NYSERDA Innovation & R&D Programs

NYSERDA Innovation R&D — PON

Funds New York climate technology innovators through NYSERDA support mechanisms for piloting and scaling practical solutions.

NYSERDA's Innovation R&D portfolio funds applied clean energy research and development through a rolling series of competitive Program Opportunity Notices (PONs) issued throughout the year. The program is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and financed through the Innovation portfolio of the Clean Energy Fund, a ~$5.3 billion, 10-year ratepayer-funded mechanism aligned with New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals. Active topic areas include energy storage, clean hydrogen, grid modernization, geothermal heating, and building electrification, with each individual PON defining its own specific scope, award sizes, and deadlines.

Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, nonprofits, universities, and independent research organizations with operations in New York State. Award sizes and TRL requirements vary by solicitation. NYSERDA also offers complementary programs for early-stage companies: the ClimateTech Expertise Network provides mentorship connections, and the Scale for ClimateTech program supports manufacturing scale-up and supply chain development. All solicitation vehicles — PONs, RFPs, RFQLs — are posted on the NYSERDA Funding Opportunities page.

Because NYSERDA issues PONs on a rolling and sometimes unpredictable cadence, practitioners track this program by subscribing to NYSERDA's Funding Opportunity Email List or monitoring the online portal directly. Proposals must respond to an active PON — unsolicited submissions are not accepted. Applicants in areas such as energy storage or hydrogen should identify the specific active PON number that matches their technology area before beginning proposal preparation, as scope and evaluation criteria differ significantly across solicitations.