Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2

The American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2 is a multimillion-dollar prize competition designed to support grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in clean energy development. Competitors leverage the American-Made Network, our innovation engine of more than 400 organizations, including world-class experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national labs, clean tech accelerators, incubators, universities, facilities, and more.

Through three phases, teams have the chance to win part of $8.42 million in prizes to help them advance in the competition and accelerate local solutions in clean energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, materials, and transportation. Successful competitors will demonstrate a strong track record of building trust and strengthening relationships and partnerships within their communities.

Prize Structure 
The Community Energy Innovation Prize is made up of three tracks: the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, and the Vehicles Ecosystem Track, each of which has distinct goals and submission requirements over three phases: CONCEPT, PROGRESS, and IMPACT. In addition to prize awards, winning competitors in all three tracks will receive in-kind mentorship through Power Connectors and other support services, valued at approximately $400,000 across all competitors.

Who Can Participate?  

The Clean Energy Ecosystem, Manufacturing Ecosystem, and Vehicles Ecosystem Tracks are open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); non-federal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals. 

• Competitors in the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track may focus on any range of clean energy technologies or initiatives. 
• Competitors in the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track must have an explicit connection to sustainable manufacturing. 
• Competitors in the Vehicles Ecosystem Track must focus their efforts on sustainable transportation technologies or initiatives.

For more details on the prize phases, timeline, and awards please see the graphic below.

Interested in participating in any of the three available Tracks? Please review the official rules. 

The prize is jointly sponsored by three offices within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): the Integrated Strategies Office (ISO), the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Office (AMMTO), and the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). The prize is part of the American-Made family of prizes and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 

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