InDEEP Prize Results
The first phase of the Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize has drawn to a close. In Phase I, nineteen teams were awarded $15,000 each for their winning initial concepts and simplified version of a Technology Performance Level assessment to represent the technoeconomic performance level of the concept. These teams were selected for conceptualizing novel materials for marine energy applications that will lay the foundation for generating electricity at the grid scale. Read the official Phase I winner announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The following Phase I winners will compete for additional awards in Phase II, alongside new competitors:
| Team | Location | Project Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Materials and Smart Living | Las Vegas, NV | SmartEaRTH: Energy Harvesting Innovations | SmartEaRTH leverages the intrinsic transduction nature of IPMCs by turning wave interaction into energy by a direct electrochemical process |
| Blackfish Engineering | Braintree, MA | FlexWave PowerSync | FlexWave PowerSync: DG WEC utilizing DEG tech for efficient conversion of ocean wave energy |
| Blue Lotus Energy | Adair, OK | The Petal | A device as portable as a coffee table, powerful enough to leverage ocean waves and create scalable and sustainable energy |
| Chemventive | Chadds Ford, PA | Multipulse Magnetic Piezoelectric Generator | Multipulse Magnetic Piezoelectric Generator |
| Condensed Wave Matter | Madison, WI | Dielectric liquid-filled variable capacitor | Uses wave motion to pump a dielectric fluid in and out of the space between capacitor electrodes to generate electricity |
| Elysium Robotics | Austin, TX | High Capacitance Rope from Electroactive Polymers | Dielectric Elastomer Microfibers (very stretchy coaxial capacitive rope) to harness energy from the heaving motion of a buoy |
| FluxMagic | Portland, OR | Distributed Embedded FluxSpring Generator | The FluxSpring generator utilizes a series of connected negative stiffness magnetic spring damper metamaterial structure with liquid wires |
| Michigan Technological University and Arizona State University | Houghton, MI | Kiri DEEC | A novel DEEC technology concept inspired by the Japanese paper-cutting art of Kirigami |
| PECWEC | Storrs Mansfield, CT | Piezoelectrochemical Wave Energy Converter (PECWEC) | Converting mechanical energy of ocean waves into electrochemical energy using piezo “electrochemical" phenomenon |
| PiezOrigami Team | Blacksburg, VA | Wave-Powered Fence to Protect our Lakes and Ocean | A wave-powered electric barrier to protect America’s Great Lakes and Oceans from harmful invasive species |
| Pittsburgh Coastal Energy | Pittsburgh, PA | Polar Ionic Nanogenerators (PINGs) | PINGs directly convert the mechanical energy of high-frequency, low-amplitude ocean waves into electricity through the power of moving ions |
| PSU_EnergyHarvesting | State College, PA | Ionic Polymers for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting | Demonstrating ionic polymer-based harvesters for converting low-frequency ocean wave energy into electricity |
| RQR Wave Team | Longmont, CO | Microrobots for Dielectric Elastomer Metamaterial | Massively parallel, high precision micro robots for extensive testing and assembly of a dielectric elastomer metamaterial |
| Soft Energy | Ithaca, NY | Soft Energy | A compact and adaptable wave harvesting system that employs parallel soft origami structures |
| Streaming Energy | La Jolla, CA | Solid State Ocean Power | No moving parts and unlimited scalability: using flowing saltwater to power a DEEC energy transducer through electrolytic ion exchange |
| Team FUSION | Newport, MI | WaveMatrix Energizer | Tapping ocean waves with induction passages & piezoelectric fins |
| Water Bros Development | Charlotte, NC | SWADDLE Harvester | The Scalable Wave Actuated Deformable Double Layer Electrode (SWADDLE) harvester is a variable area capacitor that operates in salt water |
| Wave Grid | Galveston, TX | Wave Grid | A Distributed Gracefully degrading Pneumatic Wave Energy matrix for economic power absorption simultaneously surviving in extreme weather |
| WaveHarvest | Dallas, TX | Tri-mode Ocean Energy Synergy | An innovative embedded energy harvesting device, combining piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and dielectric elastomer transducers into one |