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Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2

Propose transformative energy storage solutions that address niche markets and inform the DOE’s strategy to accelerate grid modernization.
Energy, Environment & Resources Science Technology
stage:
Informational Webinar
prize:
$300,000
Energy, Environment & Resources Science Technology
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Summary
Overview Competitor Eligibility & Guidelines Solutions of Interest

Overview

Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2 is now open for submissions! 

After a successful Round 1, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) is excited to announce Round 2 of the Energy Storage Innovations Prize. This single-phase, $300,000 competition aims to gain insights on innovative, emerging, and next-generation energy storage solutions that address niche markets and inform the DOE’s strategy on transformative storage technologies to accelerate grid modernization for all consumers, while achieving needed reliability, affordability, and energy security.

This competition places a focus on less conventional use cases (e.g., remote and/or underserved communities and extreme climate) and innovative (less mature) energy storage technology solutions, across all duration scales, to advance the market landscape.

Submissions will be judged on how innovative the use case and solution are, the strength of the plan, and other unique benefits including equity, supply chain considerations, and other factors.

Prizes 

Up to five Champions will receive a $50,000 cash prize each and up to five Finalists will receive a $10,000 cash prize each.

Competitor Eligibility & Guidelines

The competition is open to individuals; academia, non-federal government entities, small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other inventors who are working on nascent or emerging energy storage innovations that address less conventional use cases (e.g., remote and/or underserved communities and extreme climate) all subject to the full requirements in the Official Rules. Competitors may be individuals or teams. 

 

Guidelines 

Please review the Official Rules for the complete submission process and instructions for participating in this prize. If your question isn’t directly addressed in the rules document, we encourage all competitors to use the public Forum tab on HeroX where a prize administrator will respond as soon as possible.

Solutions of Interest

The Prize places a focus on less conventional use cases (e.g., remote and/or underserved communities, extreme climate) and innovative (less mature) energy storage technology solutions, across all duration scales, to advance the market landscape. DOE is not providing a list of “less conventional use cases” that are eligible for this prize. The prize submission must demonstrate that the use case is less conventional and clearly differentiate how the innovative technology solution solves a problem for a market, community, sector, or other group that is significantly different from conventional applications of that technology. 

The energy storage technologies eligible for consideration in a solution are not limited but must discharge electricity. Below are examples of eligible energy storage technologies. However, other technologies beyond those listed are of interest to DOE. 

 

 Type Technology
 Other Other technologies beyond those  listed below are of interest
 Electrochemical Lithium-ion
 Redox flow
 Lead-acid
 Sodium ion
 Zinc ion
 Li-metal
 Na-metal
 Other metals (e.g., Mg, Al)
 Reversible fuel cells
 Supercapacitors
 Electromechanical Liquid air energy storage
 Flywheels
 Geomechanical
 Pumped storage hydropower
 Compressed-air energy storage
 Gravitational
 Thermal Phase change
 Low-temperature storage
 High-temperature sensible heat
 Thermal-photovoltaic
 Chemical Chemical carriers (e.g., ammonia)
 Hydrogen
 Flexible buildings Thermostatically controlled loads
 Building mass
 Ice and chilled water
 Organic phase change material
 Salt hydrate
 Thermochemical
 Desiccant
 Flexible generation Front-of-the-meter flexibility and  hybrids
 Behind-the-meter hybrids

 

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Challenge Updates

Informational Webinar Tomorrow!

Dec. 11, 2024, 5:26 a.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

Anyone interested in competing in the Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2 is encouraged to attend an informational webinar on Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET!  

Reserve your spot to hear about prize eligibility, submission requirements, and key dates for this $300,000 prize.  

By participating in this one-phase competition, you’ll propose next-generation energy storage solutions that address niche markets. This will help inform the U.S. Department of Energy’s strategy on transformative storage technologies to accelerate grid modernization for all consumers.  

Participating in the webinar is the next step to learn more about the prize!  

Register now for the informational webinar and bring your questions on Dec. 12. 

Register for the Informational Webinar

Dec. 3, 2024, 6:24 a.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

Prize administrators are hosting an informational webinar on Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET for Round 2 of the Energy Storage Innovations Prize. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the prize and ask any questions you may have.  

In the informational webinar, administrators will go over: 

  • Eligibility  
  • Submission requirements 
  • Key dates 
  • Application process 
  • Cash prizes and winner participation in a U.S. Department of Energy video 

Start gathering your questions, register now, and mark your calendar! 

Don’t forget, if you’re not already following this prize on HeroX, make sure to click the Follow button in the top right corner to receive important prize updates.  

Open for Submissions: Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2

Nov. 25, 2024, 12:24 p.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

Round 2 of the $300,000 Energy Storage Innovations Prize is now open! 

This one-phase competition invites individuals, academics, non-federal government entities, small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other inventors in the U.S. working on nascent or emerging energy storage innovations to submit their energy storage solutions that address less conventional use cases.  

Participation in this prize will lead to insights on innovative, emerging, and next-generation energy storage solutions that address niche markets and inform the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) strategy on transformative storage technologies. The aim of this prize is to accelerate grid modernization for all consumers, while achieving needed reliability, affordability, and energy security. 

 

 

Up to five Storage Innovations Champions will receive a $50,000 cash prize each and up to five additional Storage Innovations Finalists will receive a $10,000 cash prize each. They will also be highlighted in a DOE promotional video! 

If you’re interested in Round 2 of the Energy Storage Innovations Prize, here’s what next:  

  1. Hit the Follow button in the top right corner of this prize page to stay in-the-know about this prize and upcoming deadlines. 
  2. Register for the informational webinar taking place on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 12 p.m. ET.  
  3. Read the official rules to learn more about the prize. 

We hope to see you at the informational webinar! 

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