Engineering Research Funding Opportunities

German government presents news on its Power Plant Strategy (#Kraftwerksstrategie) to tender payments for dispatchable power plants. So how are they trying to square the circle of... 👉 ... actually needing substantial capacity of dispatchable power plants to guarantee secure #electricity supply (Bundesnetzagentur estimates a need of >20 GW by 2030), but not daring to call the instrument a #securityofsupply (SoS) instrument. As this would countervail the government's previous mantra that simultaneous nuclear and coal-phase-out does not threaten SoS, and equally notifying the instrument as SoS scheme (under Section 4.8 of the energy state aid guidelines) would require a lengthier process (including a proof of requirement). 👉 ... while not having the money to notify the instrument as a decarbonisation instrument (under Section 4.1 of the guidelines), as this would require the tenders to be targeted to #hydrogen fuelled plants, which comes with significant extra costs and a question whether sufficient hydrogen would be available early on. After lengthy negotiations with the European Commission on potential routes to state aid clearance, the solution now seems to be a 2-pillar approach with tenders for 12.5 GW plant capacity at its core (see BMWK press release: https://lnkd.in/eMfgA8uY): 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 1️⃣ - 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Tenders for 5 GW hydrogen-ready new builds and 2 GW existing plants to be retrofitted to be hydrogen-ready, where successful plants can run on natural gas for max. 8 years, before they have to convert to green or blue hydrogen. First tenders (possibly 2.5 GW) scheduled for late 2024 / early 2025. Winners would receive Capex support, plus, once running on H2, a Contract-for-Difference (#CfD) to compensate extra cost of H2 vs natural gas. In addition, the government foresees tenders for 500 MW 'sprinter plants' that would need to run on H2 from day one, and 500 MW long-term storage. 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 2️⃣ - 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Tenders for 5 GW new build natural gas plants . Winners receive Capex support. No need to convert to hydrogen. Plants should be primarily based in the "network-technical South" of Germany to address grid congestion challenges. Vehicle to make this happen: Bonus for plants in the South to rank them better in the tender. These tenders are seen as a "bridge" to the comprehensive and technology-agnostic #Capacitymarket that is scheduled to be operational by 2028. We have been supporting an electricity producer in its positioning and communication vis-à-vis Berlin. Key for them and other producers is now to get clarity about the KWS product and tender details asap (6-week consultation expected soon), including how KWS plants are treated in the forthcoming capacity markets...

Today, the countries with the greatest growth potential and most urgent need for investment face the greatest financing gaps and the highest costs of capital. Emerging and developing economies (#EMDEs) face borrowing costs 3–5x higher than advanced economies—even when they have faster growth, lower debt, and strong fundamentals. This high #CostOfCapital — not capital scarcity—is the biggest bottleneck for climate and SDG finance in EMDEs. 📄 Our new CCSI paper, co-authored with Jeffrey Sachs, Ana Maria Camelo Vega, and Bradford M. Willis unpacks the structural forces inflating EMDE financing costs—from flawed #creditratings, outdated prudential regulations, short-term debt, underused guarantees, and misperceptions of risk. The paper lays out 10 actionable pathways to mobilize long-term, affordable capital for climate and development—at speed and scale. 📌 Key Takeaways: - High cost of capital makes capital-intensive clean energy unaffordable where it’s most needed; fossil fuels remain cheaper in many EMDEs because of the high cost of capital despite abundant renewable energy potential. - GDP per capita—not solvency indicators—is the strongest predictor of sovereign credit ratings. Low-income countries are penalized for their poverty, regardless of investment quality or growth potential. Not a single low-income country is deemed credit-worthy by S&P, Moody's or Fitch. - It’s not just a development problem—it’s a missed investment opportunity. The distorted risk-return landscape also holds back large institutional investors who want to deploy capital into the high growth EMDEs—but are blocked by structural risk ratings, regulatory requirements, capital adequacy rules, and lack of de-risking mechanisms. - Today’s dominant credit and debt sustainability frameworks focus on short-term liquidity risks, not long-term structural growth potential. This leads to pro-cyclical investment patterns that funnel capital to already-rich countries and perpetuate underinvestment in high-potential regions. This is a solvable problem! And the solutions are timely and urgent—especially as leaders gather for the #IMF–WorldBank #SpringMeetings next week, the UN #FFD4 Summit in June, and #COP30 this fall. 📘 Read the full paper: https://lnkd.in/eJYAh6WN. We welcome your feedback and engagement. Columbia Climate School Mahmoud Mohieldin Vera Songwe Daniel Cash Ivan Oliveira Tom Beloe Ben Weisman Leslie Labruto Kate Hampton Daniel Firger Lucy Kessler David McNair Rahul Rekhi KEVIN CHIKA URAMA Avinash Persaud Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Manfred Schepers

I’ve spoken a lot before about the massive uplift in capital investment in infrastructure coming down the track. Nowhere is this more true than in electricity grids. European transmission system operators (TSOs) are entering a period of unprecedented capital deployment as they support the continent’s accelerating energy transition.   Some great new analysis from my colleagues Maurice Berns, Tom Brijs, Ben Gottesdiener, CFA, Rebecca Fitz, Jonas Geerinck, Bas Sudmeijer, and Sam Vandezande shows that the 15 largest European TSOs are projected to invest €345 billion from 2025 to 2029, nearly tripling the amount deployed in the preceding five years. This uplift is driven by the urgent need to modernise grids, integrate renewables at scale, and meet growing demand from electrification and AI deployment – to name just a few.   However, the current financial model is under strain as policy ambitions collide with funding realities. Capex plans outstrip cash flow by ~300%, leaving a €250 billion capital gap that must be filled through debt, equity, or asset sales. Without stronger financial foundations, TSOs may struggle to achieve their ambitions and policy goals.   Given this, it is vital that Governments and regulators must also evolve their frameworks to support this wave of investment: 👉 Resolve the 'Who Pays’ question: Determine what share of the cost should be borne by ratepayers vs. taxpayers, and how to allocate costs among different ratepayer classes. 👉 Adapt regulatory frameworks: Align investor returns with rising risks and policy mandates to keep capital flowing, while maintaining affordability; assess adequacy of existing regulatory constructs for this 'build the assets' phase. 👉 Deepen trust and collaboration: Engage early and consistently with TSOs to align goals and investment plans, de-risk planning, and shape frameworks that reward achieving shared objectives.   🔗 Read the full report for more insights: https://lnkd.in/eixeHR8Q #EuropeanTSOs #EnergyTransition #EUEnergy

97% of DARPA's $4.369 billion budget this year is earmarked for basic research, applied R&D, and next-gen tech development. Here are the funding opportunities currently open: 1. Ag Tech - the Ag x BTO program funds proposals that defends agriculture against natural and manmade threats.  PM: Michael Koeris | Deadline 8/31/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gai9dx6z 2. Protein Sequencing - the PROSE program funds solutions that enable the accurate reading of a broad range of amino acids and post translational modifications.  PM: John M Hoffman | Deadline: 8/28/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gApPgFeP 3. Protein Deep Learning - the NODES program aims to develop a groundbreaking deep learning tool that can analyze vast numbers of protein sequences and predict their functions via protein dynamics.  PM: Abhishek Singharoy | Deadline: 7/30/2025 | https://lnkd.in/giYXR2ji 4. Stress Management - the CoasterChase program aims to develop a new approach to manage stress, potentially revolutionizing how we deal with high-pressure situations and prevent long-term effects of trauma such as PTSD.  PM: Pedro Irazoqui | Deadline: 8/28/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gHVSDBtg 5. Optical Wireless Energy - the POWER program seeks to design and demonstrate effective airborne optical energy relays.  PM: Paul Jaffe | Deadline: 7/31/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gTGxpNQ7 6. Radiovoltaics - the Rads to Watts program funds new approaches to directly convert nuclear radiation energy into electricity.  PM: Tabitha Dodson | Deadline: 8/20/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gSGBDkqd 7. Microsystems - the Microsystems Exploration program funds high-risk, high-reward materials, devices, and microsystems technologies.  PM: Whitney Mason | Deadline: 10/15/2025 | https://lnkd.in/gsVzQuHp In addition, DARPA seeks revolutionary research ideas not being addressed by ongoing programs. See links below to learn more: ▫️ Biological Technologies | https://lnkd.in/gAJZeBPa ▫️ Defense Sciences | https://lnkd.in/g56ntgPz ▫️ Information Innovation | https://lnkd.in/gmNZDFFR ▫️ Microsystems Technologies | https://lnkd.in/gQNq6zi5 ▫️ Strategic Technologies | https://lnkd.in/gg6MnQcw ▫️ Tactical Technologies | https://lnkd.in/g6UZ2v5m Feel free to share these opportunities with those who might find them helpful.

Brussels - The European Commission will allocate €1.25 billion to 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects. Hydrogen infrastructure will benefit from grants for 21 development studies amounting to over €250 million. "The grants are intended for projects in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden: notably the BarMar-H2med project between Spain and France, the backbone projects in Italy, Portugal and Spain, and the hydrogen corridors and routes in the Baltic region." Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing: "The Commission has proposed to allocate €1.25 billion in grants, the highest ever awarded under the Connecting Europe Facility for energy infrastructure projects making a key contribution to build our Energy Union. It is also the first time that hydrogen and offshore electricity grid projects are selected." European Commission press release - https://lnkd.in/d7MsN3JR Screenshot from Hydrogen Infrastructure Map - https://www.h2inframap.eu/

The UK government has announced a £500M investment to establish the country’s first regional hydrogen transport and storage network. The scheme aims to link hydrogen producers with key end users, including power stations and industrial facilities, marking a significant step towards enhancing the nation’s clean energy infrastructure. This funding, revealed as part of the latest Spending Review, is expected to stimulate job creation across several industrial areas such as Merseyside, Teesside and the Humber. Officials estimate that thousands of skilled roles will emerge not only within these regions but also across related supply chains, offering employment opportunities in trades including engineering, welding, construction, pipefitting and operations. The development forms part of a broader government strategy to reduce dependence on volatile international fossil fuel markets while supporting the manufacture of hydrogen-dependent materials such as iron, steel, glass, chemicals, and ceramics. The government said that hydrogen’s potential for decarbonising challenging sectors, such as heavy transport and refineries, as well as providing scalable energy storage during peak demand, underpins this investment. This injection for a regional hydrogen network builds upon previous investments that have already generated approximately 4,000 jobs within carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) initiatives across the North West and Teesside. Further backing will support ongoing low-carbon hydrogen production through the continuation of Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs). The first round allocated over £2bn to eleven projects, demonstrating significant government support for expanding the sector. Private investment has also shown confidence, with £400M committed to hydrogen initiatives in places like Milford Haven in Wales and High Marnham in Nottinghamshire. While the government is positioning hydrogen as a cornerstone technology for the UK’s clean energy transition, the success of these plans depends on continued investment, technological innovation, and the development of a skilled workforce to meet growing industry demands. Hydrogen UK head of policy and analysis Brett Ryan said: “We welcome today’s announcement on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure. Hydrogen networks are essential for a secure and resilient hydrogen sector, whilst ensuring sufficient energy storage capacity will be critical to energy security and affordability during the energy transition. Hydrogen Energy Association CEO Dr. Emma Guthrie said: “This announcement is a key piece of the puzzle and represents very welcome government support to galvanise the UK’s regional hydrogen hubs. By investing in transport and storage infrastructure, the government is rightly joining the dots, connecting already supported hydrogen production with end users across power and industry. www.newcivilengineer.com / https://lnkd.in/eNd-MsfZ

The National Mineral Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 has been updated The new program is based on the best international experience, considering the current capabilities of Ukraine. Its goal fully complies with modern European principles of sustainable development - ensuring urgent needs in mineral resources with no environmental risk. In addition, one of the key requirements of the CRM Act is the development by member states of a national exploration program. Therefore, the existence of appropriate geological programs is a European trend. It is worth highlighting three key novelties of the updated program. The first novelty is that strategic definitions for the industry have been introduced. The Subsoil Code received definitions of “strategic minerals” and “critical minerals”, as well as the procedure for their definition and approval of lists of relevant raw materials deposits that will be provided for use through auctions or PSA bidding. According to a special methodology, the Ministry of Economy will select strategic and critical metallic ores or non-metallic minerals of national importance, and their list will be approved by the Government. The current list of minerals, which was determined by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, will be temporarily in effect. Operators of such raw materials deposits will be Ukrainian enterprises or foreign investors who are residents of OECD member states or other countries with which intergovernmental partnership agreements have been concluded. The updated program provides for the concentration of efforts on the search for strategic and critical minerals, and the carry out of work to increase their resources (35% of the budget). The rest of the program budget provides, mainly, for funding activities that are not inherent in private business - geological mapping of the country, monitoring the state of groundwater and the resource base, as well as the introduction of digital technologies for storing and using geodata. The necessary funds for implementing the program's tasks are UAH 258 million per year. The second novelty is that a permanent source of financing for the program has been determined. The source of financing for the program's measures is a special fund, the replenishment of which should be carried out by business entities by deducting a share of the royalties from extracted minerals and a share of the cost of licenses. Therefore, the next step should be to establish a clear procedure for the distribution of these funds in the Budget Code. The third novelty is the increased transparency of geological data. Information on deposits and occurrences of minerals containing critical and strategic minerals must be published in free online access. Such data must be evaluated according to the international classification of the UNFC. The adoption of the law is the key indicator of the implementation of the Ukraine Facility Janis Aizsalnieks

The European Commission has approved a subsidy scheme by the German government worth 4 billion euros to help reduce emissions from industry production. Support would be given through two-way carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs), also called ‘climate protection contracts', which compensate companies for the additional costs of switching to climate-neutral production procedures. In the decarbonisation scheme, companies have to bid how much government support they need to avoid one tonne of CO2 with their transformative technology. As a result, only those companies that convert their production at the lowest cost are awarded a 15-year climate protection subsidy contract. So far the Netherlands were the only other country that has already introduced these contracts. The projects supported under the scheme will range from the construction of melting tanks for glass production powered by electricity to the replacement of traditional steel production processes by hydrogen-powered direct reduction plants. In this first tender round, a maximum funding limit of 1 billion euros per application will be set to ensure that smaller and medium-sized projects can also benefit. Initially, projects involving carbon capture and storage (CCS) will not be able to compete in the auctions, because #Germany still lacks rules for the technology. #energy #renewableenergy #sustainability #cleanenergyrevolution #janoshettyey

The upcoming Budget could be a defining moment for India’s Energy Future. While the wishlist could be long but if I had to narrow down to two areas, it would be: First, the ISTS transmission charge waiver has been instrumental in driving India’s renewable energy growth, making clean power more accessible for industries and aligning with our 500 GW target. To sustain this momentum, a ₹5,000 crore allocation for extending the waiver is imperative—ensuring continued investment and making renewables the preferred choice for commercial and industrial consumers. Additionally, India must take the lead in next-generation grid technologies. Targeted funding for submarine cables, HVDC technology, and strategic communication systems will be key to strengthening our transmission backbone and staying ahead globally. What are your expectations from the budget for the sector? Which policies or investments do you see as game-changers for India’s energy landscape? Lets discuss #EnergyTransition #Budget2025 #RenewableEnergy #GreenInfrastructure

The Ukrainian Parliament has ratified the Minerals Agreement between Ukraine and the United States! I consider this to be the most positive development in our country's economy in recent years. Since 2019, I have consistently emphasized the strategic importance of our mineral resources. What can we offer to the world? 28 out of 34 critical minerals defined by the European Union! Ukraine has tremendous potential and we have much to offer, primarily to the EU and the United States. Ukraine is rich in various critical minerals: titanium, lithium, graphite, and uranium, which the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned. But we also have vast deposits of copper, nickel, cobalt, zirconium, hafnium, and scandium. I especially want to highlight gallium and germanium – strategic metals whose export restrictions by China nearly brought the entire US defense industry to its knees! And do you know who once ranked third in their production? Ukraine. Now – zero. Our deposits of critical minerals span the entire territory of Ukraine: titanium ores are found in Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, and Dnipropetrovsk regions; graphite – in Kirovohrad and Khmelnytsky regions; lithium – in Kirovohrad and Donetsk regions; uranium deposits are concentrated in the Kirovohrad region; copper – in Rivne region and the Carpathian region; and rare earth elements – in the Azov region. This geography of deposits creates potential for balanced development of industrial clusters in different regions of Ukraine. A particular pride is the Velta Ukrainian Titanium Cluster – a vertically integrated project that could be developed with support from the Critical Minerals Agreement. This initiative focuses on extracting and processing ilmenite, zirconium oxide, metallic zircon, hafnium, and by-products like kaolin and sand – materials crucial for aerospace, defense, nuclear energy, and electronics industries. The Titanium Cluster will serve as a strategic hub securing critical material supply chains across Europe and North America, reducing Chinese market dominance while revitalizing Ukraine's industrial sector. Built on our Likarivske titanium deposit and the proven Byrzulivsky enrichment complex in Kirovohrad region, we have 13 years of operational expertise enabling immediate advancement. This agreement opens the path to reindustrialization, requiring policy changes including investor guarantees, international reserve standards, and war risk insurance. Velta already has a concrete action plan: stabilization of existing enterprises, construction of new facilities in Ukraine and the United States, and integration into global production chains. This is a historic milestone. We are moving from words to actions, from potential to implementation.