DAC Pilot Prize

The American-Made Commercial Direct Air Capture Pilot Prize (DAC Pilot Prize) offers up to $52.5 million in cash awards to technology developers that design, build, commission, and operate innovative and novel DAC pilot facilities capable of capturing at least 500 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year. 

Developing and Deploying Just, Sustainable Carbon Management Technology

The DAC Pilot Prize aims to provide support for first-of-a-kind DAC pilots that meet the technology standards to progress towards commercialization. Through this prize, the Department of Energy (DOE) will catalyze innovation and accelerate maturation of DAC technologies with an equitable approach focusing on environmental, community, and workforce advancement. This prize will award DAC developers as they achieve key milestones in their project development - including pre-FEED and FEED studies. 

The DAC Pilot Prize is the second of two tracks in the $100 million Commercial DAC Prize and is part of a suite of interconnected competitions in the American-Made DAC Prize program, which advances CDR technologies and markets, as well as the incubators that support DAC entrepreneurs. 

The DAC Pilot Prize builds on the progress made through the DAC Pre-Commercial Prizes (launched in March 2023), the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize (launched December 2023), and other ongoing DOE investments in applied CDR research and development. 

DAC solutions are critical for meeting climate goals, and the DAC Pilot Prize aims to de-risk technology, help teams demonstrate commercial viability, and ultimately deploy their technology in the industry. In addition, prize winners will demonstrate their potential to contribute to, or participate in, the Regional DAC Hubs program.

Who Can Compete 

This prize is open only to private entities, including for- or non-profits; non-federal government entities such as states, counties, Tribes, and municipalities; and academic institutions (see the Official Rules for eligibility criteria). Proposed projects cannot have previously been deployed in the Regional DAC Hubs program. 

Prize Structure

Over the course of four phases, teams will win awards commensurate to the progress they make towards operating their first-of-a-kind DAC pilots. Each phase requires compounding progress in the Concept to Operate timeline.

Phase 1: Concept requirements:

• Design a DAC Pilot Prize concept paper, including the proposed technology, data for the project, and a pre-Front End Engineering Design (pre-FEED) study for the proposed first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system.

Phase 2: Engineering requirements

• Deliver a complete FEED study for the first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system. 
• Secure host site commitment, life cycle assessment, community benefits plans, environmental health and safety risk assessment, and NEPA compliance documents. 
• Deliver required assessments, analyses, and compliance information per the Official Rules document.

Phase 3: Permit requirements 

• Only winners of Phase 2 are eligible to compete in Phase 3 
• Complete a detailed design for a first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system
• Acquire all necessary approvals per the Official Rules document.

Phase 4: Operate requirements:

• Only winners of Phase 3 are eligible to compete in Phase 4 
• Construct a first-of-its-kind DAC pilot system and operate for at least 2,000 hours
• Deliver required updated reporting and testing plans per the Official Rules document.

Please review the Official Rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please follow this HeroX page, subscribe to the American-Made Newsletter, or email prize administrators directly at .