Water is a critical resource for human health, economic growth, and agricultural productivity. The United States has historically benefitted from access to low-cost water supplies, but challenges for freshwater supplies could threaten U.S. economic competitiveness and water security. Significantly for DOE, present day water and energy systems are interdependent.
The Water Security Grand Challenge is a White House initiated, U.S. Department of Energy led framework to advance transformational technology and innovation to meet the global need for safe, secure, and affordable water. Using a coordinated suite of prizes, competitions, early-stage research and development, and other programs, the Grand Challenge has set the following goals for the United States to reach by 2030:
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Launch desalination technologies that deliver cost-competitive clean water
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Achieve near-zero water impact for new thermoelectric power plants, and significantly lower freshwater use intensity within the existing fleet
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Develop small, modular energy-water systems for urban, rural, tribal, national security, and disaster relief settings
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Transform the energy sector's produced water from a waste to a resource
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Recent News and Blogs
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DOE Water Security Grand Challenge Prize Competition
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FE selected one additional project to receive $1.5M under the second closing of DE-FOA-0002001.000001.
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Energy Department Announces Notice of Intent to Issue Funding to Advance Water Security.
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Department of Energy Announces $20 Million to Improve Water and Wastewater Treatment System Infrastructure
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the winners of the second stage (DESIGN) of the Waves to Water Prize. -
DOE seeks public comment on the design of a prize competition aimed at lowering water use in thermoelectric power plants.
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of the $9 million American-Made Challenges: Solar Desalination Prize. -
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a $1 million Water Resource Recovery Prize.
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced developments in two new prizes.
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The Office of Fossil Energy has selected four projects to receive $4.6M for produced water treatment research and development.
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Request for Information (RFI) Number: DE-FOA-0002165 This is solely a Request for Information. This is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement.
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Hub will focus on early-stage research and development (R&D) for energy-efficient and cost-competitive desalination technologies. -
Describes the outcomes of a 2018 water security energy nexus workshop conducted at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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Prize competition seeks to accelerate the development of wave energy powered desalination systems and launch novel technologies. -
The Office of Fossil Energy selected 10 coal technology projects at U.S. colleges and universities to receive funding.
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Prize builds on DOE efforts to spur U.S. Innovation through competition to accelerate technology development.
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Today, Chevron Technology Ventures, LLC announced three winners of the FE-supported Chevron Tech Challenge for Produced Water.
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Challenge aims to advance transformational technology and innovation to meet the global need for safe, secure, and affordable water. -
DOE and Chevron Technology Ventures announced a new agreement to advance solutions to produced water issues.
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Office of the Assistant Secretary
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Mail Stop EE-1
Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585