The DOE 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.

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.