As new renewable energy technologies are developed and integrated into the electric grid, there continues to be new areas of opportunity and challenges that must be addressed. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Electricity (OE) invites graduate students, researchers, industry partners, and key stakeholders to apply for the American-Made Science Synthesis Prize: Identifying Key Barriers to Renewable Integration.
Through this $125,000 prize, applicants are tasked with thoroughly analyzing the landscape of the renewable energy integration theory and practice and challenged to highlight pivotal opportunities, solutions, and areas of investment for addressing integration complications.
Competitors will form robust teams to develop an in-depth and cohesive research paper that highlights state-of-the-art renewable technologies, addresses the current and projected challenges associated with such technologies, and identifies the renewable integration gaps present throughout the industry that could be addressed with greater investment, research, development and/or awareness.
Could your research change the course of renewable energy development? Find more information about submission requirements, judging criteria, and other important prize details in the Official Rules document.
Prizes
Up to 10 teams will each receive $10,000, with up to 5 winners being awarded an additional $5,000 each for exceptional submissions. Winning submissions will help inform DOE’s roadmap to better understand and address potential roadblocks relating to the integration of large-scale renewable energy into the electric grid.
GRIT Prize Series
The Science Synthesis Prize is just one impactful component of the new Grid Resource Integration Technologies (GRIT) Prize Series. A joint effort from DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) and the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), this prize series catalyzes research and development on grid modernization through large-scale integration of renewable technology, distributed resources, and stationary storage.
OE’s Science Synthesis Prize was launched in conjunction with SETO’s Data-Driven Distribution (3D) Solar Visibility Prize, a competition to incentivize innovators to develop models and algorithms that provide accurate and real-time information about distributed solar generation in electric power distribution networks.
Applicants are encouraged to apply to one or both prizes. Follow the prizes on HeroX for more information on upcoming GRIT Prize Series initiatives.
Informational Webinar
Join us June 12 for an informational webinar to learn more about the Science Synthesis Prize. During the webinar, prize administrators will give an overview of the competition including key dates, submission requirements, scoring criteria, and prize pools. Plus, applicants will have an opportunity to ask questions during the live Q&A.
Can’t make the webinar? We’ve got you covered. A webinar recording will be made available on HeroX in the week following the live event.
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.
For more information on eligibility, submission requirements, and other important prize information, please read the Official Rules. To receive updates on the prize, please subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform.
