Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce
The American-Made Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce (Upskill Prize) is a $7.75 million prize designed to accelerate the expansion of the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce and equip workers with the skills necessary to revitalize the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain. This prize targets various facets of the U.S. solar photovoltaics (PV) module supply chain, addressing critical workforce needs.
A Prize Competition Structured for Success
The Upskill Prize encourages the expansion of the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce by rewarding proposals that focus on high-quality employment prospects and skillsets that can be utilized for career growth. Competing teams propose comprehensive workforce training plans that are composed of either or both:
New Worker Training: Develop and propose plans to train new workers with the skills they need to be successful in the solar manufacturing industry, particularly at new or expanding manufacturing facilities.
Incumbent Worker Training: Develop and propose plans to train incumbent workers with new skills needed to support the growth of solar manufacturing.
The prize also requires partnerships between U.S. manufacturers and training organizations, aiming to attract new individuals to careers in solar manufacturing with job-ready training programs. It offers flexibility in the types of training that can be provided, based on the needs of the manufacturer.
The Upskill Prize offers a total prize pool of $7.75 million in cash prizes. Winning teams receive up to $500,000 each for their submitted comprehensive workforce training plans. Prize administrators anticipate running several rounds of the prize until the allocated funding is awarded.
The Upskill Prize is currently in its second round. Round 1 launched in March 2024 and concluded in July 2024. Round 2 launched in July 2024 and is anticipated to conclude in early 2025. See Timeline for more details.
Building Workforce Diversity
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects that the industry will need to grow to between 500,000 and 1,500,000 workers by 2035 to decarbonize the electricity grid. DOE is committed to making these jobs accessible to workers from all backgrounds and provide competitive wages and benefits.
The Upskill Prize asks teams to describe how diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives will be incorporated in the project. Teams are required to describe how their proposed training program will support lower-income and disadvantaged communities and individuals.
Who Can Compete?
Who Can Compete?
Are you a private entity, non-profit, non-federal government organization, or academic institution? You could be part of the Upskill Prize. Teams competing in this prize must be led by either a U.S.-based PV manufacturer or U.S.-based training organization.
For full eligibility requirements, please read the official rules.
Important Dates
Round 1 of the Upskill Prize concluded in July 2024. Here are the important dates and deadlines to keep in mind for Round 2:
Please see the official timeline in HeroX for the most current dates and deadlines. All dates are subject to change, including contest openings, deadlines, and announcements.
Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
Looking for assistance? Contact the Power Connector, ADL Ventures, for the Upskill Prize:
The American-Made Upskill Prize is directed and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Learn more.
Join ADL Ventures, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), for an engaging webinar focused on utilizing partnerships and workforce programs for success in solar manufacturing.
Discover valuable insights and strategies for workforce development partnerships within the solar manufacturing sector. Learn from industry experts Desari Strader and Blair Mandell, as they share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in advancing workforce training programs and overcoming logistical hurdles during factory rollouts in and out of the solar industry.
The webinar will take place at 1:00 pm ET on October 30, 2024. You can register to attend here: Meeting Registration - Zoom
Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable knowledge in the field of solar manufacturing!
The Upskill Prize now has a prize pool of up to $7.75 million! The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has increased funding from $5 million to up to $7.75 million for all rounds of the Upskill Prize.
The Official Rules have been modified with the new prize amount.
Expanding the domestic solar manufacturing workforce is a priority for SETO. We hope to see your submissions!
The Upskill Prize Round 2 Informational Webinar recording and slidesare now available in the Resources tab on HeroX.
During this presentation, the Upskill Prize administrators walked through how to apply to the prize. They also reviewed tips and tricks for a successful submission, how to find support from the Power Connectors, changes from Round 1, and more. Plus, prize administrators addressed numerous questions during the Q&A portion of the webinar.
Don’t forget to register today for the Upskill Prize Round 2 informational webinar that takes place tomorrow, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. ET! Register to learn what's new about Round 2 and tips for success.
Whether you’re new to the Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce or you applied to the first round, we welcome you to join the Round 2 informational webinar on Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. ET. Learn about the second round of the Upskill Prize in time to submit your training plan by the Nov. 20 deadline.
Join the webinar to learn more about the prize rules, what to submit, judging criteria, eligibility requirements, and more! Plus, prize administrators from the U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory will be on hand to answer your questions live during a Q&A session.
Not able to attend the webinar on Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. ET? No problem—a recording and slides will be posted on HeroX after the webinar. Make sure you’re following this channel to receive an update when materials are posted.
Register now for the informational webinar on Aug. 7.
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