ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has released $1 million in second round funding for its Game Changer Energy Innovation Competitive Grant Program (Game Changer 2.0). MEA anticipates awards to be in the range of $50,000-$250,000 per project with applicant cost shares of at least 70 percent. The competitive grant program invites applications to develop Maryland-based projects that support the deployment of “game changing” renewable and clean energy generation and storage technologies. MEA said the enhanced deployment of clean renewable energy generation will assist the state to meet its aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standard and greenhouse gas reduction goals while also spurring local economic development.

“Our previous rounds of Game Changer Energy Innovation Competitive Grant Program funding proved to be extremely successful and MEA is pleased to offer another round of funding,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “The program not only brings Maryland closer to reaching our renewable energy generation goal of 20 percent by 2022 but also spurs clean energy generation technology innovation and creates economic development opportunities for Maryland’s future.”

Game Changer 2.0 technologies, systems, or applications must have the potential of significantly advancing the state’s clean energy generation market. Potential projects could include:

• Hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV)/thermal energy systems that efficiently cool the PV systems while generating usable hot water.

• Solar thermal heating and absorption cooling systems that can efficiently use solar Btu’s across all four seasons in Maryland.

• Low-maintenance solar PV array tracking systems that can increase the capture of solar energy year-round.

• Community energy projects, using renewable energy, which are wholly or partially owned or operated by investor owned electric companies as allowed by State statute.

• District energy geothermal heating and cooling systems.

• Biogas-fueled distributed generation and/or combined heat and power systems.

• Cost-competitive fuel cells that can add backup, peak-shaving, and/or baseload energy generation capabilities to a variety of stationary or transportation sector end-uses.

Grant applications must be received or postmarked on or before 12 noon, Jan. 13, 2014.

For more information on the Game Changer Competitive Grant Program, visit http://energy.maryland.gov/Business/gamechanger/index.html.

Publication date: 12/9/2013

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