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FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize

The FLOWIN Prize will bring the U.S. closer to the goals of a decarbonized electricity grid by 2035 and a net zero economy by 2050.

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Energy, Environment & Resources Government Technology
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prize:
$6.85M in Cash Awards and Vouchers

This challenge is closed

Energy, Environment & Resources Government Technology
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Overview Guidelines

Overview

The FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess Prize 

 

This $5.85 million prize was launched by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) to pave the way for the cost-effective domestic manufacturing and deployment of commercial utility-scale floating offshore wind energy turbines in U.S. waters. WETO’s first-ever prize, the FLOWIN Prize, supports the Biden administration’s goal to decarbonize the U.S. electricity grid by 2035 and achieve a net zero economy by 2050. In addition, the prize aims to further the principles of inclusion and environmental justice embodied in the administration’s Justice40 Initiative by requiring competitors to indicate how their long-range manufacturing and supply chain development plans can benefit disadvantaged and underserved communities.

Prize Phases 

Phase One: Qualification and Teaming

  • The winning submissions will be those teams that have: 
    • Determined critical hurdles to the commercialization of their floating platform technology.
    • Demonstrated they can make significant progress toward identifying and developing a supply chain within the United States to produce the technology.
  • Up to nine winning teams will receive $100,000 each in cash and $75,000 each in vouchers for technical support provided by DOE national laboratories.  

Phase Two: U.S. Manufacturing Approaches

  • Only Phase One winners are eligible to compete in this phase.
  • This phase will have up to five winners, each receiving a cash prize of $450,000 and a technical services voucher valued at $100,000.
  • Teams will be judged on their progress in developing a plan for mass production and assembly of floating offshore wind energy platforms. 

Phase Three: Detailed Implementation Pathways

  • This phase is only open to Phase Two winners.
  • It is anticipated there will be up to three winners in Phase Three, each receiving a cash prize of $900,000.
  • Winners of this phase will complete location-specific implementation pathways for the U.S. manufacture and deployment of their floating offshore wind energy technologies.

$6.85 million in cash prizes and in-kind support 

The FLOWIN total prize pool is $5.75 million in cash, with up to $1.1 million in vouchers for technical support from DOE national laboratories. Prizes will be divided among multiple awardees and awards will be made for each phase. Only winning teams will be eligible to compete for the next phase.
 

Prize Goals 

  • Advance designs of floating offshore wind turbine platforms for manufacturing
  • Improve supply chain readiness to enable mass production and assembly in the United States
  • Lower associated costs and risks
  • Further the principles of inclusion and environmental justice embodied in the administration’s Justice40 Initiative. 

Guidelines

Eligible teams will have an existing floating offshore wind substructure design and a mix of people who can support its manufacture and deployment. Teams may include designers, developers, turbine original equipment manufacturers, fabricators, supply chain and infrastructure companies, and others who can help accelerate the market readiness of the designs.  
 

Please review the official rules for the application process and instructions for competing.
 

If you have any questions or want to receive updates on the prize, please subscribe by using the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .

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Timeline
Updates13

Challenge Updates

PHASE TWO RULES CAN BE FOUND UNDER RESOURCES.

March 29, 2023, 12:30 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

The phase two rules for the FLOWIN Prize have been shared under the resources tab. Please review in detail as your team applies for phase 2 of this prize.

Only winning teams of phase 1 can apply for phase 2 of the FLOWIN prize. However, non-winning teams of phase two may connect with winning teams of phase 1 to consider collaborating.

Final Reminder: Seeking Feedback on FLOWIN Rules by 1/23

Jan. 19, 2023, 11:51 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

Do you want to see what is coming in Phase Two and Three of the FLOWIN Prize? Do you have comments or suggestions about how to improve the effectiveness of the program? Now is your chance to let us know! 

The Wind Energy Technologies Office would like your comments on the rules. Please review the current program rules for Phase 2 and 3 and provide feedback to FLOWINprize@nrel.gov by January 23, 2023.  Please see 1.1 Questions for Respondents and please keep feedback anonymous. We will post the finalized rules on HeroX before the start of Phase 2 starting in March 2023. Thank you!

REMINDER: Seeking Feedback on FLOWIN Prize by 1/23

Jan. 17, 2023, 8 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

Do you want to see what is coming in Phase Two and Three of the FLOWIN Prize? Do you have comments or suggestions about how to improve the effectiveness of the program? Now is your chance to let us know! 

The Wind Energy Technologies Office would like your comments on the rules. Please review the current program rules for Phase 2 and 3 and provide feedback to FLOWINprize@nrel.gov by January 23, 2023.  Please see 1.1 Questions for Respondents and please keep feedback anonymous. We will post the finalized rules on HeroX before the start of Phase 2 starting in March 2023. Thank you!

REMINDER: IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PHASE 1 SUBMISSION

Jan. 5, 2023, 10:45 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

For Phase One submissions it is important for teams that may be working with a National Laboratory to NOT state which laboratories they are currently partnering with or plan to partner with in their Technical Narrative. It is acceptable to state in your Technical Narrative that you are working with a national laboratory, however, please do NOT specify which one. 
 

Example of permitted language:  “ Our team is working with a national laboratory to…” 
 

Please note that we DO want to know which lab your team plans to work with on your voucher slide, but this will only be used if you are a Phase One winner. However, there should not be any other mention of current partnerships with specific labs or of proposed future partnerships in the Technical Narrative or anywhere else in the submission package. If you have already submitted an application, you can edit this submission up until the deadline on January 13, 2023. Please make edits accordingly and please connect directly at FLOWINprize@nrel.gov if you have questions. Thank you!

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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PHASE 1 SUBMISSION

Dec. 20, 2022, 7:56 a.m. PST by NREL Prize Administrator

For Phase One submissions it is important for teams that may be working with a National Laboratory to NOT state which laboratories they are currently partnering with or plan to partner with in their Technical Narrative. It is acceptable to state in your Technical Narrative that you are working with a national laboratory, however, please do NOT specify which one. 

 

Example of permitted language:  “ Our team is working with a national laboratory to…” 

 

Please note that we DO want to know which lab your team plans to work with on your voucher slide, but this will only be used if you are a Phase One winner. However, there should not be any other mention of current partnerships with specific labs or of proposed future partnerships in the Technical Narrative or anywhere else in the submission package. If you have already submitted an application, you can edit this submission up until the deadline on January 13, 2023. Please make edits accordingly and please connect directly at FLOWINprize@nrel.gov if you have questions. Thank you!

Forum11
Teams284
Entries
Resources
FAQ