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.
This is the first deadline in Phase 2. If a team submits by the July 16 deadline and their submission is not selected for an award, they will be allowed to resubmit their revised submission for the December 2 submission.
Sept. 23, 2025, 11 p.m. PDT
Phase 2 Winner Announcement #1
September 2025 (Anticipated) The prize administration team anticipates that competitors will be notified of the winner decision approximately 2 months following the Phase 2 submission deadline to which they responded.
Sept. 28, 2025, 11 p.m. PDT
Phase 3 Opens
September 2025 (Anticipated)
Dec. 2, 2025, 2 p.m. PST
Phase 2 Submission Deadline #2
This is the second deadline in Phase 2. This will be the last opportunity for competitors to submit for Phase 2.
Jan. 28, 2026, 11 p.m. PST
Phase 2 Winner Announcement #2
January 2026 (Anticipated) The prize administration team anticipates that competitors will be notified of the winner decision approximately 2 months following the Phase 2 submission deadline to which they responded.
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.
Are you ready to apply for Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize? Don’t forget about these resources and upcoming opportunities to help strengthen your application.
Resources
Need a reminder on a specific prize detail? Interested in the questions raised during the first informational webinar Q&A? Find a recording of the October webinar, plus the slides covered, in the Resources tab.
Also in the Resources tab, competitors have access to several helpful documents including:
Official Rules document (your go-to reference guide for all prize details)
Prize Power Connector, EFN, is hosting two exciting networking opportunities for applicants to learn more best practices for submission materials and meet with other potential competitors hoping to team up on an application. The first event is happening TOMORROW, Oct. 17, at 12 p.m.
Plus, don’t miss out on your next chance to hear more about the competition, including key dates, required application materials, competitor eligibility, and prize pools across each phase. Hear more from the Prize Administrators during the next informational webinar on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
In case you missed the first Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3 informational webinar on October 1, a recording of the event, including the slides discussed, can now be found in the Resources tab.
If you'd like to attend the next informational webinar on November 13, you can register for the event here.
Hey, competitors! Did you know you can receive individualized application support from prize Power Connector Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN)? EFN is a global non-profit dedicated to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Interested applicants can meet with Tom Jensen, a technology commercialization expert, one on one to ask questions about projects and receive helpful suggestions on application materials. Reach out to Tom from EFN at for more information or schedule time with him directly.
EFN is also hosting two exciting networking opportunities for applicants to learn more about the prize and meet with other potential competitors hoping to team up on an application.
