
Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages lab-developed and other high-potential energy technologies. EnergyTech UP awards cash prizes to teams that successfully identify an energy technology, assess its market potential, and propose a strategy for commercialization.
Student teams compete for more than $250,000 in total cash prizes as they explore business opportunities for lab-developed or other high-potential energy technologies, assess commercialization opportunities through market analysis, and present a viable business plan to industry judges. Throughout the competition, they receive mentorship and materials to help them succeed.
The top teams compete for a share of $100,000 in prizes funded by OTT. In addition, six DOE Technology Offices offer up to $25,000 each in bonus prizes for the best teams in their respective fields. The six offices include: the Geothermal Technologies Office, Solar Energy Technologies Office, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Building Technologies Office, and the Water Power Technologies Office.
Understanding that energy is often inherently local, teams first present at their closest regional Explore Events in February 2022, where Regional Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Semifinalists are identified. These teams are provided exclusive mentorship and free access to OTT's Energy I-Corps curriculum to help students refine their ideas throughout February and March. Finally, the regional winners pitch their complete business plan at Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week in March 2022.
The EnergyTech University Prize, in partnership with American-Made Challenges, is designed to be approachable, equitable, and scalable nationwide. Distinct from many startup competitions, winners are chosen based on the strength of their proposal, not the strength of their background.
National Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Finalists
The following teams have been selected as National Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Finalists.
TEAM | SCHOOL(S) | STATUS |
---|---|---|
Mechanochemical Recycling of LCO Batteries | Stanford University |
First-Place National Winner |
Self-Powered Autonomous Robot for Power Lines | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
Second-Place National Winner |
Structural Piezoelectric Supercapacitors | University of Miami |
Third-Place National Winner |
Future Heat | The University of Utah |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Pantheon | The State University of New York at Binghamton |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Mesophase | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Alpha Nur | The University of Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Solar Shepherds | Appalachian State University |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Electromaim | The George Washington University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Technology Bonus Prize Winner |
Regional Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Finalists
The following teams were selected as Regional Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Finalists.
Region | Regional Winners and Technology Bonus Prize Finalists |
---|---|
Appalachia and South |
Regional Winner: Super Compact Wireless Charging Infrastructure (Self-Res Power), The University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
California |
Regional Winner: Mechanochemical Recycling of LCO Batteries, Stanford University |
Carolinas |
Regional Winner: Self-Powered Autonomous Robot for Power Lines, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Technology Bonus Prize Finalist: Solar Shepherds – Agrivoltaics Solutions, Appalachian State University |
Great Lakes |
Regional Winner: Natrion, Boston College, Indiana University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Technology Bonus Prize Finalists: Alpha Nur, The University of Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Mid-Atlantic |
Regional Winner: Lignolix: Unlocking the Value of Lignin, University of Delaware Technology Bonus Prize Finalists: ElectroMain, The George Washington University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Washington University in St. Louis |
New York Tri-State Area |
Regional Winner: Smart i-Floor, University of Connecticut Technology Bonus Prize Finalists: Pantheon, A Carbon-Negative Cement Replacement, The State University of New York at Binghamton |
Northeast |
Regional Winner: Plug-and-Play Nuclear Energy Generator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technology Bonus Prize Finalists: Mesophase Steam Condensers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Northern Plains |
Regional Winner: Recycling of Spent Lithium Ion Batteries, University of Minnesota Twin Cities |
Southeast |
Regional Winner: Structural Piezoelectric Supercapacitors, University of Miami |
Texas |
Regional Winner: Magnetic Gears – FluxWorks, Texas A&M University |
West |
Regional Winner: Deployable Off-grid CSP Solar Thermal Desalination, University of Hawai'i Technology Bonus Prize Finalists: Future Heat, The University of Utah |
Technology Bonus Prize Semifinalists
The Technology Bonus Prize Finalists were selected from the following semifinalists, selected for each of the regions.
REGION | Technology Bonus Prize Semifinalists |
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Appalachia and South |
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California |
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Carolinas |
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Great Lakes |
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Mid-Atlantic |
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New York Tri-State Area |
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Northeast |
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Northern Plains |
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Southeast |
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Texas |
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West |
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Learn More
- Watch the EnergyTech UP Informational Webinar recording.
- Sign up to compete on HeroX, the official competition platform.
- Learn about DOE-developed energy technologies.
- Send questions about EnergyTech UP to ott.energytechup@nrel.gov.