The Waves to Water Prize seeks sponsorships to inspire creative solutions to drinking water challenges

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is seeking in-kind and financial sponsors to build a community of support for the Waves to Water Prize, a competition that aims to accelerate technological advancement in small, modular, wave energy-powered desalination systems to help provide potable water to communities in need. When scaled up, this technology has the potential to provide clean drinking water during disaster recovery scenarios and for remote and coastal communities.

WPTO launched the prize, which is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in partnership with the Coastal Studies Institute, in response to the need for new technologies that can provide safe drinking water to many communities around the world. In the 21st century, up to two-thirds of the global population will live in water-poor regions where water demand outstrips supply. Today, more than 1 billion people experience water scarcity and security issues and a significant portion live in coastal and remote island locations. These communities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and innovative wave energy-powered desalination systems can help support their resilience and recovery in the face of worsening natural disasters.

A yellow buoy floats in the ocean water next to a fishing pier.

A preliminary testing device that supports foundational research for small, modular, wave-powered desalination systems floats in the water at Jennette’s Pier in North Carolina. Image Credit: Coastal Studies Institute

The Waves to Water Prize is currently in its fifth and final stage, called the DRINK Stage. Five finalist teams—MarkZero Prototypes LLC, Sea Potential, Oneka, Water Bros, and Project 816—will travel to Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, in April 2022. The five days of in-water testing of their wave energy-powered desalination prototypes will result in a chance to win part of the $1 million cash prize pool.

Over the past three years, generous sponsorships from the International Desalination Association, Wood Next Foundation, Janicki Industries, and the Creative Destruction Lab have provided services to support these teams. Sponsors have already assisted with mentor recruitment, training materials, technical training seminars, designs for manufacturing consultations, monetary support, and building connections between participants and the larger desalination community.

Eric Siegel, an executive in residence at the Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic Oceans Stream, is excited about how the Waves to Water Prize can increase the impact of research through technology commercialization.

“Innovative businesses will be the primary solution to the world's largest development and ocean sustainability challenges,” Siegel said. “The Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic Oceans Stream is excited to work with Waves to Water teams to support the partnership, financing, and scale-up strategies needed to bring their innovations to market.”

Sponsors can also help by consulting on technical issues and business development opportunities, which are essential for WPTO’s goal of building a community that can accelerate marine energy technology and sustainably contribute to the rapidly growing blue economy.

Opportunities for New Sponsors

WPTO appreciates current sponsors’ support and invites additional organizations to consider getting involved by sponsoring the Waves to Water Prize. Prize sponsorship is an exciting opportunity to mentor the next generation of leaders working to solve critical problems at the global scale.

"We've seen our competitors excel thanks to the support provided by our sponsors so far,” said WPTO Acting Director Jennifer Garson. “But the long path to commercialization is just beginning for many of these innovators, which is why we're always in need of new sponsors."

Participants would benefit from assistance with:

  • Travel to the prize’s final test stage in North Carolina
  • Networking events with entrepreneurs, industry experts, investors, and thought leaders in the field
  • Waves to Water Prize grand finale DRINK Stage awards ceremony reception.

Sponsors can also help the prize inspire future generations by enabling K-12 students to attend the competition finale in North Carolina. These attendees need:

  • Transportation and meals
  • A science activity kit for each student
  • Take-home educational literature for each student.

The Waves to Water Prize is an arena for new ideas, spurring creative solutions that could ultimately improve drinking water access for communities around the world. The benefits of sponsorship are self-evident. The stakes are high, and it is essential to support current and future inventors who could solve the fresh drinking water challenges facing the planet and those who inhabit it.

Learn more about the benefits of Waves to Water Prize sponsorship or email WPTOPrizes@ee.doe.gov to get involved.