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Waves to Water

Accelerated the development of wave-powered desalination systems to provide drinking water in disaster relief and coastal locations.

This challenge is closed

stage:
Won
prize:
$3.3 million in total prizes

This challenge is closed

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Summary

Overview

WAVES to WATER PRIZE

The U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office challenges innovators to develop wave powered desalination systems for the Waves to Water Prize. The Waves to Water Prize is a 5-Stage, $3.3M contest designed to accelerate the development of small, modular, wave-powered desalination systems capable of providing potable drinking water in disaster relief scenarios and remote coastal locations.

The prize supports the integration of existing and novel wave energy generation technologies with water technologies that can deliver effective, consistent, durable and low-maintenance water delivery systems. The prize seeks to identify the ideal scale of wave energy innovation paired with water technologies that can serve niche markets such as disaster response, and advance the state of both wave energy devices and desalination technologies that could provide value in other markets as the technologies mature.

 

 

PRIZE STAGES

The prize has five stages, aimed to support concepts through demonstration, with the final stage culminating in an open water testing competition at Jennette’s Pier, where the systems will produce clean water using the power of waves. 

 

 

$3.3 MILLION IN CASH PRIZES

The five stages of this prize will distribute a total of $3.3 million, and will provide access to testing and demonstrating solutions out in the ocean in the final DRINK Stage.

 

PRIZE GOALS

The purpose of this prize is to incentivize the creation of wave powered desalination systems that meet the following goals:

  • Flexibility in Varied Wave Conditions: Competitors must develop systems that can survive harsh wave conditions and operate under different wave conditions and different sites without major tuning to ensure operation at a wide variety of locations. All solutions that make it to the DRINK Stage will be evaluated at an open-water test at Jennette’s Pier, which experiences average- to low-energetic wave resources.
  • Easily Deployed: Systems must be able to be deployed in less than 48 hours, addressing the ability to deploy quickly and easily in a disaster response scenario where there is large uncertainty around site conditions.
  • Ship in a Standard Container: Technologies must fit into a predefined container. The internal dimensions of the container are approximately 41 x 44 x 35 inches—to standardize the shipping constraints that face many disaster response and recovery scenarios.
  • Operate without Environmental Degradation: Brine discharge, or other salt concentration issues from the process of desalinating water will need to be managed without creating environmental issues.
  • Deliver Minimum Water Quality: TThe maximum total dissolved solids (TDS) quantity for this competition is 1,000 mg/L.

For more information on the prize and the rules, please review the official rules for the application process and instructions for competing.


Guidelines

 

Who can participate?

Please review the official rules for the application process and instructions for competing.

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

We’re also looking for ideas on how to best structure this contest to attract ground-breaking solutions that will support the marine energy and desalination industries. If you’re not interested in competing but want to help develop and judge the prize, .

Timeline
Updates25

Challenge Updates

Congratulations, and more ways to win

Nov. 14, 2019, 2:54 p.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

Congratulations to our 20 winners from the CONCEPT Stage! Check out the great ideas we saw come in during the first stage of the competition.

Whether you were selected or not this time, we’ve also started accepting applications for the DESIGN Stage. The rules document is now live, so read up and don’t miss your shot at a share of $800k for another 20 winners. 

Once you’re familiar with the newest requirements, feel free to connect with us on the forum, or attend the DESIGN Stage webinar on December 13 and ask us any questions you have directly. 

Can’t wait to see what you come up with next. 

-The Waves to Water Prize Team


Rules Modification and Submission Deadline Reminder

Sept. 5, 2019, 5:35 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Hi Innovators! 

We've uploaded a modification to the rules (see the resources tab or link), which revises Section 3.5 How We Determine Winners to classify advisory judges as reviewers, and specified conflict of interest requirements for the final judge. The modification does not impact any submission requirements or judging criteria, however we encourage you to review the changes to familiarize yourself. 

Also a quick reminder on the Sept. 11 submission deadline. The deadline on the 11th is set at 5 P.M. ET please make sure that you've checked your local time to make sure that you do not miss the deadline. No submissions will be accepted after 5 P.M. ET. 


Waves to Water Introduction Webinar Recording Now Available

Aug. 1, 2019, 9:42 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Hi Innovators!

If you missed our Waves to Water introduction webinar, a recording is now available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrbyrTjA35Q&feature=youtu.be 

The webinar provides context for the prize, an overview of the competition stages and answers some frequently asked questions. 

As always, you can email the prize administration team at WavestoWater@nrel.gov if you have any outstanding questions or concerns about the challenge. 

Have a great day! 

 

 


Intro to the Prize TODAY at 12pm MT!

July 16, 2019, 8:11 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Hi Innovators,

Last chance to register for the introductory webinar on the Waves to Water Prize!

You’ll hear submission tips, get a detailed explanation of the rules, and have an opportunity to ask your questions directly to the organizers.

Sign up to listen in at 12pm MT today: https://bit.ly/2xNZUDb.

-The Waves to Water Prize Team


Waves to Water Prize Webinar - Join us!

July 9, 2019, 12:41 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Hi Innovators,

Looking for some tips on how to put together a successful submission for the Waves to Water Prize?

The team is hosting an introductory webinar on July 16 at noon MT to cover details about the prize stages, ways to leverage the American-Made Network, and strategies for developing a successful submission package.

Sign up today to help your team put together a more competitive entry: https://bit.ly/2xNZUDb.

-The Waves to Water Prize Team


Forum96
Teams815
Entries
Resources
FAQ