Solar Prize Round 6
Accelerate and Sustain American Solar Innovation
The American-Made Solar Prize Round 6 is a $4.1 million prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation through a series of contests that accelerate the entrepreneurial process from years to months. Competitors leverage the American-Made Network, our innovation engine of more than 250 organizations, including world-class experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national labs, clean tech accelerators, incubators, universities, facilities, and more.
This round of the Solar Prize is now closed. See results for details on round-specific timelines, participants, and winners.
Structured for Success
The Solar Prize encourages the rapid development of innovative solar energy solutions capable of addressing the tough challenges facing the solar industry. Solar Prize competitors participate in three contests—the Ready!, Set!, and Go! Contests—to transform their ideas into reality in months, rather than years. Competitors have the chance to win $4.1 million in cash prizes and other resources to help them advance in the competition and accelerate the development of their solution.
The Solar Prize Contests
Ready! Contest - Teams focus on innovative ideas that will address a solar industry technology need, proving that they have developed a great team, a game-changing solution, and an achievable plan.
Set! Contest - Teams make progress in developing and demonstrating early-stage proofs-of-concept.
Go! Contest - Teams focus on proving that their solutions are successful and they have made substantial progress over the course of the contests.
Join and competeCreating Space for Change
Round 6 includes an optional additional challenge that focuses on advancing solar in underserved communities. Participants who choose to incorporate this initiative into their solutions have the chance to be considered for a new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Contest and earn part of the $200,000 bonus cash prize!
Connecting You to the Innovation Engine
The American-Made Network provides support to competitors throughout the competition and is composed of national labs, incubators, investors, facilities, and seasoned industry mentors. The American-Made Network strengthens and scales the critical connections needed to grow new businesses, develop solutions, and sustain American innovation.
Join and connect
Who can Compete?
Competitors are entrepreneurial individuals or teams legally residing or based in the United States. Competitors can be individuals of one or multiple organizations, students, university faculty members, small business owners, researchers, or anyone with the desire and drive to transform an idea into an impactful solution.
Sign up for updates on the Solar Prize Round 6 HeroX page.
Solutions that Can Shape the Future of Solar
Are you a thinker, entrepreneur, facility or potential partner? You belong here. Anyone with an innovative idea can help transform the solar industry through the American-Made Solar Prize.
Ready for the Challenge?