USAID: BAA for Powering Agriculture – An Energy Grand Challenge for Development

The objective of PAEGC is to support new and sustainable approaches to accelerate the development and deployment of Clean Energy Solutions for increasing agriculture productivity and/or value in developing countries. Such solutions are those that integrate clean energy technologies and innovative business models to: (i) Enhance agricultural yields/productivity; (ii) Decrease post-harvest loss; (iii) Improve farmer and agribusiness income generating opportunities and revenues; and/or (iv) Increase energy efficiency and associated savings within the operations of farms and agribusinesses - while stimulating low carbon economic growth within the agriculture sector of developing countries.

PAEGC has two funding windows:

Funding Window 1 – Clean Energy Solution Design:

This Funding Window is for new clean energy technologies and business models that show promise of being viable in supporting the objective of PAEGC, but have yet to demonstrate their proven applicability in a developing country context through extensive field tests. These Clean Energy Solutions, may be at the early stages of research and development (R&D), and could benefit from PAEGC funding to refine/improve the design of the technologies, establish proof of concept, pilot field tests, and adapt technologies/business models for a new markets. All awards made through this Funding Window for ‘early stage’ development of Clean Energy Solutions will be up to $500,000 USD. All Applicants that receive awards through this Funding Window are encouraged to demonstrate a Cost-Share contribution of at least 15 percent (up to 75,000) of the total award value

Funding Window 2 – Clean Energy Solutions Scale-up/Commercial Growth:

This Funding Window is intended to support clean energy technologies and business models that have been successfully piloted in a developing country/emerging market on a small scale, and are now ready for market expansion and scaling-up/

These Applicants may seek PAEGC funding for commercial activities, including but not limited to: adaptation of the innovation for larger scale production, market adoption, and distribution. Awards made through this Funding Window will be between $500,000 USD and $2,000,000 USD. All Applicants that receive awards through this Funding Window shall demonstrate a 35 percent Cost-Share contribution.

http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=269552