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American-Made Challenges

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Digitizing Utilities: Round 2

Help electric utilities tackle data and cybersecurity challenges to advance grid reliability/resiliency and mitigate cybersecurity risks
stage:
Informational Webinar
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Summary
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Updates6
Forum7
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Summary

Overview

Following a successful Round 1, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Electricity launched Round 2 of the $1.85 million Digitizing Utilities Prize, with support from DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. This prize connects utilities with interdisciplinary teams of software developers and data experts to transform digital systems and data analytics for utilities in the energy sector. 

The electricity sector is facing an “explosion” of data coming from a variety of sources. 

Recent advances in sensor technologies allow utilities to access fast-streaming data sets, challenging traditional methods of data acquisition, use, and storage. To fully utilize the massive influx of data from these sensors, the electricity sector must undergo a transformation in how it manages data quality, storage, and processing. 

The Digitizing Utilities Prize supports competitors as they develop innovative solutions to transform data analytics and system digitization for utilities, such as energy use data, synchrophasor data, weather data, fire assessment data, and more. In Round 2, innovators have the option to focus specifically on addressing cybersecurity threats and risks through demonstrated improvements in risk identification, analysis, prediction, or proactive response for enhanced protection of digital energy infrastructures.

Competitor Tracks

This prize invites competitors to propose software solutions meet challenges in one or both competitor tracks:

Track 1: Utility Digitization/Data Challenge 

Track 2: Utility Cybersecurity Challenge

Competitors must identify whether the solution applies to Track 1, Track 2, or both within the application. Applicants who choose to compete in both Track 1 and Track 2 are eligible to receive prizes from both tracks. 

Phases and Prize Amounts

This competition has two phases—Plan and Progress—to drive accelerated development of the most promising ideas. 

Phase 1 – Plan

Competitors will connect with a utility partner, identify a data and/or cybersecurity challenge, and propose a solution to that problem. Teams will then demonstrate a thorough understanding of the problem, as well as their ability to access relevant resources that can be leveraged for this prize.

Track# of WinnersPrize Amount
Track 1: Utility Digitization/Data ChallengeUp to 8$75,000 cash prize each
Track 2: Utility Cybersecurity ChallengeUp to 6$75,000 cash prize each

For more information on Phase 1 and the required submission materials, please review the Official Rules. Any questions unanswered in the rules document can be asked during the prize’s upcoming webinar or raised in the Forum Tab, where a prize administrator will publicly respond.

Phase 2 – Progress

Competitors will work side-by-side with their selected utility partner on their presented issue for 6 months to develop and refine a software solution that addresses the issues that the utilities are dealing with. At the end of Phase 2, teams will present their progress toward implementing their solution.

Track# of WinnersPrize Amount
Track 1: Utility Digitization/Data ChallengeUp to 3$200,000 cash prize each
Track 2: Utility Cybersecurity ChallengeUp to 1$200,000 cash prize

 

Competitor Eligibility 

The competition is open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals, subject to the requirements in the Official Rules.

Past competitors of the Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 1 are encouraged to reapply with updated submission materials; however, teams who won any phase of Round 1 are discouraged from submitting the same or similar idea to this round or any future round of the prize.

Timeline
Updates6

Challenge Updates

Mentorship Office Hours with yet2

Nov. 27, 2023, 8:30 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Moderator

Hey competitors, 

Looking for application support for your Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 2 submission? We've got you covered. Sign up today with prize partner yet2 for a 30-minute support and mentorship session. 

Additional Resources

  • Register for an informational webinar on Nov. 28 to hear more about key prize details. (Can't make the session? Follow the prize on HeroX to receive a notification once the webinar recording is available.)
  • Read the Official Rules to learn more about competitor eligibility and submission requirements. 
  • Post your questions in the HeroX Forum tab where a prize administrator will respond ASAP. 

We look forward to seeing your submissions soon! 


Rescheduled: Informational Webinar Nov. 28

Nov. 17, 2023, 7 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

The Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 2 Informational Webinar has been rescheduled for Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. ET. If you’d like to join the live event, please register here even if you had previously registered for the Nov. 16 webinar. 

During the event, prize administrators will cover: 

  • Submission requirements
  • Competitor eligibility 
  • Key dates and deadlines
  • Prize phases
  • Live questions from attendees.

As a reminder, if you can’t attend the live webinar, a recording of the webinar will be available shortly after the event on HeroX.

We’ll see you on Nov. 28!


Informational Webinar Date Change

Nov. 16, 2023, 8:26 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

Competitors,

Today’s Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 2 Informational Webinar has been canceled. A new date and time will be posted soon, including an updated link to register for this event.

During the webinar, interested applicants will hear about competitor eligibility, submission requirements, and key dates. Plus, there will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar where participants can get live answers from prize administrators.

As a reminder, if you can’t attend the live webinar, a recording of the webinar will be available shortly after the event on HeroX.

Don’t forget to follow this prize on HeroX to receive updates on events, deadlines, and more. We look forward to seeing you all soon! 


Join Us for Tomorrow’s Webinar

Nov. 15, 2023, 7:10 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

Hey competitors! Don’t forget, tomorrow, Nov. 16 at 12 p.m. ET, prize administrators will host an informational webinar outlining key information about Round 2 of the Digitizing Utilities Prize. Plus, there will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar where participants can get live answers from prize administrators.

Register today


Informational Webinar Next Week

Nov. 8, 2023, 9:20 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

The Digitizing Utilities Prize is back for Round 2! Join us next Thursday, Nov. 16, at 12 p.m. ET for an informational webinar. During the webinar, interested applicants will hear about competitor eligibility, submission requirements, and key dates. Plus, there will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar where participants can get live answers from prize administrators. Register here to join.

Can’t make it to the live webinar? We’ve got you covered! A recording of the webinar will be available shortly after the event on HeroX. Make sure you’re following this round of the prize on HeroX to receive an email notification when the recording is published, as well as other important prize updates. 

See you soon! 


Forum7
Teams83
Resources
FAQ