Solid-State Energy Conversion from Heat to Electricity Request for Information (RFI)
DARPA is seeking information on the state of the art, technical limits, and potential use cases for solid-state systems that convert heat directly to electricity without moving parts.
⚑ Request for Information / Sources Sought only; not a grant competition and does not state an award. · Federal contract context; eligibility for direct award is not established in the notice. · Purpose is market/technical information gathering for potential future program planning.
This is a DARPA materials/energy technology RFI centered on solid-state thermal-to-electric conversion and engineering performance limits, which is outside IPPRA’s social-behavioral research portfolio. The team might comment on use cases only at a very high level, but there is no real fit with their public opinion, warning, or policy-evaluation lines.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-10-24
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 75 strong | technical depth: central; funds data infrastructure |
| IPPRA | 55 good | portfolio topics: energy, national_security_defense (primary); signature methods: policy analysis; social/behavioral work is none; funds data/survey infrastructure; eligibility unclear — verify in the NOFO; capped at 55 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 15 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is requesting information on the current state of the art and technological limitations of solid-state direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion technologies. We define solid state energy conversion as systems that convert a temperature differential directly into electrical energy without utilizing mechanical moving parts (e.g., pistons, turbines, or rotary alternators). This RFI seeks to identify the best possible solid state heat engine performance across a wide operating temperature range, factors that limit performance, and the most attractive use cases if these highly efficient solid state heat engines could be made today. This survey of limits, challenges and use cases will identify opportunities for research and development to inform potential program(s) in this area.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Sources Sought. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) / DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY.
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