New Energy New York (NENY) is an initiative funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and Empire State Development to support the rapid growth of the U.S. battery and energy storage industry by establishing a manufacturing and innovation cluster in Upstate New York. The Supply Chain Development Team, led by the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) aims to strengthen and accelerate the growth of New York’s battery and energy storage ecosystem by reducing barriers to certification and market entry in New York State (NYS), and in particular Upstate New York, through the Product Certification Acceleration Program.
Program grants will reimburse eligible costs associated with obtaining certification for battery and energy storage technologies. Approved funding may be used by eligible manufacturers and startups in NYS to purchase applicable industry standards and documentation, pay for third-party certification testing, and/or engage consultants to support certification efforts. All expenses must be pre-approved and will be reimbursed only upon submission of valid receipts and proof of payment.
Full Program Breakdown
- Funding Amount: Up to $20,000 per applicant per application, $40,000 total over life of the program
- Application Process: Rolling submissions, reviewed monthly
- Payment Type: Reimbursement only
- Eligibility: NYS-based battery and energy storage startups and established companies
- Eligible Uses of Funds:
- Purchase of relevant certification standards and documentation
- Third-party certification testing (e.g., UL, IEC, SAE, IEEE, NFPA, UN)
- Consultant services to support certification preparation
- Other certification-related services directly advancing commercialization
All expenses must be pre-approved through the application process. Costs incurred prior to formal approval are not eligible for reimbursement.
This competitive funding opportunity is issued by New Energy New York Supply Chain Development Team, led by NY-BEST, to accelerate the commercialization and market readiness of battery and energy storage technologies by assisting regional startups and companies in meeting relevant industry standards and certifications.
The Product Certification Acceleration Program reimburses eligible costs associated with achieving certification through qualified providers and consultants.
The objectives of the program are to:
- Enable companies to purchase standards and related documentation needed to meet compliance requirements.
- Increase access to and support for certification pathways for NYS-based battery and energy storage companies.
- Offset the cost of obtaining relevant certifications (e.g., UL, IEC, SAE, IEEE, NFPA, UN or other industry-specific standards) necessary for market entry and commercialization.
- Facilitate engagement with expert consultants and testing labs to help companies navigate certification processes.
- Promote the launch and deployment of certified, market-ready battery and energy storage technologies.
- Support business growth and economic development in NYS, especially within the NENY service region (Delaware, Chenango, Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Monroe counties).
- Funding is reimbursement-based only. Applicants must pay upfront and provide receipts and proof of payment to receive reimbursement.
- Only pre-approved expenses are eligible for reimbursement. No retroactive funding will be issued for services or purchases made prior to approval.
- Applicants may have only one active application at a time. After successfully completing a funded project and receiving full reimbursement, an applicant may submit an additional application for up to $20,000, with a maximum total award limit of $40,000 per applicant over the life of the program.
- Reimbursement requests must be submitted within four months of project approval, and all approved funds must be spent no later than December 31, 2026.
- If the company does not submit a reimbursement request within four months of project approval, they will be required to reapply.
- The applicant company must be operating within, or planning to enter, the battery or energy storage technologies. Eligible technologies span the entire supply chain, from materials to manufacturing, battery system management, power electronics, battery applications, safety, and end of life and recycling.
- The company must have at least one physical establishment location in NYS during the application process, throughout the approved project period, and one year following final reimbursement, as defined by any of the following:
- Primary headquarters or principal place of business;
- Manufacturing facility;
- Research and development facility or location;
- NYS incubator membership.
- The applicant company must have a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) from SAM.GOV or DUNS number.
- Applicant companies must be able to provide matching funds as detailed below in Section VI.
Funding may be used to reimburse costs associated with:
- Purchase of standards and documentation required for compliance (e.g. UL, IEC, SAE, IEEE, NFPA, UN manuals)
- Certification services through qualified testing laboratories or certification bodies
- Consultant services to support companies in navigating and preparing for certification requirements
- Testing and validation necessary to meet certification benchmarks
- Other certification-related services directly advancing commercialization
| FTE Equivalents | Match Requirement |
| 1-5 Employees | No match required, but applicants must provide evidence of leveraged resources (e.g. staff time, equipment, etc.) |
| 6-20 Employees | Minimum 10% cash (total project cost) E.g., of $20k total project, funding will provide $18k, or $20k funding will support a project of $22k total, requiring $2k match from the applicant. |
| 21-50 Employees | Minimum 25% cash match (total project cost) |
| 51+ Employees | Minimum 50% cash match (total project cost) |
All applications must include the following documentation to be submitted via this online form:
- Online company information application questions.
- Service cost quote from provider/consultant detailing estimated service costs associated with activities described in the proposal (Service quote must align with budget).
- Project Narrative
- Executive Summary/Abstract (200 words): Please provide a brief executive summary or abstract
- Company Overview (500 words): Please provide a company background and describe the part of the battery and energy storage industry in which the company operates or plans to enter, including target market and or customer.
- Description of Requested Services (300 words): Please describe the provider(s) or consultant(s) your company plans to engage and the services for which funding is requested under this grant proposal.
- Description of Need (500 words): Please describe the certification being pursued and how the requested services will advance the development and commercialization readiness of your company’s battery or energy storage technology.
- Budget (300 words max): Please clearly describe the project budget, including the source and amount of your company’s matching funds, as required in Section VI.
All applications will be reviewed monthly on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified of the outcome within approximately 4–6 weeks of submission.
At the end of the program period, the applicant will submit to the Supply Chain Development Team a completion report detailing the scope of work achieved.
Applications will be reviewed by the NENY Supply Chain Development Team and other designated members of NY-BEST, who will assess each submission based on alignment with program goals, overall fit, and availability of funds. Evaluation criteria is linked here. Evaluators may also include representatives with expertise in battery and energy storage technologies, supply chain development, and regional economic impact. Final funding decisions will be made by the program team based on reviewer input and strategic considerations.
All program awardees must annually report economic impact data to NENY upon the completion of the project for a period of three years from the date of the final reimbursement. For one year from the date of the final reimbursement, the applicant must have at least one physical establishment in NYS as defined by any of the following: primary headquarters or principal place of business; manufacturing facility; research and development facility; NYS incubator membership. Failure to comply with program requirements or terms and conditions will require the applicant to make full re-payment of the grant award.
