Submissions for Phase 1 close on January 13, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET.
FLOWIN Prize
The American-Made FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize aims to help unlock the potential of cost effective floating offshore wind turbines.
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About two-thirds of the nation's offshore wind resource potential can be found in water depths over 60 meters—areas where floating offshore wind turbines are more practical and cost effective than fixed-bottom turbines. The FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize aims to help unlock this potential.
The first-ever prize from DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office, the FLOWIN Prize will help pave the way for the cost-effective domestic manufacture and deployment of commercial utility-scale floating offshore wind energy turbines in U.S. waters. This three-phase competition invites designers, fabricators, and project site developers to tackle some of offshore wind energy's biggest challenges related to supply chains and large-scale execution.
Ready to start FLOWIN?! Learn more about the prize below. Submissions for Phase 1 close on January 13, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET.
FLOWIN Prize Goals
Advance designs of floating offshore wind turbine platforms for manufacturing
Improve supply chain readiness to enable mass production and assembly in the United States
Lower associated costs and risks
Further the principles of inclusion and environmental justice embodied in the Biden administration's Justice40 Initiative.
Prize Phases
Winners from each phase will earn awards from a total cash pool of $5.75 million, plus at least $1.1 million in technical support vouchers from DOE national laboratories.
Only the winning teams of each phase will be eligible to compete in the next phase.
Phase 1: Qualification and Teaming
The winning submissions will be those teams that have:
Determined critical hurdles to the commercialization of their floating platform technology
Demonstrated they can make significant progress toward identifying and developing a supply chain within the United States to produce the technology.
Up to eight winning teams will receive $100,000 each and $75,000 each in vouchers for technical support provided by DOE national laboratories.
Phase 2: U.S. Manufacturing Approaches
Only Phase One winners are eligible to compete in this phase.
This phase will have up to five winners, each receiving a cash prize of $450,000 and a technical services voucher valued at $100,000.
Teams will be judged on their progress in developing a plan for mass production and assembly of floating offshore wind energy platforms.
Phase 3: Detailed Implementation Pathways
Only Phase Two winners are eligible to compete in this phase.
It is anticipated there will be up to three winners in Phase Three, each receiving a cash prize of $900,000
Winners of this phase will complete location-specific implementation pathways for the U.S. manufacture and deployment of their floating offshore wind energy technologies.
Go to the HeroX challenge page and follow the instructions for and submitting all required materials before the deadline.
Read the FLOWIN Prize Rules to learn more.
Phase 1: Submission Opens: September 12, 2022
Phase 1: Submission Closes: January 13, 2023 5 p.m. ET
Phase 1: Winners Announced & Rewards: March 2023 (anticipated)
Phase 2: Submission Opens: March 2023 (anticipated)
Phase 2: Submission Closes: November 2023 (anticipated)
Phase 2: Winners Announced & Rewards: January 2024 (anticipated)
Phase 3: Submission Opens: January 2024 (anticipated)
Phase 3: Submission Closes: October 2024 (anticipated)
Phase 3: Winners Announced & Rewards: December 2024 (anticipated)
All dates are subject to change including contest openings, deadlines, and announcements. Sign up for updates on our HeroX challenge page.
Are you a thinker, entrepreneur, facility or potential partner? Follow this prize to get involved.