Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize

During Phase III, the InDEEP finalists have been hard at work developing their DEEC-Tec concepts in advance of the final event in March. Today, we’re spotlighting the Piezogami Team.

Hailing from Blacksburg, Virginia, the Piezogami Team is developing a wave-powered electric barrier using inspiration from the ancient art of Kirigami paper cutting. This wave-powered, autonomous fence aims to deter invasive marine species, particularly the sea lamprey, to protect the country’s Great Lakes and oceans.

The members of the Piezogami Team combined their expertise in soft piezo-electric materials, kirigami structures, and marine energy harvesting to create a hierarchical meta-structure that maximizes wave energy harvesting at different levels. Not only does the integrated system harvest and store energy from waves, but the piezoelectric kirigami sheets can also act as a sensor to detect contact from invasive fish and release electricity to deter these harmful species. 

The Piezogami Team will present on their technology at the InDEEP Final Forum in March in pursuit of being named a grand prize winner.

During Phase III, the InDEEP finalists have been hard at work developing their DEEC-Tec concepts in advance of the final event in March. Today, we’re spotlighting finalist WaveHarvest.

WaveHarvest’s concept involves a unique configuration of three different DEEC types to harness energy from ocean waves and convert it into useful electricity. Their novel energy harvesting device combines piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and dielectric elastomer transducers into a distributed and multimodal system. 

Significantly, the integration of these transduction mechanisms extends beyond simple combination and instead leads to increased energy density for the device, as the presence of one system enhances the efficiency of the other. 

WaveHarvest will join the rest of the prize finalists at the InDEEP Final Forum in March to present their technology and compete for the grand prize. 

The latest round of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs features multiple opportunities for water power innovators. DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is seeking SBIR and STTR applications related to both hydropower and marine energy technologies in eight subtopics (see page 129 of the SBIR/STTR topics document for more details): 

Hydropower  

a. Municipal and Industrial Conduit Hydropower  

b. Innovations in data collection, analytics, models and tools  

c. Pumped Storage Hydropower Innovative Concepts  

Marine Energy  

d. Co-Development of Marine Energy Technologies  

e. Development of Standardized Modular Power Electronics for Grid-Compatible Marine Energy Systems 

f. Advances in Overtopping Wave Energy Converters for Coastal Structures  

g. Next-Generation Tidal and River Current Energy Technologies for Arctic/Alaskan Communities  

h. Feasibility of Co-locating Marine Energy and Offshore Wind 

Interested applicants are encouraged to review the topics document to identify technology areas of interest and begin formulating innovative responses and partnerships. The funding opportunity is expected to be released on Dec. 16, 2024, and letters of intent are due by 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, 2025. 

WPTO will also be hosting an informational webinar on Dec. 4 to discuss the topics and answer questions from interested applicants. Learn more and register for the webinar.  

As you pursue this and other opportunities, remember that the American-Made Network is a great resource for finding commercialization-assistance providers and vendors with specific expertise across technology sectors. The Network helps accelerate innovations through a diverse group of entities that includes national laboratories, energy incubators, investors, and other industry partners from across the United States who engage, connect, mentor, and amplify the efforts of small businesses. 

During Phase III, the InDEEP finalists have been hard at work developing their DEEC-Tec concepts in advance of the final event in March. Today, we’re spotlighting finalist Artimus Robotics. 

InDEEP finalist Artimus Robotics is enabling new capabilities in bio-inspired robotics and distributed energy harvesting systems to pioneer the untapped potential of the deep sea.  

Their team has developed a new type of soft transducer, called a hydraulically amplified soft electrostatic (HASEL) transducer, that acts as an actuator, sensor, and generator all in one device. The dual-use HASEL-based metamaterials help advance the blue economy by unlocking sustainable ocean wave energy and powering unmanned underwater vehicles.  

Artimus Robotics will join the other InDEEP finalists at the final event in March to present their technology and compete for the grand prize! 

Congratulations again to the 15 teams named winners of Phase II! Check out the announcement from DOE to learn more about the winning teams.  

We’d also like to thank all the competitors who participated in Phase II. We hope we’ll see you compete in future prizes from the American-Made program! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on future opportunities. 

For the teams advancing to Phase III, we are hosting a one-hour kickoff webinar on August 15. During the call, prize administrators will share details about the final phase of the prize, how to submit a successful submission package, and additional technical assistance opportunities that will be available to competitors. Register for the kickoff webinar.