This page is dedicated to Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator. Please note that information about competing teams and prize details for Round 1 and Round 2 of this prize are located on their own HeroX pages. Round 3 of this prize is the only round currently accepting new applications through Dec. 17.
Applicants interested in competing should follow Round 3 on HeroX and read the Official Rules document before submitting any materials.
The Community Power Accelerator Prize Series
The American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize is a $10 million prize competition designed tofast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and codevelopers to grow multiple successful community-benefiting distributed solar projects.
After the successful launches of the Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 1 and Round 2, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is excited to open the prize for Round 3. Organizations that have previously won only Round 1 Phase 1 or Round 2 Phase 1 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize are eligible to compete but must include a new portfolio of projects. Organizations that have previously won Round 1 Phase 2 or Round 2 Phase 2 are not eligible to compete in Round 3.
Round 3 of the prize seeks organizations that have the desire and ambition to develop and finance a portfolio of two or more projects that, in aggregate, total at least 1 MW AC of distributed solar generation. To be eligible, no single portfolio project may exceed 5 MW AC. Distributed solar projects may include but are not limited to:
Community solar
Behind-the-meter virtual power plants (VPPs)
Distributed energy resource (DER) aggregations
Microgrids
Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar
Multifamily projects.
Structured to Accelerate Solar Investments
Through this prize, DOE seeks to increase the number of equitable distributed solar projects by providing:
Tools and resources to connect developers with both public- and private- sector, project capital to build distributed solar projects using a standardized process.
Training to build understanding of the full cycle of distributed solar development, including site acquisition, community relations, customer acquisition, financing, costs, and the unique challenges and benefits of a distributed solar model.
Free consulting services for competitors on the steps necessary to secure the capital necessary to build a portfolio of distributed solar projects.
Coaching for solar developers interested in expanding customer markets to include low- and moderate-income populations and disadvantaged communities.
By the end of the prize, competitors will be ready to engage with the Community Power Accelerator online platform, which provides a place for competitors to shop their credit-ready projects around to verified project developers, investors, and philanthropic organizations.
Round 3 Prize Phases
Prize Phase
Duration
Anticipated Number of Awards
Dollar Amounts
Phase 1: Ready!
4 Months
Up to 25
$50,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $1,250,000)
Phase 2: Set!
6-10 months (anticipated)
Up to 25
$200,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $5,000,000)
Phase 3: Grow!
6-10 months (anticipated)
Up to 25
$150,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $3,750,000)
The Five Meaningful Benefits of Community Solar
One of the key goals of the Community Power Accelerator Prize is to support and grow a robust ecosystem of solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States. The Five Meaningful Benefits below can help build consumer trust and ensure that all U.S. households have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the clean energy transition.
Each eligible portfolio submitted to Round 3 must include at least one of the following meaningful benefits bolded below:
Equitable Access and Consumer Protections (required benefit for portfolio submission)
Meaningful Household Savings (required benefit for portfolio submission)
Resilience, Storage, and Grid Benefits
Community-Led Economic Development
Solar Workforce Development
Powering Change Beyond the Prize
This prize is part of the larger Community Power Accelerator program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy National Community Solar Partnership. It brings together investors, philanthropic organizations, developers, community-based organizations, and technical experts in one online ecosystem to accelerate the deployment of the funds needed to drive a more equitable clean energy transition.
The Community Power Accelerator online platform will create a pipeline of credit-ready community solar projects—particularly those that provide benefits to underserved communities—and connect them with mission-aligned investors and philanthropic organizations to get funding.
The prize supports this initiative by providing funding and resources to stand up or expand solar project development practices and develop a pipeline of multiple projects for new solar project developers.
Informational Webinars
On Oct. 1 and Nov. 13, prize administrators will hold an informational webinar on Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize.During the webinar, the team will provide participants with an overview of the prize, submission requirements, scoring criteria, winner selection process, and more. Prize administrators will also answer audience questions.
Register for the October or November webinarto learn more about Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize.A recording of both webinars will be made available on HeroX shortly after each event for those unable to attend the live sessions.
Who Can Compete?
The Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3 is open to U.S. solar developers, including new developers and experienced developers who are expanding their solar operations.
The prize also welcomes solar co-developers, organizations that are partnering with a project developer, and other non-developer organizations to apply. Examples of new developers include (but are not limited to):
Community-based organizations, such as local community health organizations, community action agencies, houses of worship, and community and economic development organizations, that have real estate portfolios
Multifamily affordable housing providers
State, local, and Tribal governments and their agencies, including schools and school districts
Intermediary organizations such as community development institutions
General contractors with roofing and/or electrical experience
Other large real estate holders that may be available for solar deployment.
Challenge Guidelines
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 contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
The American-Made Community Power Accelerator 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.
Don't forget! All application materials must be uploaded by today, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. ET. The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays.
Here’s a quick reminder of what you need to submit:
Are you ready to submit your application for Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize? Submissions are due next Tuesday, Dec. 17, by 5 p.m. ET. The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays.
Also, don’t forget, at least one member of the lead organization on each application must complete the Introduction to Community Solar Course and submit to HeroX the email they used to register for the course as well as the date of completion as evidence. Please keep in mind that you will receive an email with a unique course access link within 2–3 business days, so it’s important to request this link sooner rather than later.
Organizations that have already completed and passed the Introduction to Community Solar course within the past two years will not be required to retake the course for Phase 1.
Here’s a quick reminder of what you need to submit by Tuesday:
Don’t forget the deadline to submit your Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3 application is Tuesday, Dec. 17, by 5 p.m. ET. The prize administrators highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays.
Here’s a quick reminder of what you need to submit:
Find more information about submission materials in the Official Rules.
Introduction to Community Solar Course
The Introduction to Community Solar Course is intended to help teams understand how community solar developers can build projects that include the Five Meaningful Benefits. The course is approximately 3–4 hours (including videos, reading assignments, quizzes, and self-assessment). You can go at your own pace and start and stop as you wish.
Find more information and register for the course here. Please keep in mind that you will receive an email with a unique course access link within 2–3 business days. Prize administrators highly recommend completing this course multiple days before the submission deadline.
At least one member of the lead organization must complete the Introduction to Community Solar Course and submit to HeroX the email they used to register for the course as well as the date of completion as evidence.
Organizations that have already completed and passed the Introduction to Community Solar course within the past two years will not be required to retake the course for Phase 1. However, they will be required to provide the email used to register for the course as well as the date of completion. Find more details about this course in the Official Rules Section 5.5.
Resource Recap
Find answers to questions asked during the informational webinar live Q&A’s in the Forum tab and add your own lingering questions. A prize administrator will publicly respond to your question there.
Find informational webinar recordings and helpful submission templates in the Resources tab.
Read the Official Rules before submitting your application by Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. ET.
Interested in learning more about Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize? A recording of the latest informational webinar, and the corresponding slides covered during the event, are now available in the Resources tab.
In case you missed the event, there’s still an opportunity to connect with other potential prize applicants and ask your lingering questions about the competition. Join a virtual networking event with prize Power Connector EFN next Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 12–1:30 p.m. ET to get a high-level overview of the prize and learn more about submission best practices.
Register today to reserve your spot at the networking event!
As a reminder, all Round 3 submissions are due by Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. ET. Read more about submission materials in the Official Rules document.
Don’t forget that next Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. ET is your next opportunity to join an informational webinar for Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize. During the event, the prize administrators will cover:
Important dates and deadlines
Competitor eligibility
Submission materials
How to apply through HeroX
Other key prize details.
Plus, there will be a live Q&A at the end of the call to address any lingering questions you may have about the competition. (You can review questions addressed in the October informational webinar in the HeroX forum.) Register for the webinar here!
Can’t make the webinar? You’ll have another opportunity to ask questions (and connect with other potential applicants!) at a virtual networking event hosted by prize Power Connector EFN on Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET. Join this event to hear more about submission best practices and meet other applicants looking to team up for Round 3 of this prize.
