DAC Commercial CDR Purchase Pilot Prize

The Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize (CDR Purchase Pilot Prize) offers up to $35 million in cash awards to teams that provide impactful CDR concept proposals, develop and refine these plans, and ultimately deliver their specified CDR credits. 

Building the Foundation for Just, Sustainable, and Scalable Carbon Management 

The CDR Purchase Pilot Prize marks the first initiative by the U.S. Federal Government to directly purchase CDR from domestic providers. Through this prize, the Department of Energy will establish precedent for the level of rigor required to successfully evaluate CDR technologies and demonstrate how CDR purchase contracts can catalyze innovation while strengthening America’s CDR objectives.

The CDR Purchase Pilot Prize is one of two tracks in the $100 million Commercial DAC Prize and part of a suite of interconnected competitions in the American-Made DAC Prize program, which advances DAC and CDR technologies and markets, as well as the incubators that support DAC entrepreneurs. The Commercial DAC Prize builds on the progress made through the DAC Pre-Commercial Prizes (launched in March 2023), as well as historic and ongoing DOE investments in applied DAC and CDR research and development.  

CDR solutions are critical for meeting climate goals, and the CDR Purchase Pilot Prize aims to innovate how governments can structure offtake agreements with CDR project developers in a robust, transparent, and competitive manner. In addition, the prize supports the development of a CDR purchasing market, encouraging technological innovation and accelerated growth of the industry.

The prize is open to four CDR technology pathways (see the Official Rules document for definitions for each of these pathways) :

• Direct Air Capture
• Biomass (BiCRS) technologies 
• Enhanced geological weathering and enhanced mineralization technologies
• Planned and managed carbon sinks 

Who Can Compete: 

Eligible competitors must offer CDR that is removed and sequestered within the U.S., including Tribal Nations, and U.S. Territories, or associated federal or state waters. Competitors or teams who meet eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply to the initial phase of the prize (see the Official Rules for eligibility criteria). Diverse, multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged; competitors interested in collaborating can connect on HeroX on the “Teams” page.  
 

Prize Structure

Teams will win increasingly larger awards as they make progress over the course of three phases. Each phase requires compounding progress in the CDR purchase agreement and delivery process.

Phase 1 requirements:

• Design a CDR Credit Concept Proposal, outlining key contract terms and other key information.

Phase 2 requirements

• Only winners of the Phase 1 are eligible to compete in Phase 2
• Refine, advance, and structure their CDR offtake agreement plan
• Draft and submit a binding offer to DOE for the purchase of CDR within the Purchase Pilot Prize Timeline.

Phase 3 requirements 

• Only winners of Phase 2 are eligible to compete in Phase 3 
• Deliver the verified CDR committed to DOE on the scheduled timeline and criteria established within the contract structure and agreed-upon requirements.

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 . 

Note: As of September 29, 2023, the Official Rules document contains the rules for Phase 1 of the CDR Purchase Pilot Prize. It also includes draft rules for Phases 2 and 3 of the CDR Pilot Purchase Prize. The draft rules for Phases 2 and 3 are not binding and are open to public comment through 10/31/23 (comments can be sent to ).