Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize
This $200,000 prize is intended for companies or coalitions to demonstrate their existing product at DISTRIBUTECH, with the goal of highlighting their capability or plan for product integration and management of behind-the-meter (BTM) grid-edge technologies1 around an energy storage system (ESS). This prize aims to showcase the central role played by ESSs in integrating BTM technologies and maximizing the overall value of these assets for consumers. Furthermore, these teams will outline a plan of collaboration with grid-edge technology vendors around battery energy storage, toward an eventual goal of creating a turnkey solution for consumers.
Prize 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, and generators, whose energy is sometimes captured in 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.
ESS is an integral component in behind the meter grid-edge technology. Renewable energy that consumers purchase cannot be used if it isn’t used in the moment and isn’t stored; for example, wind energy can only be used when it’s windy and solar energy when it’s sunny unless it has a place to be stored. Storing that energy and integrating with other grid technologies so it can be sent to the grid to be used by others plays a central role in this prize.
This prize aims to showcase the central role played by ESS for integrating behind the meter technologies and maximizing overall value of these assets for consumers.
Behind-the-meter (BTM) grid edge technologies refer to energy solutions that are located on the consumer's side of the electricity meter, enabling end-users to manage and optimize their energy consumption and generation. These technologies include distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels, battery storage systems, electric vehicles, and smart home devices. By integrating BTM technologies, consumers can reduce their reliance on the grid, lower energy costs, and contribute to grid stability by providing services like demand response and peak load shaving. Additionally, BTM technologies empower consumers with greater control over their energy usage, contributing to a more resilient and decentralized energy system.
Challenge Overview
The Beyond the Meter 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. Competitors are tasked with outlining a plan of collaboration with grid-edge technology vendors around battery energy storage towards an eventual goal of creating a turnkey solution for consumers.
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, Texas. This conference will give winning teams a chance to leverage partnership opportunities and brand recognition with other DISTRIBUTECH attendees. The 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.
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 OE 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 Compete?
This prize is best suited for companies and coalitions already working on behind the meter grid-edge technology solutions.
Important Dates
Please see the official timeline on the official prize platform HeroX, for the most current dates and deadlines. All dates are subject to change, including contest openings, deadlines, and announcements.
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