The Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize aims to catalyze domestic manufacturing of critical clean energy technology components, moving manufacturing facilities from planning to shovel-ready and enabling strategies for vibrant manufacturing activities in communities. This prize, developed by the Office of Technology Transitions in partnership with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has a prize pool of approximately $30 million spread across two tracks: Facilities and Strategies.
The Facilities Track accelerates clean energy technology manufacturing plant development and helps support establishing a robust, secure domestic supply chain for components deemed critical for the commercialization of clean energy technologies. This track invites U.S.-based entities with demonstrated commitment and capabilities in domestic manufacturing to complete and submit the work necessary for a shovel-ready manufacturing facility for specific clean energy technology components, including components related to hydrogen, the electric grid, long-duration energy storage, and carbon capture.
This page outlines the eligibility and track structure for the Facilities Track. More information on the Facilities Track and instructions for competing can be found in the official rules document.
For information on the Strategies Track, where competitors work to attract manufacturing to their regions, please visit the Strategies Track HeroX page.
Competitor Eligibility
U.S.-based entities interested in establishing a manufacturing plant for an eligible clean energy technology may submit a statement of intent for the Facilities Track. Eligible components include:
Manufacturing and/or recycling of components for production, processing, delivery, and storage, of clean hydrogen and/or hydrogen fuel cells:
Facilities to extract and process raw materials for electrolyzer and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing
Precision manufactured subcomponents for electrolyzers and fuel cells and facilities for electrolyzer and fuel cell assembly
Optimized balance-of-plant components for electrolyzers
Production capacity for hydrogen-specific infrastructure.
Manufacturing of components related to electric grid upgrades and long-duration energy storage:
Components for distribution and large power transformers
Components for high-voltage direct current transmission
Manufacturing and assembly of long-duration energy storage components and systems.
Manufacturing of components related to carbon capture and storage:
Carbon capture solvent, sorbent, and membrane recovery facilities.
More information on competitor eligibility and the eligible components can be found in the official rules document.
Track Structure
The Facilities Track includes submission of a statement of intent and two phases.
Statement of Intent: Competitors submit a letter of intent describing their team and the clean energy technology to be manufactured. Competitors will be notified if their statement is deemed eligible to compete in Phase 1: Scope.
Phase 1: Scope: Competitors submit a plan to establish a manufacturing facility for their identified clean energy technology. Approximately 12 winners will be awarded $500,000 each and will advance to the Phase 2: Shovel-Ready.
Phase 2: Shovel-Ready: Competitors will demonstrate they are “shovel-ready” for the construction of a manufacturing facility including control of a site, permits, financing, and proof of community engagement. Up to four winners will be awarded $4.5 million each.
There are two opportunities to compete in the Facilities Track: through the Primary Timeline or the Secondary Timeline. Competitors who submit a statement of intent that is deemed eligible during the Primary Timeline may submit subsequent materials by either the Primary or Secondary Timeline deadlines, but are encouraged to submit as soon as they are ready, as a limited number of prizes are available and the competition will close once all funds are awarded.
Statement of Intent Primary Deadline: October 18, 2023
Statement of Intent Primary Decision Notification (anticipated): November 2023
Phase 1: Scope Submission Primary Deadline: February 1, 2024
Statement of Intent Secondary Deadline: February 1, 2024
Statement of Intent Secondary Decision Notification (anticipated): February 2024
Phase 1:Scope Primary Winner Announcement: Approximately 60 days after deadline
Phase 1:Scope Submission Secondary Deadline: May 1, 2024
Phase 1: Scope Secondary Winner Announcement: Approximately 60 days after deadline
Phase 2: Shovel-Ready First Opportunity to Submit Deadline: ApproximatelyAugust 2024
Phase 2: Shovel-Ready Second Opportunity to Submit Deadline: ApproximatelyNovember 2024
Phase 2: Shovel-Ready Third Opportunity to Submit Deadline: ApproximatelyFebruary 2025
Phase 2: Shovel-Ready Fourth Opportunity to Submit Deadline: ApproximatelyMay 2025
Informational Webinar
The MAKE IT Prize Facilities Track informational webinar recording gives an overview of the Facilities Track and its phases, timelines, and submission requirements. Watch the webinar recording to learn more.
Challenge Guidelines
The official rules document contains the complete application process and instructions for competing.
Follow the challenge page to receive the latest updates. For any questions, please use the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
Guidelines
Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
Follow the challenge page to receive the latest updates. For any questions, please use the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
Congratulations to the teams that have been selected as eligible from the Primary Statement of Intent deadline. They will be able compete in Phase 1: Scope for $500,000, which is now open.
At this time, all Team Captains from the Primary Statement of Intent have been notified of the status of the Statement of Intent with comments about their submissions. If you wish to compete in the Secondary timeline, that is now open.
Thank you to all of the competitors in the MAKE IT Facilities Primary Statement of Intent! This update is to let everyone know that eligibility announcement will be made the week of November 6th by the Department of Energy. Phase One will begin alongside that announcement. Thank you for your patience!
The deadline to submit a statement of intent is coming up on Oct. 18, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET! If you’re interested in manufacturing clean energy technology components related to long duration energy storage, this blog post delves into why these technologies can play a key role in building a reliable and resilient clean energy power system.
Why Do We Need Long Duration Energy Storage?
To decarbonize by 2050, the U.S. energy sector will require radical transformations, including decarbonization of the electric grid. The U.S. will need to transition to carbon-free power sources, such as renewables and nuclear to successfully decarbonize the power sector. As part of this transition, long duration energy storage (LDES) will be a key component to build a flexible and reliable clean energy grid.
LDES systems—which DOE defines as 10 or more hours in duration—can help communities more effectively integrate grid storage into their energy mix. However, the country has limited to no domestic manufacturing capacity to provide many critical components needed for these storage systems. For LDES to play a key role in a future carbon-free power system, annual manufacturing and deployment capacity must approach 10–15 gigawatts per year by 2035 and 30 gigawatts per year by 2040. LDES technologies can also help increase local control of the power system, build resilience for communities and minimize power grid disruptions.
How Can We Boost the Supply Chain for Long Duration Energy Storage Components?
LDES encompasses a broad variety of technologies and approaches. Facilities designed to manufacture and assemble components related to any technological approach to LDES are eligible to compete in the MAKE IT Prize if there is a clear path to commercial take off as soon as the facility is expected to be built. Manufacturing and assembling metal anode and flow batteries are of particular interest,.
The deadline to submit a statement of intent is coming up on Oct. 18, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET! For competitors interested in manufacturing clean energy technology components related to grid upgrades, this blog post discusses eligible components and why they are critical to building a clean energy future.
Why Do We Need Grid Updates?
To decarbonize by 2050, the U.S. energy sector will require radical transformations, including decarbonization of the electric grid by modernizing and integrating zero-carbon electricity sources. Many of the country’s transmission and local grid distribution systems are also aged or outdated. If the United States does not upgrade existing grid infrastructure, it will be challenging to meet the country’s decarbonization goals.
But upgrading these systems is likely to increase pressure on existing supply chains for materials and components, and many critical components that support the power grid have limited to no domestic manufacturing capacity. For example, the United States currently faces a shortage of distribution transformers. Installed large power transformers are, on average, about 40 years old, which is the end of their expected lifetime. And, if we can replace conventional alternating current with high voltage direct current technologies, we could help improve grid resilience, security, and operation flexibility while incorporating more renewable energy into the grid.
Updated electric grid infrastructure, including transformers and high-voltage direct current, can increase local control of the power system, build resilience for communities, minimize power disruptions, and help America reach the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
How Can We Bolster the Supply Chain for Grid Upgrade Components?
To successfully upgrade and strengthen the country’s electric grid, the U.S. Department of Energy aims to catalyze domestic manufacturing of the necessary critical components.
Through the Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize Facilities Track, teams will work to enhance these domestic supply chains by accelerating the manufacturing of:
Components for distribution and large power transformers
Components for high-voltage direct current transmission.
