Turning CO₂ Into Products

The Competition Guidelines (PDF) is a detailed competition document designed to provide prize specific information surrounding the Grand Challenge, the solutions to be developed, and the competition timeline. The goal is to maximize the number of teams and approaches to converting CO2 emissions into valuable products.

The competition will take place in three (3) rounds over 54 months (4.5 years). Teams may compete in Competition Track A, in Competition Track B, or in both Tracks A and B. Teams in Competition Track A will demonstrate their technologies at a coal power plant. Teams in Competition Track B will demonstrate their technologies at a natural gas power plant.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

XPRIZE believes that solutions can come from anyone, anywhere. Scientists, engineers, academics, entrepreneurs, and other innovators with new ideas from all over the world are invited to form a team and register to compete.

Note:

The competition is void in those countries where prohibited or restricted by law. XPRIZE reserves the right to limit, or restrict upon notice, participation in the competition to any person or entity at any time for any reason. Teams may withdraw as set forth in the Competitor Agreement.

OPERATING COSTS

Teams will be responsible for funding their own technology development costs.

During Round 3 of the competition, XPRIZE will provide finalists with access to a testing bay connected to a power plant, located at one of two Carbon XPRIZE test facilities. At each test facility:

• Teams will have access to a testing bay, office space, and flue gas from the power plant (as described in the competition guidelines) at no cost.
• Teams will have access to electricity, water, and other inputs (as described in the competition guidelines) at a cost determined by the test facility.
• Teams will be responsible for all permitting costs, if applicable.
• Teams will be responsible for all waste disposal costs, if applicable.

JUDGING CRITERIA

During Round 1, teams will be evaluated on technical and business information provided in the Round 1 paper submission.

During Round 2 and Round 3, teams will be evaluated exclusively based on the scoring criteria (CO2 Converted and Net Value of Products) and performance thresholds for land and water, as described in the competition guidelines. Standard technical specifications and economic values that will be used in scoring the Net Value of Products will be available before the end of the regular registration period.

COMPETITION OVERSIGHT

To ensure that the competition is fair to competing teams, XPRIZE will appoint the following two panels:

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

XPRIZE will recruit a Scientific Advisory Board composed of experts in fields such as: agricultural engineering; biochemical engineering; biochemistry; biology; biotechnology; catalysis; chemical engineering; chemistry; economics; electrochemistry; fabrication; industrial engineering; life cycle analysis; materials engineering; materials science; microbiology; minerals; nanotechnology; polymer engineering; polymer science; solid-state chemistry; and thermodynamics. XPRIZE will seek to ensure the expertise of the Scientific Advisory Board is diverse enough to understand and advise on a variety of approaches to CO2conversion. This board will remain in place throughout the competition to advise XPRIZE regarding the scientific and economic elements of the competition.

JUDGING PANEL

XPRIZE will recruit judges with expertise in one or more of the following areas: biology, chemistry, engineering, utilities, industrial processes, economics, and technology development, demonstration, and commercialization. XPRIZE will seek to ensure the expertise of the judging panel is diverse enough to fairly evaluate the various technologies and approaches that teams may develop during the competition. Judges will convene three times to collaborate, review guidelines, ask questions, and ensure that they are fully able to judge the competition in a fair and appropriate manner.

COMPETITION INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

• Proposed Competition Guidelines (PDF): Document for the public that describes the requirements and parameters of the competition.
• Competition Guidelines: Document for registered teams that describes the finalized requirements and parameters of the competition and is binding on teams as referenced in, and as part of, the Competitor Agreement.
• Competitor Agreement: Legally binding contract that contains the requirements of the competition. All competing teams must sign this in order to compete.
• Rules and Regulations: Document detailing the testing protocols, specific rules, dates/times, and other details that will govern the competition and will be binding on teams.
• Sponsorship/Donor Notification Form: Teams must submit this form for approval before signing with sponsors.