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American-Made Challenges

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Promoting Registration of Inverters and Modules with Ecolabel (PRIME) Prize

Incentivizing EPEAT registration of solar PV modules and inverters for easier identification of eco-friendly equipment.
Energy, Environment & Resources
stage:
Informational Webinar
prize:
$2,700,000
Energy, Environment & Resources
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Updates4
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Summary
Challenge Overview Why is the EPEAT Ecolabel Important? Prize Structure Eligibility Guidelines

Challenge Overview

 

More consumers are paying attention to the environmental impacts of the manufacture and the end-of-life cycle of solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment. As the U.S. federal government ramps up solar adoption in construction and power purchase agreements over the next few years, they’ll need to purchase solar products that are certified with certain ecolabels to meet sustainability goals. 

The American-Made Promoting Registration of Inverters and Modules with Ecolabel (PRIME) Prize is a two-phase, $2.7 million competition aimed at increasing EPEAT registration of solar PV modules and inverters. The goal is to help manufacturers meet the high bar for EPEAT product standards and make their products more attractive to purchasers with sustainability goals. 

The prize incentivizes the registration of PV module and inverter products through the EPEAT ecolabel. EPEAT is an ecolabel operated and maintained by the Global Electronics Council (GEC) for certain electronic products, including solar PV modules and inverters.  

Why is the EPEAT Ecolabel Important?

 

EPEAT is the only ecolabel for solar PV products recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—yet, as of August 2024, there are only four certified PV products (all modules) according to the EPEAT Registry. 

The goal of the PRIME Prize is to expand the number of EPEAT-registered products in the solar market, enabling the federal government to meet procurement requirements and sustainability goals as it purchases more solar power throughout the years. 

Registering PV modules and inverters with EPEAT qualifies product(s) to: 

  • Meet sustainability regulations,
  • Be bought by environmentally conscious consumers, including U.S. federal agencies, and
  • Demonstrate the positive environmental impact of products while boosting sales. 

Prize Structure

 

The PRIME Prize offers a total prize pool of $2.7 million in cash prizes across two phases. 

Phase 1: Manufacturers submit letters of intent to register up to four PV module or inverter products with EPEAT and provide proof of participation with the GEC. Winners will receive $50,000 in cash and move to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Manufacturers validate that their products meet all required EPEAT criteria and submit proof of EPEAT product registration from the GEC. At the end of Phase 2, manufacturers win $100,000 in cash for each of the products identified in their Phase 1 submission that achieve EPEAT registry listing, up to $400,000 in cash total. 

Eligibility

 

The PRIME Prize is open to U.S.-based manufacturing organizations of either solar PV modules or inverters. Eligible applicants must not have any previously EPEAT-registered PV modules or inverters.  

Guidelines

Want to compete? Subscribe to the PRIME Prize for program updates by clicking the "Follow" button at the top of the page. You’ll be notified when the Official Rules are published to learn more about the application process and instructions for competing.

You may also email  with questions.

 

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Timeline

Challenge Timeline

start
Sept. 9, 2024, 9:31 a.m. PDT
Date Launched
Oct. 15, 2024, 8 a.m. PDT
Enter
Oct. 30, 2024, 11 a.m. PDT
Informational Webinar
Join us for an informational webinar at 2 p.m. ET: https://nrel.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_QQ7Za19IQHuI6AYVV6sudA
Nov. 21, 2024, 8:36 a.m. PST
You are here
April 17, 2025, 2 p.m. PDT
Submission Deadline
Phase 1 Submission Deadline at 5 pm ET.
April 18, 2025, 8 a.m. PDT
Judging
June 10, 2025, 8 a.m. PDT
Judging Closed
finish
June 24, 2025, 8 a.m. PDT
Tentative Winner Announcement
Updates4

Challenge Updates

Informational Webinar Recording Is Now Available

Oct. 30, 2024, 1:55 p.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

The PRIME Prize Informational Webinar recording and slides are now available in the Resources tab on HeroX.  

During this presentation, the PRIME Prize administrators reviewed how to apply to the prize, who is eligible, what the EPEAT Registry is, and more. Plus, the prize administrators and Global Electronics Counsel (operators of EPEAT) addressed numerous questions during the Q&A portion of the webinar. 

 

 

As mentioned in the webinar, take these next steps to become a PRIME Competitor: 

  1. Follow the prize on HeroX.  
  2. Read the official rules.  
  3. Apply before the April 17, 2025 submission deadline. 

For more great information, listen to the webinar recording and/or review the slides.  

Still have questions? Email the prize administrators at PRIMEPrize@nrel.gov who are happy to help. You can also use the public HeroX Forum to ask questions and spark discussions with HeroX community members. 

Informational Webinar is Tomorrow, Oct. 30

Oct. 29, 2024, 6:08 a.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

It’s almost time for the PRIME Prize Informational Webinar. Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 12 p.m. ET to hear an overview of the prize, including eligibility requirements, submission materials, and key dates and deadlines. 

Plus, ask your questions during the live Q&A at the end of the webinar. Register today to attend! 

 

 

Resource reminders:

  • Follow the competition on HeroX by clicking the Follow button at the top right corner of this page to get notified of updates to this prize.
  • Sign up for the informational webinar to get an overview of the prize and ask your questions.
  • Read the Official Rules to get a good understanding of the prize in more detail.

See you at the webinar! 

Sign Up for the Oct. 30 Webinar

Oct. 23, 2024, 10:48 a.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

Are you ready to learn more about the PRIME Prize? Join the informational webinar on Oct. 30 at 12 p.m. ET!

The PRIME Prize offers $2.7 million to solar photovoltaic module and inverter manufacturers for registering their products with the EPEAT ecolabel. 

In this webinar, prize administrators will give an overview of the prize, including what to submit: 

  • Competitor information such as organization name, address, members, list of product names intended for listing on the EPEAT Registry, and more. Find all required information in the Official Rules. 
  • Proof of EPEAT participation in the form of a confirmation letter from the Global Electronics Council (GEC).
  • Datasheets for the up to four (4) products intended for listing on the EPEAT Registry.

Prize administrators will cover these elements, as well as eligibility, key dates, goals, and more during the webinar. In addition, you’ll be able to ask any questions you may have in the open Q&A. See the Official Rules for more information and come prepared with any questions. 

Register for the Oct. 30 webinar today to secure your spot! 

The PRIME Prize Is Now Open for Submissions

Oct. 15, 2024, 9:18 a.m. PDT by Stacey Baxter

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy officially launched the PRIME Prize. If you're a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and inverters and want to earn EPEAT registration for products, this prize is for you!

The goal of this $2.7 million prize is to help manufacturers meet the high bar for EPEAT product standards and make their products more attractive to purchasers with sustainability goals.

Manufacturers will advance in this prize through the following two phases: 

Phase 1

Due April 17, 2025

Submit a letter of intent to certify up to four (4) PV module or inverter products through EPEAT and provide proof of participation from the Global Electronics Council (GEC). Winning manufacturers will gain $50,000 in cash.  

Phase 2

Due on a rolling basis from Spring 2026 – Spring 2027

Obtain EPEAT ecolabel registration for designated products and submit proof of registration and listing from GEC. Manufacturer submissions will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling three-month basis beginning one year after the opening of Phase 2. At the end of Phase 2, manufacturers will win $100,000 in cash for each of their intended products that achieve registration, up to $400,000 total.

What’s Next 

Here are the next steps for solar PV manufacturers: 

  • Follow the competition on HeroX, the official prize platform, by clicking the Follow button at the top right corner of this page. This will allow you to receive notifications when updates are posted about this prize.
  • Sign up for the informational webinar, taking place Oct. 30 at 12 p.m. ET, to learn what to include in your application, how to submit it on the HeroX prize platform, and more.
  • Read the Official Rules to learn more about the prize. 

We look forward to seeing you at the Oct. 30 informational webinar! 

 

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