The Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2 is an initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) aimed at fostering next-generation energy storage solutions that serve less conventional use cases. This single-phase competition offers a total prize pool of $300,000 and seeks to encourage novel approaches to energy storage that can be applied to niche markets, such as remote and electrically vulnerable communities, as well as extreme climates. The goal of this program is to accelerate grid modernization while ensuring energy reliability, affordability, and security.

The competition is open to a wide array of applicants, including individuals, academic institutions, non-federal government entities, small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. Eligible participants must present innovative energy storage solutions that differ from conventional applications, demonstrating how their technology addresses a specific market gap. Technologies eligible for consideration must discharge electricity and can include electrochemical, electromechanical, thermal, chemical, and flexible building or generation systems. DOE encourages participants to highlight how their innovations contribute to equity, supply chain resilience, and overall energy efficiency.

Applicants are required to submit a 3,000-word Technical Concept Paper, a 500-word Competitor Background description, a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) worksheet, a 90-second video, and a summary slide. The submissions will be judged based on their innovation, feasibility, cost-benefit analysis, alignment with DOE priorities, and potential impact. DOE will not retain intellectual property from submissions but reserves the right to use public portions of the material for promotional and informational purposes.

The competition officially launched on November 25, 2024, and will close for submissions on April 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. Judging will take place from April 22, 2025, to July 21, 2025, with winners announced on July 22, 2025. An informational webinar was scheduled for December 12, 2024, to help competitors understand the prize's objectives, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria.

Up to five Champions will receive $50,000 each, and up to five Finalists will be awarded $10,000 each. Winners will also be featured in a DOE promotional video and may be invited to participate in future DOE activities. The competition is administered through HeroX, where applicants must register and submit their entries. The DOE and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are overseeing the competition, and any inquiries should be directed to energystorageinnovationsprize@nrel.gov.