Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.135
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 1,881 $4,214,876,446 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (ARPA-E)
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 89-0337-0-1-270
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) funds high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment under the CFDA 81.135 program, with the most recent grant award issued on January 7, 2028.
The program has awarded 1,881 grants totaling $4.21 billion in federal obligations since its inception in 2009, with a combined federal and non-federal obligated amount of $5.53 billion. Award activity remained strong in 2024 and 2025, with 156 and 62 awards respectively. ARPA-E Advanced Research Projects Agency issued 1,472 of these awards worth $3.12 billion; the broader Department of Energy funded an additional 403 awards totaling $1.06 billion, while the Office of Nuclear Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy each contributed smaller portfolios. Cooperative Agreements dominate the assistance mix at 85 percent of awards (1,595 awards), with Project Grants comprising the remaining 15 percent (279 awards).
Recent funded activities span transformative energy generation, storage, and utilization. Awards support next-generation permanent magnet discovery using AI and machine learning to reduce rare-earth dependence (Colorado School of Mines, $753 thousand); nuclear fuel reprocessing off-gas management systems (Mainstream Engineering Corporation, $1.5 million); catalytic chemistry acceleration through high-throughput experimentation and AI integration targeting methane-to-methanol conversion and renewable fuel production (University of Connecticut and University of Southern California, $2.9 million and $2.0 million); critical mineral exploration technologies including automated drilling systems and downhole sensing platforms (Baker Hughes, $3.7 million; Texas A&M, $4.9 million); battery longevity extension through acoustic wave technology (Sonocharge Energy, $2.5 million); and lithium extraction from domestic brines (Lithios, $33.0 million).
Multiple grant opportunities remain open with upcoming deadlines. The CATALCHEM-E program (DE-FOA-0003505), targeting AI-driven catalyst development for renewable fuels and chemicals, closes February 25, 2026. DC-GRIDS (DE-FOA-0003499), focused on next-generation power electronics and converter technologies for high-voltage direct current transmission, closes March 3, 2025. MAGNITO (DE-FOA-0003590), seeking discovery and synthesis of ultra-high-performance permanent magnets, closed September 24, 2025 but the SBIR/STTR variant (DE-FOA-0003591) accepts small business applications. ROCKS (DE-FOA-0003592) and ROCKS SBIR/STTR (DE-FOA-0003593), addressing critical mineral exploration and ore characterization, closed September 25, 2025. The IGNIITE 2026 program (DE-FOA-0003624), supporting early-career innovators across broad energy technology areas, closes August 26, 2026. HORNIG (DE-FOA-0003623), targeting recycled nuclear isotopes for advanced reactors, closed August 6, 2026 after amendment.
Objective and description
- Objective
To support the President's National Objectives for the Department of Energy, and the Objectives contained in the authorizing legislation.
- Description
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E awardees are unique because they are developing entirely new ways to generate, store, and use energy.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
As described in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
- Beneficiary eligibility
General public
- Uses of assistance
ARPA-E will fund research and development of transformational energy related technologies.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
As required under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as applicable.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Pre-application required in the form of a Concept Paper (unless directed differently in the Funding Opportunity Announcement). This program is not eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
As described in the Funding Opportunity Annoucement.
- Award procedure
All eligible applications will be considered through the Department's Merit Review Process.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Deadlines are identified in each Funding Opportunity Announcement.
- Appeals
As required under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Grant opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,881 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | $113,572,937 | 3% |
| 2 | RTX Corporation | $85,426,602 | 2% |
| 3 | General Electric Company | $79,107,962 | 2% |
| 4 | Georgia TECH Research Corp | $67,264,949 | 2% |
| 5 | University Of Illinois | $64,741,147 | 2% |
| 6 | University Of Maryland, College Park | $64,444,211 | 2% |
| 7 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado | $59,167,679 | 1% |
| 8 | University Of Wisconsin System | $56,719,152 | 1% |
| 9 | The Leland Stanford Junior University | $50,023,557 | 1% |
| 10 | University Of California, LOS Angeles | $45,326,970 | 1% |
10 of 735 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $305,664,379 |
| FY2025 | $92,967,203 |
| FY2024 | $393,273,752 |
| FY2023 | $360,374,390 |
| FY2022 | $320,480,581 |
| FY2021 | $233,074,825 |
| FY2020 | $322,770,844 |
| FY2019 | $312,533,153 |
| FY2018 | $105,813,901 |
| FY2017 | $205,295,282 |
| FY2016 | $229,897,458 |
| FY2015 | $187,834,153 |
| FY2014 | $232,479,756 |
| FY2013 | $152,555,277 |
| FY2012 | $224,114,961 |
| FY2011 | $3,677,284 |
| FY2010 | $527,361,340 |
Show all 17
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.135?
Assistance Listing 81.135 is Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy?
Its CFDA number is 81.135: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.135 awarded?
1,881 grant awards under 81.135 have obligated $4,214,876,446 in federal funds to 735 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.135?
The recipients obligated the most under Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy are Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ($113,572,937), RTX Corporation ($85,426,602) and General Electric Company ($79,107,962).
How much did 81.135 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.135 obligated $92,967,203 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 81.135?
3 of the latest 50 opportunities under 81.135 are open or forecasted. The latest, Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR), was posted on October 21, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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