Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP)

The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office has launched a grant initiative titled Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP). The objective of this initiative is to incentivize innovation in the technology used for distributed embedded energy converters (DEEC-Tec) in the sector of wave energy conversion. These new developments will be instrumental in creating pre-commercial materials to generate electricity on a grid scale.

DEEC-Tec is a promising future avenue for ocean wave energy conversion, and the competition incentivizes exploration into the potential contributions it can make in this field. Participants will be tasked with identifying DEEC-Tec components that hold the most potential in terms of technical and economic feasibility.

Over three phases and across two years, teams will compete for a combined cash prize pool of $2.3 million. They will also receive both technical and teaming support, as well as mentorship to ensure their success.

The wave energy sector is a rich and diverse resource in the United States, making up an equivalent of approximately 34% of all U.S power generation in 2019. Utilizing this abundant resource, and further developing DEEC-Tec technology, will significantly contribute to a nationwide energy resilience, particularly in coastal cities.

In addition, it supports President Biden’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, reaffirming the commitment to renewable energy resources and sustainable energy practices.

Under the InDEEP umbrella, several specific goals are pursued. These predominately revolve around developing valuable DEEC-Tec concepts for the wave energy conversion industry, fostering a collaborative environment among different innovators both inside and outside the marine energy industry. Encouraging the development of DEEC-Tec concepts with significant potential for wave energy conversion is also on top of the agenda. The program also aims to refine wave energy converter innovation methods, based on the feedback from the competition.