Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP)

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO)

Purpose

To encourage innovation in the design and engineering of distributed embedded energy converter technology to generate new, precommercial materials for wave energy conversion. Phase II will challenge innovators to demonstrate their concepts at the transducer level. Teams will build and laboratory test a single DEEC at the benchtop scale.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

The competition is open to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits), non-federal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities, academic institutions, and individuals. Individuals can compete alone or as a group.

Decarbonization Considerations

This prize competition aims to accelerate the development of wave energy technologies, an underutilized resource. Submissions will be scored on 4 categories: Team Characteristics & Excellence (25%); Innovation Process (25%); Viability of the Concept (40%); and Planned Development for Phase II (10%)

Equity Considerations

As part of the submission, competitors are required to describe how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) objectives will be incorporated in the project. Specifically, competitors should describe how they foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, support people from underrepresented groups in STEM, advance equity, and encourage the inclusion of individuals from these groups in the project. The DEI objectives should also detail whether project activities will be located in or provide benefits to underserved communities. The plan should consider positive and/or negative impacts that the work could have on communities in the near and long term and describe strategies to evaluate and/or mitigate these.

Helpful Tips

Prizes are awarded over 3 phases: Phase I is 20 winners receiving $300,000; Phase II is 15 winners receiveing $750,000 in prizes; and Phase III is 5 winners receiving $1.25 million in prizes.

Other Notes

The Prize Administrator must conclude that all the following statements are true when applied to a submission to be considered: (1) satisfy laws of physics; (2) use ocean wave energy; (3) generate electricity using the domain of DEEC-Tec; and (4) show promise of eventually having high techno-economic potential. See Phase I winners here: https://americanmadechallenges.org/challenges/indeep/results