Circular and UE Awarded Community Energy Innovation Prize from U.S. DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the winning teams in the Concept Phase of the American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize. Circular Venture Lab and the University of Evansville’s Center for Innovation and Change teamed on a project titled “IMPACTT - Technology Transfer for Impact Ventures”. The program has been chosen as one of ten winners in the 2024 Manufacturing Ecosystem Track.

The IMPACTT team has been awarded an initial $100,000 in prize money, and the team will receive in-kind mentorship and other support services throughout the subsequent prize phases.

The DOE’s Community Energy Innovation Prize supports capacity building, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development related to clean energy and climate for disadvantaged communities in accordance with the Justice40 Initiative. The IMPACTT team will focus their efforts on students attending schools in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood, as well as university students of all disciplines across Southwest Indiana.

"Local energy transitions are most successful when they are led by the community members themselves, but we understand funding is often an obstacle, especially for communities that have been historically underserved or disproportionately impacted by climate change," said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "That's why we offer prizes as a low-barrier-to-entry way for communities to get the support they need. We were blown away by the creativity and rigor seen in the impact plans of these winning teams and look forward to seeing the results of their efforts."

Beginning in Spring 2024, Indiana students in the IMPACTT program will identify, research, and critically analyze technology inventions and patents available for license through universities and U.S. federal agencies. The process of technology transfer will be investigated, including ways it can help impact ventures scale, enhance economic growth, and advance scientific research.

The Evansville team will move on to the Progress Phase of the prize where they will implement their planned community project. At the end of this phase in July 2024, all teams will report on their progress and will be eligible for an additional $100,000 in prize money plus continued mentorship services. The winning teams will then move on to the Impact Phase and will present their program accomplishments at a final event in December 2024.

The Community Energy Innovation Prize is part of DOE's American Made Program and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

An IMPACTT team member will respond immediately to all inquiries and questions.