Community Energy Innovation Prize
Ready to bring equitable clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to your community? Join the $7.49 million Community Energy Innovation Prize and strategize ways to provide support, build trust, and strengthen relationships and partnerships with underserved communities while advancing the clean energy transition. The prize is now open to community-based organizations, the private sector, nonfederal government entities, and collegiate teams!
Community Energy Innovation Prize
The $7.49 million Community Energy Innovation Prize is the successor of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prizes related to community-based clean energy innovation: the Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize and the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize.
The new combined prize is supported by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE), and Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). Eligible competitors will develop and carry out activities related to clean energy that promote business and technology incubation and acceleration as well as other community-based capacity building, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The prize is part of the government’s Justice40 Initiative—a plan to deliver 40% of climate investment benefits to disadvantaged communities and inform equitable research, development, and deployment within federal agencies. Through its three tracks, the prize will serve to inspire and mentor collegiate students; bolster grassroots community organizations; and accelerate innovation in the manufacturing sector, in alignment with a new White House strategy aimed at growing the economy, creating jobs, enhancing sustainability, strengthening supply chains, and ensuring national security.
DOE intends for the Community Energy Innovation Prize to serve as a “front door” to its clean energy funding programs and other federal funding opportunities to communities and organizations who have been historically underserved. In addition to cash awards, the prize will provide awardees with mentorship, relevant resources, and connections in their path to forging an inclusive clean energy future.
Prize Structure
The Community Energy Innovation Prize is made up of three tracks: the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, and the Collegiate Track, each of which has distinct goals and submission requirements over three phases: CONCEPT, PROGRESS, and IMPACT.
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks
Applicants can apply to both the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track and the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track with distinct submissions. Competitors may be selected as a winner for one or both tracks. In addition to prize awards, winning teams in all three tracks will receive in-kind mentorship and other support services.
Competitors in these tracks should submit applications for the CONCEPT Phase that engage underserved communities; promote environmental, climate, and energy justice; demonstrate strong community ties; and establish bridges between DOE and these communities. Submissions can focus on a community-based clean energy initiative to be considered for the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, and/or a proposal for strengthening and revitalizing advanced manufacturing ecosystems to be considered for the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track.
Winners of the CONCEPT Phase will carry out their proposed plans with an opportunity to win an additional cash prize in the PROGRESS Phase. In the final IMPACT phase, competitors will present their activities and the measurable impacts they achieved and share their plans for the future to compete for the Grand Prize.
Collegiate Track
The Collegiate Track challenges students to work alongside a community partner to identify a critical issue in their community related to the clean energy transition. Teams will propose a project with measurable impact in the CONCEPT Phase. Winning teams from the CONCEPT Phase will then carry out these plans and be eligible for additional cash prizes at the conclusion of the PROGRESS Phase. In the final IMPACT phase, teams will present their activities and the measurable impacts they achieved and share plans for the future to compete for the Grand Prize.
Important Dates
Prize Launch
August 2023
Collegiate Track CONCEPT Phase
August–November 2023
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks CONCEPT Phase
August 2023–February 2024
Collegiate Track PROGRESS Phase
December 2023–March 2024
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks PROGRESS Phase
March–July 2024
Collegiate Track IMPACT Phase
February–May 2024
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks IMPACT Phase
July–November 2024
Collegiate Track Final Event
May 2024
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks Final Event
December 2024
All dates are subject to change including contest openings, deadlines, and announcements.
Sign up for updates on the Community Energy Innovation Prize here.
Who Can Participate?
Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks
This track is open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals. Eligibility is subject to the requirements detailed in the official prize rules.
Collegiate Track
The Collegiate Track is now closed to new competitors. Please visit the Collegiate Track CONCEPT phase results page for further
Solutions That Help Shape the Future
Are you a community-centric individual, student, coalition, or organization who is interested in being part of a diverse and inclusive clean energy innovation ecosystem? Bring your innovative idea to life with the Community Energy Innovation Prize.
Start Competing