about 12 awards with a stated total program funding of $45,000,000. Full details are in the NOFO on DOE eXCHANGE.

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Eligibility

Eligible applicants are small businesses, consistent with the SBIR/STTR framing of the opportunity. Applicants must register with and submit through DOE eXCHANGE; ARPA-E will not consider materials submitted by other means. The page does not state additional geographic, stage, or prior-recipient restrictions beyond what is in the full NOFO. Cost sharing is not required.

How it's scored

The page does not describe scoring criteria, weightings, or panel composition. It states that ARPA-E will provide highest-level support only for submissions with significant technology risk, aggressive timetables, and careful management and mitigation of those risks, and that it favours technology with clear disruptive potential, such as demonstrated manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. Full evaluation details are in the NOFO.

Key requirements

✓Applicants must meet SBIR/STTR eligibility rules, with STTR requiring a formal partnership with a research institution
✓Projects must target improved recovery, stimulation, flow pathways, far-field sensing, or water management across oil, gas, geothermal, mineral, or coalbed methane systems
✓Applications are submitted via the NOFO DE-FOA-0003631 on DOE eXCHANGE, with a deadline of 2026-11-20

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does DOE-ARPAE offer?: Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR) offers $323K – $4.6M.
When is the Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR) deadline?: Applications close 20 Nov 2026.
Who can apply for Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR)?: Eligibility covers organisations in US; sme, startup, university, research-institution, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

Renewables grants Water grants

How this compares

Compared with 166 similar grants (renewables in United States) listed in the last 12 months.
Its value of $4.6m is above 72% of the 43 similar grants that state a value; their median is $500k.
It allows 30 days to respond, shorter than the typical 39 days across 35 similar grants.
The same organisation listed 2 other similar grants here in the last 12 months.

Closest open grants

Figures are computed from notices listed on Raise Lens in the same sector and country over the last 12 months.

About this sector

Renewable energy funding covers solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy, from early research to grid-scale deployment. Public money tends to back demonstration, grid connection and access to energy in emerging markets, while procurement notices buy installation, operation and maintenance. Calls often ask for proof of resource assessment, permitting progress and local partners.

20 Nov 2026

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