The Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pre-Commercial Technology Prize awards up to $3.2 million in cash prizes and $800,000 in technical assistance vouchers to teams that identify a critical need in the DAC industry, develop a solution to address this gap, and test the idea to a degree of scale. It focuses on the steps of ideation and entrepreneurship needed to prepare technologies and businesses for commercialization.
The DAC Pre-Commercial Technology Prize (DAC Technology Prize) is part of a suite of interconnected competitions in the American-Made DAC Prize program. Understanding that there are several steps to move from an idea to a marketable product, the DAC Prizes are a suite of prizes that work together to demonstrate carbon dioxide removal technology leadership, promote private investment, establish a resilient market, and deliver economic and workforce benefits.
Direct air capture is technically focused and challenging. The DAC Technology Prize focuses on developing DAC technology innovations, such as novel materials or systems integration, that will accelerate opportunities and successes in U.S. industry.
Who Can Compete?
This Prize is currently closed to new competitors.
Prize Structure
Teams win increasingly larger prizes as they successfully meet technology milestones over the course of the three phases: Develop, Design, and Deliver. Each phase requires compounding progress of DAC technology development.
Develop
Develop Phase requirements:
Identify a breakthrough solution to a critical need in the direct air capture industry
Develop a conceptual design for a bench-scale proof of concept system
Craft a validation plan for the technology, and more.
Design
Only winners of the Develop Phase are eligible to compete in the Design Phase.
Design Phase requirements:
Finalize the design and cost of solution
Conduct preliminary analyses and risk assessments
Develop a monitoring, reporting, and verification plan
Develop engineering, procurement, construction, and testing plans
Schedule to validate the DAC technology.
Deliver
Only winners of the Design Phase are eligible to compete in the Deliver Phase.
Deliver Phase requirements:
Construct and test solutions
Develop a plan and design for the next scale of integrated system testing
Submit a long-term plan for the ongoing success of the technology
Identify partners and incorporate feedback to advance the solution from bench- to pilot-scale.
Guidelines
Email prize administrators directly at DACprizes@nrel.gov.
Disclaimer
Note the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating all funding opportunities, including prize challenges, to ensure appropriate resources are allocated efficiently, and that the Department's initiatives are in line with the statutory mission of DOE and the policies and priorities of the Administration and DOE. DOE is undertaking this evaluation in accordance with all laws, regulations, and fiscal responsibility, as efficiently as possible.
It’s not too late to sign up to join us TODAY for the informational webinar for the Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pre-Commercial Technology Prize at 3 p.m. ET. Register now to attend!
The webinar will provide an overview of the DAC Tech Prize “Develop” Phase submission requirements, scoring criteria, eligibility, and more.
Follow this page to receive updates, watch the recorded webinar, receive answers to questions, and connect with the DAC community. You can also email questions to .
Register nowfor the DAC Tech Prize Informational Webinar, and join us today, May 16, at 3 p.m. ET.
Don’t miss the informational webinar for the Direct Air Capture (DAC) Technology Prize on May 16 at 3 p.m. ET.
Get an overview of the DAC Tech Prize “Develop” Phase submission requirements, scoring criteria, eligibility, and how your scalable innovations to advance DAC technology can earn a share of $3.2 million in cash prizes and $800,000 in technical support.
Make sure to follow this page to receive updates and get answers to questions asked in the webinar!
Register now for the DAC Tech Prize Informational Webinar on May 16.
Join an informational webinar for the Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pre-Commercial Technical Prize, or the DAC Tech Prize, happening May 16 at 3 p.m. ET.
During the webinar, prize administrators will give participants an overview of the DAC Tech Prize “Design” Phase submission requirements, scoring criteria, eligibility, and more.
Can’t make it? You’ll find the full webinar recording, as well as answers to your questions, posted on HeroX after the event—make sure you’re following 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 Tech Prize Informational Webinar on May 16.
The Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pre-Commercial Technology Prize is officially open! This prize, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, is now accepting submissions for innovative hard technology DAC solutions.
To compete for up to $3.2 million in cash prizes and $800,000 in technical assistance vouchers, innovator and entrepreneur teams must identify a critical need in the DAC industry, mature a breakthrough solution to address this gap, and test the idea to a specified degree of scale.
Teams will win increasingly larger prizes as they successfully meet technology milestones over the course of three phases: Develop, Design, and Deliver.
The deadline to apply for the first phase of the DAC Pre-Commercial Technology Prize is Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. EDT.Learn more about specific eligibility and submission requirements by reading the official DAC Pre-Commercial Technology Prize rules and following this HeroX channel for updates on the competition.
Interested participants can join prize administrators for an informational webinar on May 16 at 3 p.m. ET for information about competition rules, eligibility, and more, as well as a live Q&A session. Register here.
