Solar Desalination Prize Round 2
The American-Made Challenges: Solar Desalination Prize is a multi-stage prize competition designed to accelerate the development of low-cost desalination systems that use solar-thermal power to produce clean drinking water from saltwater. Each stage of the competition will have increasing prize amounts, totaling millions of dollars.
The Solar Desalination Prize has a rapid iteration prize structure designed to help entrepreneurs use innovative research to come up with ideas, then design and test concepts, with the end goal of having shovel-ready technology primed for industry adoption.
The Prize Structure
The Solar Desalination Prize has a rapid iteration prize structure designed to help entrepreneurs use innovative research to come up with ideas, then design and test concepts, with the end goal of having shovel-ready technology primed for industry adoption.
Millions of dollars in prizes will be awarded over the competition, increasing in value in each phase, culminating in a $1 million grand prize at the end of the competition for successful testing and demonstration of promising solar desalination prototypes.
Who can participate?
Entrepreneurs, technologists, hardware developers, engineers, solar experts, and investors are all encouraged to join the challenge, be part of the American-Made Network and create ground-breaking solutions that will accelerate solar desalination technologies.
Contests & Important Dates
- Open: April 2021
- Close: July 2021
- Quarterfinalists announced Sept. 2021
- Review the technical specifications that teams should consider during the Innovation Contest
Innovation Contest
- Open: Sept. 2021
- Close: Feb. 2022
- Semifinalists will be announced April 2022
Teaming Contest
- Open: April 2022
- Submissions accepted: As soon as competitors are ready
- Finalists are expected to be announced one month after DOE receives submissions
- Close: April 2025
Design Contest
- Open: April 2022
- Submissions accepted: The second Monday in April annually
- Winners are expected to be announced one month after the DOE site visit
- Close: April 2025
Test Contest
Sign up for updates on the Solar Desalination HeroX page.
All dates are subject to change including contest openings, deadlines, and announcements.
Solutions that Can Shape the Future of Solar
Are you a thinker, entrepreneur, facility or potential partner? Anyone with an innovative idea can help promote transformation by participating in the American-Made Challenges.
Ready for the challenge?