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Grant programs are strategically tailored to provide various forms of assistance. However, if your Technology Readiness Level (TRL) doesn't align with the grant's core support provisions, your efforts might be in vain. For instance, if you're an individual or a seed-stage startup, an ideal fit would involve a grant offering research funding and prototyping support, rather than a grant focused on commercial contract assistance.
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What are TRL Levels?
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are a measurement system devised to evaluate the maturity of a technology. Ranging from TRL 1 (Basic Principle Observed) to TRL 9 (Actual Technology Proven in Operational Environment), this scale gauges a technology's evolution from conceptualization to full operational deployment.
What different TRL levels mean:
TRL 1: The journey begins with the inception of basic concepts through scientific research.
TRL 2: At this speculative stage, practical applications emerge based on defined properties.
TRL 3: Experimental proof-of-concept is established, affirming technological feasibility.
TRL 4: Components undergo validation in lab settings, gauging their interoperability.
TRL 5: Validation advances to relevant environments, resembling reality.
TRL 6: Functional prototypes surface, demonstrating full-scale issues.
TRL 7: Prototypes showcase performance in actual operational settings.
TRL 8: The technology is "flight qualified" and ready for integration.
TRL 9: A triumphant finale where the technology operates successfully in its intended environment.
At Which TRL Levels Should Energy Startups Apply to Grant Funding?
Energy startups should align their grant funding aspirations with TRL levels suited to their technological maturity.
TRL 1-3: Fundamental Research grants cater to conceptualization and initial development.
TRL 4-6: Industrial Research grants focus on component validation and feasibility.
TRL 7-9: Experimental Development grants support technology integration and operational success.
Presenting a concise roadmap to pinpoint the ideal grant funding agencies based on your TRLs.
TRL Level
Grant Agencies
TRL Level
Grant Agencies
1
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)
DOE Office of Science
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
6
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
2
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)
SBIR/STTR by DOE agencies (Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, etc.)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
7
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Interior (DOI)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Defense (DOD)
3
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)
SBIR/STTR by DOE agencies (Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, etc.)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
8
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Interior (DOI)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Rural Energy Development Programs
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Defense (DOD)
DOE's Loan Office Program
4
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)
SBIR/STTR by DOE agencies (Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, etc.)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
9
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Interior (DOI)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Rural Energy Development Programs
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Defense (DOD)
DOE's Loan Office Program
5
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)
SBIR/STTR by DOE agencies (Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, etc.)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
