Large Scale Non-drop-in Alternative Fuels Based Resources and Infrastructure (PON 6161)

NYSERDA announces up to $8 million in funding under Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 6161 to support the development and demonstration of large-scale alternative fuel-based resources and enabling infrastructure in New York State. This competitive solicitation, offered through NYSERDA's Advanced Fuels Program, aims to address key barriers to deployment including cost, system integration, scalability, and infrastructure constraints, to enable broader adoption of non-drop-in fuels in industrial and grid-support applications.

Eligible projects must present clearly defined and innovative solutions aligned with one of two Technical Areas: (1) large-scale alternative fuel-based resources, including non-combustion power systems capable of multi-megawatt output and long-duration operation, or (2) alternative fuel infrastructure, including production, storage, distribution, and integrated systems. Projects must demonstrate technical feasibility, scalability, and a clear pathway to deployment within New York State. Demonstration projects must validate system performance under real-world operating conditions. For demonstration projects, teams are expected to include a technology developer, an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm or equivalent system integrator, and a host site located in New York State.

Key dates include an informational webinar (date not specified on page) and a proposal due date of September 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must include a complete Statement of Work clearly addressing all solicitation requirements outlined in PON 6161. Selected projects will be expected to complete comprehensive technical, economic, and operational analyses, including technoeconomic analysis (TEA), system design and integration, performance validation, and evaluation of emissions reductions relative to conventional systems.

Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit, cost-effectiveness, scalability, market potential, and overall project viability. NYSERDA reserves the right to award all, some, or none of the available funds and to extend or increase funding if additional resources become available. Supporting documents include a Proposal Narrative Template, Statement of Work Template, TRL Definition and Requirements, Executive Summary Slide Template, Metrics Form, and a Sample Agreement. The primary contact is Eliseo Curcio at pon6161@nyserda.ny.gov.