HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize to help develop advanced clean energy programming opportunities and connections for HBCUs across the United States. The prize focuses on three primary goals: 

1. Inspire K-12 and community college students to engage with and learn about clean energy subjects through HBCU-hosted educational programs.
2. Initiate partnerships between HBCUs and other universities with proven clean energy focused programs to build new cross-university degree and certificate programs.
3. Integrate and build programming between university and industry partners to advance career opportunities for HBCU students in the clean energy space. 

The prize aims to help HBCUs achieve these goals through two distinct prize tracks, the Inspire Track and the Partnerships Track. The Inspire Track is open and more details on the Partnerships Track will follow. HBCUs of all sizes are invited to apply to help foster the next generation of the clean energy workforce.

Inspire Track

The Inspire Track supports the development or expansion of HBCU-hosted clean energy summer or academic break programs for K-12 and community college students. These programs will help explain basic concepts of clean energy technologies and illuminate possible clean energy educational and career pathways for students.

Phases

The Inspire Track is comprised of two phases. For more information on the Inspire Track phases, please read the official rules document.

• Phase 1: Competitors will work to develop educational plans for clean energy summer or academic break programs. Up to 20 winners will each receive a $40,000 cash award and will be eligible to compete in Phase 2.
• Phase 2: Phase 1 winners will continue to develop program plans, further implement the programs, and provide initial metrics to showcase program impact. Up to 20 winners will each receive a $10,000 cash award.

Key Dates

Anticipated dates are subject to change. For the final dates, please read the official rules document.

• Phase 1 Launches: May 8, 2023
• Phase 1 Submissions Due: August 24, 2023
• Phase 1 Winners Announced: September 2023 (anticipated)
• Phase 2 Submissions Due: June 21, 2024 (anticipated)
• Phase 2 Winners Announced: July 2024 (anticipated)

Eligibility

All HBCUs in the United States and U.S. territories are eligible to apply to one or both tracks. For more details, please read the official rules document.

Informational Webinar

For more information on the Inspire Track, please register to attend our informational webinar on June 6, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET. Presenters will discuss the competition and answer questions. 

Partnerships Track

The Partnerships Track is not yet open. The track is scheduled to open in September 2023. More details about how to compete in this track are coming soon. 

The Partnerships Track supports building partnerships between HBCUs and other universities, government agencies, and industry leaders to inform new programs and provide professional opportunities that will equip HBCU students with the skills needed to succeed in clean energy careers. 

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Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing. For more information on the Inspire Track, please register to attend our informational webinar on June 6, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET. Presenters will discuss the competition and answer questions. 

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