The rules have been updated! Please review Appendix 1 of the official rules document for a list of the updates to the rules covered in this modification.
From prize competitors to the American-Made Network—and the broader community that supports them—all are invited to contribute as the Solar Prize builds connections, secures investments, and advances the best ideas to shape the future of solar.
Through a publicly available, online platform HeroX, the solar industry will be invited to submit industry-relevant problems and possible solutions. This platform will highlight insights from people with diverse experiences, skills, and perspectives. Anyone can participate in ideation by submitting problem and/or opportunity statements. The community can share feedback by commenting on postings. Open communication will connect stakeholders to bring new ideas to light in ways that were not previously available.
Competitors are encouraged to track posted problems and devise solutions as a basis for framing Ready! Contest submissions. Potential competitors can use the platform to explore and refine existing ideas and more.
The Ready! Set! Go! Contests will fast track efforts to identify, develop, and test disruptive solutions to solar industry needs. Each stage will have a 90-day performance period when participants work to advance their solutions from idea to reality.
Contest | Winners | Prizes |
Ready! | 20 to 40 | $1,000,000 distributed equally with a range of $25,000 to $50,000 in cash per winner |
Set! | 5 to 10 | $1,000,000 in cash and $375,000 in vouchers distributed within a range of $100,000 to $200,000 in cash and $37,500 to $75,000 in vouchers per winner |
Go! | 2 | $500,000 in cash and up to $75,000 in vouchers per winner |
DOE invites anyone, individually or as a team, to compete to transform a conceptual solution into product reality.1
The American-Made Network is comprised of national labs, incubators, investors, facilities, and seasoned industry mentors. It will link contestants with the ideas, people, resources, financing, and relevant industry expertise needed for long-term success. Members of the network can be a connector, power connector, or a facility and will be incentivized through either performance awards or vouchers.