The U.S. Department of Energy seeks to understand the key technical and other barriers that may prevent long-term access to low-cost water supplies that could be best addressed through challenges and prize competitions. For the purposes of this Request for Information (RFI), challenges and prize competitions are tools and approaches the Federal government and others can use to engage a broad range of stakeholders, including the general public, in developing solutions to difficult problems.

Challenges and prize competitions rely on competitive structures to drive innovation among participants and usually offer rewards (financial and/or other) to winners and/or finalists. DOE may use the information provided through this RFI to develop challenges and prize competitions to address key water issues. This RFI is not designed to solicit input on DOE’s broader R&D efforts on affordable water.

Click here for the RFI.