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American-Made Challenges

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Power At Sea Prize

Create reliable and cost-effective renewable power at sea to support Powering the Blue Economy™ initiatives. #PowerAtSea Prize

This challenge is closed

Energy, Environment & Resources Government
stage:
Power at Sea Prize DEVELOP Phase Kickoff Webinar
prize:
$1,700,000

This challenge is closed

Energy, Environment & Resources Government
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Summary
Overview Guidelines

Overview

Our oceans are a crucial asset: a precious habitat to millions of species, a vital carbon sink, and a key determinant of environmental and human health. Society’s growing need for ocean-derived food, materials, energy, and knowledge is fueling growth in next-generation maritime or “blue” technologies. This effort requires access to consistent, renewable power untethered from land-based grids. 

With reliable and cost-effective renewable power at sea, competitors in the Powering the Blue Economy™ Power at Sea Prize could help us come to a greater understanding of the world’s oceans. The prize aims to nurture innovative technologies that utilize the power inherent in the ocean to enable sustainable and responsible use of resources, better prediction and tracking of tropical storms, better monitoring and support of marine aquaculture, and more. 

The Power at Sea Prize, which expands on the Ocean Observing Prize, is structured to support competitors through the early stages of developing a new system, subsystem, or component from original conception to a testable stage of initial development. 

The prize aims to be a proving ground for ideas that have not yet had the opportunity to flourish and is structured so competitors end the prize better positioned for future technology development.

 

Prize Structure 

Through two phases, CONCEPT and DEVELOP, the Power at Sea Prize will provide winners with access to direct support, including trainings, mentorship, and new connections that aim to accelerate the advancement of concepts into real prototypes. 

In the CONCEPT Phase, competitors selected a blue economy application that their proposed system, subsystem, or component supports, and an integration challenge their solution intends to resolve. In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office awarded a total of $200,000 to 20 CONCEPT Phase winners.

In the DEVELOP Phase, the 20 winning teams from the CONCEPT Phase will work to advance their concept and prepare it for future technology development after the prize. Up to 20 phase winners will be awarded from a cash prize pool of up to $1,500,000.

 

Prize Phases

 

The Power at Sea Prize was established and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Sea Grant, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, and NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture. The prize is part of the American-Made program and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Guidelines

Please review the official rules document for the complete application process and instructions for competing. Please note that the competition is now closed to new competitors.

If you want to subscribe to updates about the prize or have any questions, you may use the contact feature on the HeroX platform, or .  

 

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Timeline
Updates7

Challenge Updates

Power at Sea Prize Awards 20 CONCEPT Phase Winners

Nov. 25, 2024, 10:45 a.m. PST by NREL Challenges

Congratulations to the winners of the first phase of the Power at Sea Prize! The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) today announced 20 CONCEPT Phase winners, who were each awarded $10,000 in cash prizes and will now be eligible to compete in the second phase, DEVELOP. The winning submissions showcased a wide range of innovative concepts that leverage marine energy to power ocean-based activities. Read the full announcement from WPTO.

The winning teams are as follows (in alphabetical order):

  • AquaSync (Ann Arbor, MI)  
  • BlueBio&Beyond (Hoboken, NJ)  
  • Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering (San Luis Obispo, CA)  
  • Changzheng Huang (Irvine, CA)  
  • E-Wave Technologies (Hoboken, NJ)  
  • IMTAqua (Ithaca, NY)  
  • OceaniCal (Berkeley, CA)  
  • ODU Ocean Wave Energy (Norfolk, Virginia)  
  • OffshoreLink (Hoboken, NJ)  
  • Oscilla Power Inc. (Seattle, WA)  
  • Pittsburgh Coastal Energy (Pittsburgh, PA)  
  • Poseidon's Kite (Keswick, VA)  
  • SEAquestration Team (Ithaca, NY)  
  • Seatrec, Inc. (Vista, CA)
  • Sperra (Boulder, CO)  
  • Streaming Energy (Wendell, NC)  
  • Team Michigan Tech (Houghton, MI)  
  • Wave Water Works (Farmington Hills, MI)
  • WaveRiders (Calverton, MD)
  • Waverocker Energy (Montrose, CA)

The Power at Sea Prize CONCEPT Phase was one of WPTO’s most competitive challenges to date, and we appreciate the engagement and effort of all the teams who competed. We hope you will continue to advance your technologies and compete in future prizes from the American-Made program.  

Submission Deadline is this Friday, July 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m. MDT/ 5:00pm EDT!

July 22, 2024, 11 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

The deadline is fast approaching to apply for the PBE: Power at Sea Prize this Friday, July 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m. MDT/ 5:00pm EDT

 

Reminder for last minute questions and feedback: 

HeroX Forum

Post your question on the forum. The forum is monitored M-F from 9:00am-5:00pm MT.

 

Final Days for Office Hours and One-on-One's

OpenSeas, through the Power Connector Program, is providing open office hours to support teams participating in the challenge. Registration will be via the Calendly application identified below.

Schedule:

  • Tuesdays – 18 June through 23 July, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
  • Wednesdays – 26 June through 24 July, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm ET 
  • Register here through calendly. 

One-on-One’s

Multiple 30-minute availabilities for providing support to individual teams to answer questions and provide mentoring. Requestors may reserve appointments for fixed available slots via the Calendly app, or schedule other times by contacting lparks@odu.edu.

Fixed 30-Minute Availabilities:

  • Tuesdays – 25 June through 23 July, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET
  • Wednesdays – 26 June through 24 July, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Register here through calendly.

Open Scheduling

  • Check availability from 18 June through 23 July
  • Contact lparks@odu.edu

Good luck!

The Power at Sea Prize Team

Don't Forget to Apply!

July 9, 2024, 9:06 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator (Amanda)

The deadline to apply for the PBE: Power at Sea Prize is: July 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m. MDT/ 5:00pm EDT

 

Questions? Join us for the: PBE: Power at Sea Prize APPLY! Webinar

We'll walk through the process to apply using HeroX and will answer questions live. Register here: https://nrel.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_NOLrDARnSdy0l1L05G98Pw#/registration

 

Can't make it? Post your general questions on the forum.

 

Looking for more personalized feedback on your submission? Schedule a one-on-one with OpenSeas or stop by an office hours:

Office hours

OpenSeas, through the Power Connector Program, is providing open office hours to support teams participating in the challenge. Registration will be via the Calendly application identified below.

Scheduled multiple times during June and July.

  • Tuesdays – 18 June through 23 July, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
  • Friday – 21 June, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET
  • Wednesdays – 26 June through 24 July, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm ET 
  • Register here through calendly. 

One-on-One’s

Multiple 30-minute availabilities for providing support to individual teams to answer questions and provide mentoring. Requestors may reserve appointments for fixed available slots via the Calendly app, or schedule other times by contacting lparks@odu.edu.

Fixed 30-Minute Availabilities:

  • Thursday - 20 June, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
  • Tuesdays – 25 June through 23 July, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET
  • Wednesdays – 26 June through 24 July, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Register here through calendly.

Open Scheduling

  • Check availability from 18 June through 23 July
  • Contact lparks@odu.edu

Register for Upcoming Webinars, View Past Recordings, & Sign-up for Time with OpenSeas

June 20, 2024, 3:36 p.m. PDT by Libby Arnold

Dear Power at Sea Prize Community, 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Power at Sea Prize “Ask!” and “Explore!” webinars. Your engagement and curiosity truly enriched the discussions. For those who missed the live sessions or wish to revisit key moments, we’re pleased to announce that the recordings are now available on our American-Made Challenges YouTube channel. Please click on the links above to access the recordings.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue our webinar series with two more dynamic sessions, designed to further your understanding and spark your innovative spirit in marine energy solutions:

Monday, June 24 at 2 p.m. ET (12 p.m. MT)

Join our experts from the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory as we delve into an early-stage marine energy use case. This session will outline the specific challenges, the communities impacted, and the abundant opportunities available for new innovators. We aim to build a diverse community of innovators, welcoming those historically underrepresented in STEM and individuals new to Marine Energy. Don’t miss this chance to bring your ideas to life and compete in the first phase of the prize, CONCEPT, for a part of the $200,000 cash prize. 

Click here to register for the Innovate! webinar.

Tuesday, June 25, at 12.30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. MT)

Friday, June 28, at 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. MT)

Taking an innovative idea to a successfully sustained enterprise that delivers its value to the world requires two major components that proceed in parallel – the development of technology, and the development of the business opportunity. This webinar will discuss the commercialization process – and how to increase the probability of your success beyond the Power at Sea Challenge.

Register here through Calendly.

Finally, do you need mentorship with your CONCEPT Phase submission? Then sign up for a (free!) individual team consultation, or join the open office hours provided by our prize Power Connector: OpenSeas. Their organization is here to provide invaluable support to all the teams participating in the challenge. Click here to see specific times available.

Don’t wait! Register now to secure your spot in the Power At Sea Prize: Innovate! webinar, OpenSeas Webinar: From Idea to Implementation. Be sure to sign up for consulting time with OpenSeas, so that your team can make the most of these opportunities to enhance your submissions.

Looking forward to connecting soon,

The Power at Sea Prize Administrative Team

Celebrate Earth Day by Joining the Power at Sea Prize: Explore Webinar!

April 18, 2024, 1 p.m. PDT by Libby Arnold

Celebrate Earth Day by joining the Power at Sea Prize: Explore webinar, on April 22, at 2 p.m. ET. This enlightening session will introduce the crucial role you can play in advancing sustainable solutions for marine renewable energy. We’ll cover the various types, practical applications, and the challenges facing the field. We’ll also review the basic details of the Power at Sea Prize, including its structure, cash prizes, and important submission reminders. 

Whether you’re a stakeholder in marine technologies, a researcher, or simply curious about marine renewable energy, this webinar will equip you with essential information and an opportunity to engage with experts from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Don’t miss out on this informative event! Click here to register. 

Forum23
Teams1.1K
Entries
Resources
FAQ
Webinars, Recordings, & OpenSeas Office Hours