The American-Made Commercial Direct Air Capture Pilot Prize (DAC Pilot Prize) offers up to $52.5 million in cash awards to technology developers that design, build, commission, and operate innovative and novel DAC pilot facilities capable of capturing at least 500 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year.
Developing and Deploying Just, Sustainable Carbon Management Technology
The DAC Pilot Prize aims to provide support for first-of-a-kind DAC pilots that meet the technology standards to progress towards commercialization. Through this prize, the Department of Energy (DOE) will catalyze innovation and accelerate maturation of DAC technologies with an equitable approach focusing on environmental, community, and workforce advancement. This prize will award DAC developers as they achieve key milestones in their project development - including pre-FEED and FEED studies.
The DAC Pilot Prize is the second of two tracks in the $100 million Commercial DAC Prize and is part of a suite of interconnected competitions in the American-Made DAC Prize program, which advances CDR technologies and markets, as well as the incubators that support DAC entrepreneurs.
The DAC Pilot Prize builds on the progress made through the DAC Pre-Commercial Prizes (launched in March 2023), the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize (launched December 2023), and other ongoing DOE investments in applied CDR research and development.
DAC solutions are critical for meeting climate goals, and the DAC Pilot Prize aims to de-risk technology, help teams demonstrate commercial viability, and ultimately deploy their technology in the industry. In addition, prize winners will demonstrate their potential to contribute to, or participate in, the Regional DAC Hubs program.
Who Can Compete
This prize is open only to private entities, including for- or non-profits; non-federal government entities such as states, counties, Tribes, and municipalities; and academic institutions (see the Official Rules for eligibility criteria). Proposed projects cannot have previously been deployed in the Regional DAC Hubs program.
Prize Structure
Over the course of four phases, teams will win awards commensurate to the progress they make towards operating their first-of-a-kind DAC pilots. Each phase requires compounding progress in the Concept to Operate timeline.
Phase 1: Concept requirements:
Design a DAC Pilot Prize concept paper, including the proposed technology, data for the project, and a pre-Front End Engineering Design (pre-FEED) study for the proposed first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system.
Phase 2: Engineering requirements
Deliver a complete FEED study for the first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system.
Secure host site commitment, life cycle assessment, community benefits plans, environmental health and safety risk assessment, and NEPA compliance documents.
Deliver required assessments, analyses, and compliance information per the Official Rules document.
Phase 3: Permit requirements
Only winners of Phase 2 are eligible to compete in Phase 3
Complete a detailed design for a first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system
Acquire all necessary approvals per the Official Rules document.
Phase 4: Operate requirements:
Only winners of Phase 3 are eligible to compete in Phase 4
Construct a first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system and operate for at least 2,000 hours
Deliver required updated reporting and testing plans per the Official Rules document.
Guidelines
Please review the Official Rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please follow this HeroX page, subscribe to the American-Made Newsletter, or email prize administrators directly at .
The official rules of the Commercial Direct Air Capture Pilot Prize have been modified. Modification 2 includes the following (highlighted in yellow in the document):
Instructions for Phase 1 Bench-Scale Operating Data submission added to section 1.5.5.
Competitors must register for an EDX account before the Phase 2 deadline; EDX registration and data upload instructions are provided in Appendix 6.
Instructions for Phase 2 Bench-Scale Operating Data submission added to section 2.5.5.
Data must represent at least 500 hours of not-necessarily-continuous, integrated, bench-scale system operation at relevant environmental conditions insofar as possible. See highlighted modification detailing what this data should include.
Instructions for creating an EDX account and uploading data to EDX platform added to Appendix 6.
Updates reflecting Bench-Scale Operating Data submission scoring added to Appendix 15.
You can find the latest version of the rules on the Resources tab. Questions can be directed to or posted to the public HeroX Forum.
A recording of the recent Commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pilot Prize informational webinar, covering eligibility, deadlines, and more for Phase 1, is available now. If you missed this valuable session, streamit now to catch up on any prize details you may have missed.
The deadline to submit your entry to the DAC Pilot Prize is February 7, 2025. Technology developers that can design, build, commission, and operate innovative and novel DAC pilot facilities capable of capturing at least 500 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year are encouraged to start prepping their submissions now for a chance at a share of the $52.5 million in cash prizes.
All the below submission materials must be uploaded to the DAC Pilot Prize HeroX page before the contest closing date:
Cover Page (Public)
Concept Paper
Complete Pre-FEED Study
Pre-FEED Study Summary (Public)
Bench-scale Operating Data
State-Point Data Tables
Environmental Questionnaire
Other Letters of Commitment or Support (optional).
Still have questions? Email , and we will be happy to help. You can also use the public HeroX Forum to ask questions and spark discussions with HeroX community members. All questions from this webinar will be answered on the Forum, as well.
Don't miss the Commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pilot Prize, or the DAC Pilot Prize, informational webinar on September 5 at 3 p.m. ET!
Get an overview of the DAC Pilot Prize, submission requirements, scoring criteria, eligibility, how to compete, and more
A full recording, as well as answers to questions, will also be posted on HeroX after the event on this page. You can also post a question to the public HeroX Forum to gather feedback from the community and prize administrators or email questions to .
Interested in competing in this prize? We highly encourage you to join us for an informational webinar for the Commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pilot Prize, or the DAC Pilot Prize, on September 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
During the webinar, we will give participants an overview of the DAC Pilot Prize, as well as submission requirements, scoring criteria, eligibility, and more.
Can’t make it to the live webinar? You’ll find the full recording, as well as answers to your questions, posted on HeroX after the event—make sure to follow this page to receive updates as soon as they’re posted! You can also post a question to the public HeroX Forum to gather feedback from the community and prize administrators or email questions to .
Register nowfor the DAC Pilot Prize Informational Webinar on September 5. We look forwarding to seeing you there!
