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Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize

$200,000 prize for companies and coalitions that demonstrate their grid-edge technology and plans to integrate with partners in the grid.

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stage:
Judging
prize:
$200,000

This challenge is closed

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Summary

Background

 

The electricity grid is transforming rapidly due to the large influx of clean energy. Historically, the grid comprised one-way energy transactions from centralized power stations down to the consumers. Today, there are more players in the grid, such as homeowners and business owners with residential solar, wind turbines, microgrids, generators, and on-site energy storage systems (ESS), creating new types of interactions on a two-way grid.  

The Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize, funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE), is focused on the grid edge, or where buildings, industry, transportation, renewable energies, storage, and the electric grid come together. Grid edge is a leading area of the electricity evolution, where electricity changes from being a one-way grid to a two-way grid with homeowners and business owners storing and transmitting energy from behind-the-meter. To have a smooth energy transition, the many new and emerging components of the grid must work together. This prize will highlight grid-edge technology solutions around ESS that enable different technologies to integrate and operate together, contributing to a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy ecosystem. 


Challenge Overview


In this one-phase prize, companies and coalitions will:  

  • Share how their behind-the-meter grid-edge technology solution supports improved integration with different energy systems and vendors in the grid 
  • Outline a plan to partner and integrate with grid-edge technology vendors 
  • Describe their approach to demonstrate their technology and plans to collaborate with other grid industry leaders at DISTRIBUTECH 2025.  

Up to two teams will win $100,000 each and the unique opportunity to showcase their technology at DISTRIBUTECH on March 25, 2025, in Dallas. This conference will give winning teams a chance to leverage partnership opportunities and brand recognition with other DISTRIBUTECH attendees. The DOE’s OE will provide winners with ample booth space to demonstrate their products. The winning teams will also have networking opportunities including a “speed-dating” event to connect with grid-edge technology vendors interested in partnership opportunities.   

For more information about the goals of this prize, please refer to the Official Rules document.


GRIT Prize Series


The Beyond the Meter Prize is just one impactful component of the Grid Resource Integration Technologies (GRIT) Prize Series, a joint partnership between the Office of Electricity and other DOE offices. This prize series catalyzes partnerships to enable higher integration of grid-edge technologies, improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the power system. 


Who Can Participate?


This prize is best suited for companies and coalitions already working on behind the meter grid-edge technology solutions.   

For full eligibility requirements, read the Official Rules.    


Guidelines

 

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 subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .

 

Timeline
Updates7

Challenge Updates

Beyond the Meter Prize Submissions Due Today

Dec. 12, 2024, 5:03 a.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

Today’s the day! Make sure to press the submit button on your Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize application before 5 p.m. ET today. Late submissions will not be accepted, so prize administrators strongly recommend submitting prior to the 5 p.m. ET deadline to manage connectivity issues or slow upload speeds. 

This is your chance to contribute to a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy ecosystem! Take the opportunity to meet potential grid partners to integrate your energy storage solution within the U.S. electricity grid. 

 

 

Up to two winners will win a cash prize of $100,000 ($50,000 distributed at the time of the winner announcement and $50,000 distributed after participating in DISTRIBUTECH) and have exclusive opportunities to network with other grid vendors at DISTRIBUTECH 2025 with the goal of integrating technologies.  

Good luck! 


One Week Until Submissions Are Due!

Dec. 5, 2024, 6:33 a.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

The Beyond the Meter Prize submission deadline is fast approaching on Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. ET. The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays.  

Remember to include the following materials in your submission packet. Read the official rules for complete information on what to submit: 

  • Cover page: List basic information about your submission, including project title, team name, short description, and key members. 
  • Narrative: Use the five writing prompts in the official rules to guide your narrative. You may include up to ten supporting images, figures, or graphs. Narrative must not exceed 2,500 words (roughly 5 pages, not including captions, figures, or graphics).  
  • Summary PowerPoint slide: Make a one-slide submission summary that introduces your team and mission. 
  • Letters of commitment or support (optional): If you have a partner or others that are critical to the success of your proposed solution, add a letter of commitment or support to likely increase your score. General letters of support from parties that are not critical to the execution of your solution will likely not factor into your score.  

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your grid-edge technology at the Office of Electricity’s DISTRIBUTECH booth and the opportunity to network with potential grid partners! Upload your Beyond the Meter Prize submission by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 12.  

We look forward to seeing your submission! 


Prize Submissions Due Next Month!

Nov. 20, 2024, 8:06 a.m. PST by Stacey Baxter

Submissions to the Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize are due Dec. 12 by 5 p.m. ET. We encourage companies and coalitions that want to integrate with other grid-edge technologies to start prepping their applications now! 

 

 

Each competitor should read the official rules before submitting their application. Reviewing the rules will give you full details on what to include in an eligible submission. Up to two winners will be selected for demonstrating their behind-the-meter grid-edge technology, highlighting a plan to collaborate with other grid vendors, and outlining how they'll participate in DISTRIBUTECH

Why DISTRIBUTECH?  

DISTRIBUTECH creates a space to network with other players in the electric grid at the largest, most influential energy transmission and distribution even in the country. Having the opportunity to showcase a solution at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity booth will enable winners to market their product to thousands of potential partners (and customers).   

In addition to networking opportunities, up to two winners will win $100,000 each, of which, $50,000 will be distributed after the announcement of winners and $50,000 after their attendance and participation at DISTRIBUTECH, which takes place in Dallas, Texas, on March 24-27, 2025. 

If you haven’t already watched the informational webinar, be sure to check it out for more information about the prize.  

If you have any questions about the prize, you can find answers in the official rules or by emailing us directly at electricity.prize@nrel.gov. Best of luck!  


Informational Webinar Recording and Slides Now Available

Oct. 1, 2024, 1:55 p.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

Did you miss the Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize Informational Webinar? We’ve got you covered! A recording of the webinar and the slides are now available in the Resources tab.   

Stream this valuable session now and check out the slides to catch up on any prize details you may have missed. 

Watch the webinar recording to learn more about: 

  • Prize goals 
  • Eligibility 
  • Official prize rules 
  • Submission requirements 
  • DISTRIBUTECH 2025 
  • And more    

Please remember, the deadline to submit your entry to the Beyond the Meter Prize is Dec. 12. You can get started by accessing the official prize rules

Still have questions? Email electricityprize@nrel.gov and prize administrators will respond to your questions. You can also use the public HeroX forum to ask questions and spark discussions with Beyond the Meter community members. 


REMINDER: Informational Webinar is Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET

Sept. 23, 2024, 7:18 a.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

Don’t forget to attend tomorrow’s Beyond the Meter Prize Informational Webinar! If you haven’t already, sign up for the webinar. During this one-hour webinar, the prize administrators will go over important information about the prize including key dates, submission requirements, and how to navigate HeroX. In addition, attending the webinar will give you the chance to ask any questions you have.  

If you can’t make the webinar, a recording will be posted to this page soon after the event. 

What's Next  

  • Follow the Beyond the Meter Prize HeroX page to stay up to date on all announcements, deadlines, and more (including when the Informational Recording is available) 
  • Sign up for the Informational Webinar on Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. ET to learn more about the prize, submission requirements, and competitor eligibility 
  • Read the Official Rules to learn more about the prize.   

Submissions close Dec. 12, 2024. We look forward to seeing your application! 


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