2001 Future Energy Challenge

Request for Proposals

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Department of Defense (DOD) and other sponsors, announces an opportunity for qualified college and university engineering programs to submit proposals to compete for a major prize, to build prototype, low-cost inverters, in the 2001 Future Energy Challenge. This competition is open to schools with ABET-accredited engineering programs or the equivalent.

The 2001 Future Energy Challenge addresses the emerging field of distributed electricity generation systems. In the future, many local energy sources, such as photovoltaic units, fuel cells, small turbines, small hydroelectric plants, and other dispersed sources will become a larger fraction of our electrical supply. The 2001 Challenge seeks to dramatically improve the design and reduce the cost of dc-ac inverters and interface systems for use in distributed generation systems. DOE is joining with NASEO, the IEEE Power Electronics Society, the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, the IEEE Industry Applications Society, DOD, and others, to sponsor this competition with the goal of making these interface systems practical and cost effective. The objectives are to design elegant, manufacturable systems that would reduce the costs of commercial interface systems by at least 50% to below $50 per kilowatt and, thereby, accelerate the deployment of distributed generation systems in homes and buildings. Schools with the capability to undertake the challenging task of designing complete systems or modifying commercial inverters to achieve design and manufacturability improvements that lead to these cost reductions are invited to submit proposals to DOE to compete. Results will be judged on the basis of design quality, a formal engineering report, cost and cost analysis, prototype quality, and operational results. Schools should plan to form multi disciplinary teams to address the energy source characteristics (selected from fuel cells, solar panels, or other direct energy conversion devices), design the power electronics, design packaging and thermal management systems, develop filtering and other interface sub-systems, analyze process costs and manufacturability, and perform economic and life-cycle cost analyses.

The hardware prototypes judged as best will be tested in a fuel cell system at a national DOE energy technology center. The school with the most cost-effective design that can meet the aggressive cost target and a fully functional prototype will win a prize of $50,000. Proposals will be judged by a distinguished panel of experts from the IEEE. The best results in individual categories, including electrical design, packaging, cost analysis, and engineering reports, will win special prizes of approximately $5,000 each.

Vision

Encourage the development of technologies to reduce the cost of inverters that are designed for renewable energy sources.

Incorporate practicality, potential manufacturability, and affordability into the competition assessment process.

Demonstrate technical progress toward and potential of advanced technologies that may help achieve the goals of this competition.

Improve engineering education and foster practical learning through the development of innovative team-based engineering solutions to complex technical problems.

Goal

Construct an inverter that will:

reduce the manufacturing cost to less than $500 for a 10 kW unit;

achieve minimum efficiency and size and weight requirements; and,

maintain acceptability in the areas of performance, reliability and safety.

Inverter Specifications

The inverter proposed will be judged against a set of objective specifications while achieving the example design targets shown below. The design concept should target a 10 kW system, while teams are asked to construct a 1.5 kW to 3 kW prototype to demonstrate their accomplishments. The target design requirements for the 10 kW system given below are minimums that need to be reached to win the Challenge Award of $50,000. Design concepts are expected to be validated with working prototypes. Scoring will be set up such that improvements beyond the minimums are beneficial to the team. More detail will be published in the official 2001 Future Energy Challenge Rules.

Hardware Prototype

To confirm the design concept, function, and the benefits of any new innovations, teams are expected to construct a working prototype scale system. The prototype nominal power level of 1.5 kW has been selected to facilitate both the student team design process and the final competition evaluation process. Prototypes should be fully functional, to meet the specifications given below. Late in Spring 2001, submitted reports and other materials will be evaluated by the judges. A small group of teams will be selected as Finalists, and supported to travel to a Final Competition at a national test site. At the site, prototypes will be tested against the specifications to help validate the system design and the team's concepts.

The specifications are intended to provide guidance rather than an exhaustive list of requirements. All teams are encouraged to develop novel solutions and test a wide range of ideas. The long-term purpose is to develop cost-effective technologies that will bring alternative energy to homes and businesses. Judges will be encouraged to consider the spirit, innovation, and future promise of each team's work when reviewing entries.

Design Restrictions

In general, any electrical, electronic, energy, mechanical, or other component may be used in the 10 kW system design. Keep in mind the cost considerations and the intended safe use in domestic applications. Both factors will limit the feasible range of component choices.

Challenge Award

$50,000 for highest score among entries meeting all minimum requirements for the 10 kW system design, as confirmed through reports and prototype tests.

Program Awards (actual number depends on availability)

Best in specific topic areas (thermal design, packaging, prototype quality, reports, and others): $5,000 each.

Funding Sources

DOE provides the Challenge Award, publicity, and any related activities.

DOD provides Program Awards.

EPRI/PEAC, in conjunction with NETL, will support the final testing events.

Individual schools should solicit project funding from NASEO, utilities, manufacturers, and NSF. There is no limitation for the sources of project funding.

Eligible Schools

Eligible schools must:

Have an accredited engineering program (through the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET) or equivalent);

Be a college or university located in North America;

Have the support of the school's administration;

Establish a team of student engineers; and

Demonstrate the necessary faculty and financial support commitments.

To confirm eligibility, potential participating schools must submit a Letter of Intent together with a Preliminary Team Information Form by September 15, 2000.

Period of Competition

September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2001.

Judging Panels

Experts from IEEE Power Electronics Society, Industry Applications Society, Industrial Electronics Society (and others to be announced), and representatives from manufacturers, national labs, independent test labs, utilities, and R&D engineers.

Judging

Student team project results will be judged based on cost effectiveness, performance, quality of the prototype and other results, engineering reports, adherence to rules and deadlines, innovation, future promise, and related criteria. Each aspect of judging will be scored according to a point list and Test Protocol published in the 2001 Future Energy Challenge Rules.

Competition Sequence and Activities

Each school's efforts will begin with a Letter of Intent (to provide the Organizing Committee with contact information and to confirm school approval), followed by a formal project proposal. Project proposals, which are due no later than October 2, are the primary basis for participation. Judges will evaluate the proposals and notify schools of selections during October.

The 2001 Future Energy Challenge Springboard meeting will be held November 11-13, 2000, at the Holiday Inn-Select, Orlando Airport, Orlando, Florida. The Springboard will be held in cooperation with the National Science Foundation Workshop on Multimedia Delivery of Modern Power Electronics Curriculum. Those schools with accepted proposals will be eligible to have one sponsored Faculty Advisor and one sponsored Student Team Leader at the Sprinboard meeting. Additional unsponsored participants are welcome as well.

Design activities are intended to take place throughout the 2000-2001 academic year. During Spring 2001, schools should be in the process of constructing and testing a prototype. At the end of the academic year, complete final reports and a summary of prototype results will be submitted by each team. Judges will evaluate these materials and will identify a small group of Finalists. The Finalist teams will be supported to travel to a national test site (most likely NETL in Morgantown, West Virginia) at times TBD in Summer 2001. At the test site, Finalists will present their work and will demonstrate their prototype systems on a fuel cell test bed. Immediately following the test activities, prizes will be awarded.

Proposals

Proposals will be judged on the quality of plans, the likelihood that a team will be successful in meeting the Future Energy Challenge objectives, technical and production feasibility and degree of innovation. Other key criteria are evidence of the school's commitment, capability, experience, and resources to implement their design over the one-year span of the competition. Commitment to excellence in undergraduate education is important, and acceptable proposals will involve undergraduate students as the primary team members. Proposals are limited to 12 double-spaced pages total, including all diagrams, attachments, and appendixes. Schools that are invited to participate in 2001 Future Energy Challenge are expected to adhere to the basic plans described in their proposals. Approval of the competition organizers must be sought for significant changes in plans or engineering designs. Only one proposal per school will be considered. Eleven copies of the proposals are due, to be received by October 2, 2000, at the mailing address provided below.

A. Proposal Objectives

Respondents should express their ideas and plans to construct the specified 10 kW inverter. The project should include the construction and operation of a reduced-scale prototype rated for 1.5 kW continuous duty. The proposal must address both technical and organizational issues for each phase of the inverter's development and testing. It must also contain a project budget, along with a plan to secure the necessary funding. The educational goals, including any course credit provided for work related to 2001 Future Energy Challenge, and how the project relates to other efforts within the school and at the local and state level should be addressed. A letter from the school stating the type(s) and level of support for the team's participation in the competition should be attached, but is not counted toward the 12-page limit.

B. Administrative Considerations and Limitations

This section describes the limitations placed on the proposal. Compliance is mandatory.

Language Proposals must be written in English.

Length Proposals are limited to 12 single-sided double-spaced pages of text, figures, and appendixes. The page size must be 8.5" x 11" or A4 and the font size must be no smaller than 10 point. Margins should be at least 1". The Preliminary Team Information form (Attachment 1 in this RFP), support letters from the school, government entities, or private sector organizations will not count in the proposal length.

Authors Proposals are to be prepared by the student team in collaboration with the faculty advisors.

Signatures Proposals must be signed by all authors of the proposal and the faculty advisor.

Letter of Support Proposals must be accompanied by a letter of support from an appropriate Dean, Department Chair, or other authorized school official. The letter must state the type(s) and value of support from the institution. School support should match the value of cash and in-kind support from the team's principal sponsors. Additional letters of support from other team sponsors are optional.

Preliminary Team Data Submit one copy of the Preliminary Team Information form (Attachment 1) with the Letter of Intent, then an updated copy with the proposal to the address below. This form does not count in the 12 page limit.

Due Date All proposals must be received at the address below by close of business on October 2, 2000 for full consideration.

Number of Copies Ten bound copies and one unbound copy of the proposal must be sent to:

Robert Myers Phone: (310) 446-8280

Administrative Secretary Fax: (310) 446-8390

IEEE Power Electronics Society E-mail: bob.myers@ieee.org

799 North Beverly Glen

Los Angeles, CA 90077

C. Project Funding

Each school is encouraged to seek funding from a variety of sources to cover the costs of prototype preparation and other activities. Funding will be provided for two representatives at the Springboard Meeting in November 2000 and for limited representatives of the Finalist teams for final tests. The Organizing Committee is working with NSF to secure possible seed funding; more information will be posted as details become available. Schools are especially encouraged to seek funding through NASEO representatives in their respective states. The proposal should include a fundraising plan and information about plans for both cash and in-kind support. There are no special limitations on funding levels or sources. Good proposals will have realistic budgets and funding plans.

For Information

Non-technical or administrative questions should be directed to Mr. Robert Myers, bob.myers@ieee.org. Technical questions should be directed to the Future Energy Challenge Organizing Committee. The Chair is Prof. Jason Lai, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, laijs@vt.edu. The Vice-Chair is Prof. Philip Krein, University of Illinois, p.krein@ieee.org.

Time Schedule

Summer 2000 Send out notice to ABET universities

8/25/2000 Request for Proposals available in final form

9/1/2000 Formal starting date of competition

9/15/2000 Submission of Letter of Intent

10/2/2000 Submission of full proposal

10/20/2000 List of approved teams posted on the web site

10/31/2000 Schools receive mail confirmation of approval and other instructions

11/11-13/2000 Springboard meeting, Orlando, Florida

June 2001 Time frame for Final Reports

July 2001 Time frame for Finalist laboratory testing

8/31/2001 Formal ending date of competition

Attachment 1

Preliminary Team Information Form

Submit with Letter of Intent

Name of University:

DATE:

Corresponding Address (please include name):

TELPHONE:

FAX:

EMAIL:

Faculty Advisor(s):

Name Department E-Mail

_________________________ _________________________ ____________________

_________________________ _________________________ ____________________

_________________________ _________________________ ____________________

PRELIMINARY Team Members:

Name Major Field of Study Degree and

Expected Graduation Date

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

_______________________ ____________________________________ ________________

ATTACHMENT II

LETTER OF INTENT

[Please send a letter with this content on your University letterhead.]

Dr. Samuel J. Biondo

2001 Future Energy Challange

U. S. Department of Energy

Office of Fossil Energy, FE-22

Room E-140

Germantown, Maryland 20585

Dear Dr. Biondo,

Our university plans to organize a student team and participate in the 2001 Future Energy Challenge. A Preliminary Team Participation Form is attached, listing our contact person, the faculty advisor(s), and some of the students who plan to be involved. The team will keep an eye on the Energy Challenge web site for detailed rules and other information. We understand that the next major task is to prepare a proposal describing our plans, and summarizing how the team intends to address the competition objectives. We agree to submit such a proposal, in time to reach the Challenge office on October 2. We understand that an official Letter of Support is to be attached to the proposal to outline our plans to support our student team.

Sincerely,

(Head of Department, Dean of Engineering or similar school official)