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Sustainable Energy Pathways

U.S. National Science Foundation

open
Rolling / OpenLast verified: 2026-07-05

About This Grant

A sustainable world is one in which human needs are met equitably without harm to the environment, and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Growing evidence for the role of energy use in global change and awareness of limitations in our energy choices are motivating a search for pathways that are technologically innovative as well as environmentally and economically sustainable at all scales of energy usage. This is a grand challenge to the scientific community that cuts across disciplinary boundaries. The creation of a secure and prosperous future for humanity depends on the contributions that science, engineering, and education will make towards building sustainable pathways to meet the energy needs of future generations. The dual roles of NSF - to support basic research and education - are ideally suited to stimulate vibrant science and engineering discovery and innovation efforts that will be needed to meet the challenge of building a sustainable energy future. Sustainable Energy Pathways is part of the NSF-wide initiative on Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES). The Sustainable Energy Pathways solicitation calls for innovative, interdisciplinary basic research in science, engineering, and education by teams of researchers for developing systems approaches to sustainable energy pathways based on a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and societal issues. The SEP solicitation considers scalable approaches for sustainable energy conversion to useful forms, as well as its storage, transmission, distribution, and use. The following Topic Areas illustrate the broad scope of sustainable energy interest areas of this solicitation: Energy Harvesting & Conversion from Renewable Resources; Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions; Critical Elements & Materials for Sustainable Energy; Nature-Inspired Processes for Sustainable Energy Solutions; Reducing Carbon Intensity from Energy Conversion & Use; Sustainable Energy Transmission & Distribution; Energy Efficiency & Management.

Grant Summary

Sustainable Energy Pathways is a U.S. National Science Foundation grant providing $500K to $2M. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.

Focus Areas

sciencetechnology

Eligibility

Funder did not publish eligibility criteria — confirm directly with the funder before applying.

How to Apply

Funding Range

$500K$2M

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Complexity
Medium
  1. 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Sustainable Energy Pathways from U.S. National Science Foundation, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
  2. 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
  3. 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
  4. 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to U.S. National Science Foundation before the deadline.
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Sustainable Energy Pathways: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Sustainable Energy Pathways?

Sustainable Energy Pathways is offered by U.S. National Science Foundation and is generally open to eligible organizations. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.

How much funding does the Sustainable Energy Pathways provide?

Sustainable Energy Pathways provides between $500K and $2M per award from U.S. National Science Foundation. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.

When is the Sustainable Energy Pathways deadline?

Sustainable Energy Pathways accepts applications on a rolling or ongoing basis, so there is no single fixed deadline. Confirm current timing with the funder, U.S. National Science Foundation, before you apply, and submit as early as possible because rolling programs can close once funds are committed.

How do you apply for the Sustainable Energy Pathways?

To apply for Sustainable Energy Pathways, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from U.S. National Science Foundation.

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