The American-Made Data-Driven Distributed (3D) Solar Visibility Prize is a $250,000 prize designed to incentivize innovators to develop models and algorithms that can provide accurate and real-time information about distributed solar generation in electric power distribution networks. This prize aims to promote awareness and adoption of distribution system state estimation (DSSE) algorithms and software tools to improve the visibility of distribution systems and their operating conditions.
A Prize Competition Structured for Success
Competitors in the 3D Solar Visibility Prize will develop a DSSE tool and be provided with measurements to test them. Competitors will submit their DSSE tool results for two distribution system networks through the Open Energy Data Initiative for solar systems integration (OEDI SI) platform for 14 consecutive days. The OEDI SI team will then compare the DSSE’s performance against a set of industry standard metrics to select the top-performing teams.
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize will award up to $250,000 to seven competitors, anticipating three winners and four runners-up. Winners will receive $50,000 each and runners-up will receive $25,000 each.
Throughout the competition, competitors will have access to support from the American-Made Network, a powerful community of incubators, investors, philanthropists, fabrication facilities, and seasoned industry leaders who provide technical insight, business development expertise, product validation, and more.
Who Can Compete?
U.S.-based institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to compete. In keeping with the goal of growing a community of innovators, competitors are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams while developing their concepts.
For full eligibility requirements, please read the official rules.
Part of the GRIT Prize Series
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize is just one impactful component of the new Grid Resource Integration Technologies (GRIT) Prize Series. A joint effort from DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) and the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), this prize series catalyzes research and development on grid modernization through large-scale integration of renewable technology, distributed resources, and stationary storage.
SETO’s 3D Solar Visibility Prize was launched in conjunction with OE’s Science Synthesis Prize, a competition to expand the renewable energy research community, catalyze transdisciplinary scholarship and practice, and generate new and comprehensive knowledge on the current state of science in renewable integration.
Applicants are encouraged to apply to one or both prizes. Follow the Science Synthesis Prize and 3D Solar Visibility Prize on HeroX for more information on upcoming GRIT Prize Series initiatives.
Important Dates
To prepare for participation in the 3D Solar Visibility Prize, here are the key dates and deadlines you should keep in mind:
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. We highly encourage you to follow the prize on HeroX to receive all future updates and important information about the prize.
Guidelines
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 .
Begin Model Training on Historical Data and Pseudo-measurement Analysis
From the date of access to historical data to the start date of the Competition Period (seven weeks, July 15 through September 1).
July 15, 2024, 1 p.m. PDT
Access to Historical Data
Eligible competitors will receive access to historical data no later than July 15 by 4:00 pm ET.
July 17, 2024, 9:30 a.m. PDT
Technical Webinar for Registered Competitors
Aug. 25, 2024, 11 p.m. PDT
Begin: Distribution State Estimation Practice Week (via OEDI SI platform)
The Test Week will take place between August 26, 2024, thru August 30, 2024. - Note: The Test Week is meant to give an opportunity to competitors to test their submission process with the OEDI SI platform before the actual competition begins. Participation is entirely optional but highly encouraged.
Aug. 30, 2024, 10 p.m. PDT
End: Distribution State Estimation Practice Week (via OEDI SI platform)
The Test Week will take place between August 26, 2024, thru August 30, 2024. - Note: The Test Week is meant to give an opportunity to competitors to test their submission process with the OEDI SI platform before the actual competition begins. Participation is entirely optional but highly encouraged.
Sept. 1, 2024, 11 p.m. PDT
End Model Training on Historical Data and Pseudo-measurement Analysis
From the date of access to historical data to the start date of the Competition Period (seven weeks, July 15 through September 1).
Sept. 2, 2024, midnight PDT
Begin: Distribution State Estimation Competition Period (via OEDI SI platform)
Competition Period is between September 2, 2024, through September 15, 2024.
Sept. 15, 2024, 11 p.m. PDT
End: Distribution State Estimation Competition Period (via OEDI SI platform)
Competition Period is between September 2, 2024, through September 15, 2024.
Seven competitors are being awarded in the Data-Driven Distributed (3D) Solar Visibility Prize! Congratulations to everyone that participated.
The prize originally accounted for two winners and three runners-up, but due to the great level of skill in the competition, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office added additional funding to award two additional teams, for a total of three winners and four runners-up!
Each of the competing teams was assigned an anonymous gemstone to represent their results on the leaderboard. Please join us in giving a round of applause for the three winners, each receiving a $50,000 cash prize:
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize competition period is coming to an end! Competitors have just two more days to run simulations with their distributed solar generation tools, comparing their results to the Open Energy Data Initiative for solar systems integration (OEDI SI) platform, which has the actual data, to see which teams’ algorithms are most accurate.
Day 12 results are in:
Onyx is currently taking the lead in first place
Canasite bumped up in second place
Pearl is close behind in third place.
How could winning teams contribute to a more resilient power grid?
As more renewable energy is brought into the power grid, the unidirectional power flow is morphing into a two-way grid. However, utilities have limited visibility into what power is created and when. In this prize, competitors create distribution system state estimation (DSSE) tools to improve visibility of distribution systems and their operating conditions. This will equip utilities and grid operators with a powerful tool for accurate planning and real-time dispatch of resources, enabling them to make better operational decisions and optimize the use of distributed solar energy, which in turn will help address the Solar Energy Technology Office’s goal of accelerating the deployment of solar energy technologies.
Which teams will build the resiliency of the power grid and win up to $50,000? Stay tuned to find out! Winners’ real team names are anticipated to be announced in fall 2024.
In the meantime, check out the leaderboard tab on HeroX to see the current rankings.
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize competition period has officially begun, and the anonymized results are in! On Day 5 of the 14-day competition, Wulfenite is in the lead, with Pearl in second place, with Canasite very close behind in third place.
Teams are battling it out to see whose tool to measure distributed solar generation provides the most accurate, real-time estimation of the state of an electric power system. From Sept. 2–15, competitors submit their Distribution System State Estimation solutions every day for two distribution system networks through the Open Energy Data Initiative for solar systems integration (OEDI SI) platform. Results are compared against actual data captured in the OEDI SI platform.
The leaderboard tab on HeroX shows the rankings for each team as an anonymous gemstone pseudonym. Results are updated daily.
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize will award up to $175,000 to up to five competitors, anticipating two winners and three runners-up. Winners will receive $50,000 each and runners-up will receive $25,000 each.
Check out the leaderboard tab for full standings and stay tuned for next week’s update!
The 3D Solar Visibility Prize administrators have published another updated version of the rules document. This version is geared toward those already competing in the prize, since the competition is now closed to new applicants.
The most recent version of the rules added the following modifications:
Modified the important dates by extending the following activities by three weeks: Model Training on Historical Data and Pseudo-measurement Analysis, Distribution State Estimation Practice Week, Deadline to Upload Algorithm Executables, and Distribution State Estimation Competition Period.
Updated the daily timeline for submitting DSSE results.
Clarified the data provided in the historical data set.
Today’s the day! Intent to Compete submission packages are due TODAY, July 10, at 5 p.m. ET.
Make sure to include a cover page, one summary PowerPoint slide, and intellectual property licensing agreement (if applicable) in your Intent to Compete submission package. Prize administrators highly suggest you add buffer time to submitting your application to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays. Late entries will not be accepted.
