Solar Prize Round 6

The latest round of the Solar Prize is now open. More than $4.2 million will be distributed to competitors over this three-phase competition designed to catalyze innovations in U.S. solar hardware and software technologies with the capability to be commercialized in 3 to 5 years. Learn more about the launch of the Solar Prize Round 8!

Do you have an innovative idea that can help transform the solar industry? We invite you to join the Solar Prize Round 8. Please note that if you have previously competed in the Solar Prize, you will need to apply with a new or significantly improved solution. See the Solar Prize Round 8 rules for more details.

Round 8 also offers complimentary application support through the Power Connectors, organizations that are available to teams applying to the Solar Prize. Find Power Connector contact details on HeroX.

As a competitor, you could win up to $650,000 in cash prizes, as well as up to $90,000 in technical support vouchers over the course of the prize’s three contests, Ready!, Set!, and Go!. Past winners have found these vouchers invaluable to connect them with the American-Made Network, comprising more than 475 members—including universities, facilities, incubators, investors, and national labs.

Teams can also compete in the optional Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest for additional cash awards. Those who advance solar in underserved communities could earn part of the $200,000 bonus prize pool! 

Similar to last year, teams whose submissions in the Ready! Contest that aren’t selected to advance but warrant further thought and development could win the Power Up Contest. Up to 10 teams may be selected to split a $100,000 prize pool and receive tailored business support from Power Connectors to advance their startup and idea. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the ranks of Solar Prize competitors, follow the prize on HeroX to stay in the know about upcoming dates and deadlines!

In September 2023, Latimer Controls was named a grand prize winner of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 6. But what’s next for the team and how has the Solar Prize impacted their trajectory? 

Latimer Controls received a total of $650,000 in cash prizes for their innovative solutions to speeding the transition to rapid and equitable solar energy deployment. They also received $150,000 in technical support vouchers to help them bring their concept to life.

Latimer’s winning technology is a software control solution that allows large solar operators to provide reliable and demand-ready power. The Latimer Flexible Solar Management System increases the flexibility of utility-scale solar photovoltaics by continuously reading in real-time the maximum grid power point, proactively curtailing generation, and ramping up generation as needed to meet power demand. This innovative solar solution improves the reliability and sustainability of large-scale solar on the grid. 

Latimer Controls originated in CEO Simon Julien’s graduate research at the University of Colorado-Boulder and graduate internship at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Over the next 3-6 months, Julien, along with co-founders Zachary Jacobs and Tristan Liu, will use their winnings to expand their team and implement their first pilot project. Latimer will partner with Kauai Island Utility in Hawaii to manage 24 MW of solar power.

See Latimer Controls’ winning Solar Prize submission and learn more about their startup!

In September 2023, ReJoule was named a grand prize winner of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 6. But what’s next for the team and how has the Solar Prize impacted their trajectory?

ReJoule received more than $740,000 in total cash prizes for their innovative solutions to energy access and battery circularity. In addition to the cash prizes, ReJoule received $150,000 in technical support vouchers to use at national labs and other partnering facilities. ReJoule was also named the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest winner for their focus on advancing solar in underserved communities.

ReJoule’s winning technology converts decommissioned electric vehicle (EV) batteries into solar storage that can be deployed in critical infrastructure. Their initial target market is critical infrastructure serving disadvantaged communities like affordable housing, homeless shelters, health clinics, and food banks. According to ReJoule, when EV batteries no longer offer the range required for the road, they can still retain about 80% of their original capacity. 

As contestants in the Solar Prize, ReJoule launched a pilot project with the California Botanic Garden to deploy used batteries from eight EV delivery trucks in a solar microgrid. The microgrid could save the Garden $35,000 a year in electricity costs and provide the local community with a cool zone to find relief when the larger power grid fails.

Siblings and co-founders Steven and Zora Chung launched ReJoule in 2017 as a battery diagnostics company, but the Solar Prize allowed them to expand their focus and explore new methods for using batteries to store solar power and dispatch it at peak hours and in emergency situations. With their winnings, ReJoule plans to expand their team and deploy solar with re-used batteries at two new pilot sites. 

See ReJoule’s winning Solar Prize submission and learn more about their startup!

Hey, competitors! Did you know the American-Made program is continuously launching new, exciting prizes that support a wide array of clean energy sources? In fact, the Digitizing Utilities Prize is back for Round 2 and searching for innovative solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing electric utilities across the U.S. 

 This two-phase, $1.85 million prize aims to connect utilities with interdisciplinary teams of software developers and data experts to transform digital systems and data analytics for utilities in the energy sector. This round will also address cybersecurity threats and risks with demonstrated improvements in risk identification, analysis, prediction, or proactive response for enhanced protection of digital energy infrastructures.

Register today for an informational webinar on March 21^st at 12 p.m. ET to hear more about the competition, including deadlines, submission requirements, and other important prize details. (Can’t make the webinar? A recording of the event will be posted on the prize’s HeroX page within a few days of the event.) 

 We hope to see you at our March webinar! 

 -The Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 2 Admin Team

Two more teams can add “Solar Prize Winner” to their accolades after pitching winning concepts and taking home cash prizes during Go! Demo Day on Sept. 12!

During this final contest of the prize, teams worked on developing and testing their product or prototype, building their network, and making a long-term plan for the success of their concept. The two teams who most successfully demonstrated their progress—and received $500,000 cash—are as follows:

• ReJoule (Signal Hill, CA): This team is developing a fast, new method for testing the health of decommissioned electric vehicle (EV) batteries and using these batteries to develop an integrated solution for storing solar power and dispatching it at peak hours. This allows for fast screening of used batteries and certification for use in grid scale storage of solar energy.
• Latimer Controls (Boulder, CO): This team is developing an intelligent control software that enables utility-scale PV to provide power reliably and on demand. This will replace grid reliance on fossil fuels, drive higher profitability for PV operators, and generate revenue increases for solar asset owners with low capital cost.

The teams also received $75,000 in technical support vouchers to help the team bring their concept to fruition. The pitch showcase and winner announcement took place during the RE+ Conference in Las Vegas.

In addition to the grand prize, ReJoule, was also awarded $50,000 for their winning submission to the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest, which focuses on advancing solar in underserved communities. They are the first Solar Prize team to win both the grand prize and the JEDI Contest prize. 

Congratulations to everyone who participated in Round 6 and contributed their innovative ideas for energizing solar innovation! Don’t forget, Round 7 is open and accepting submissions now through Sept. 27. We highly encourage Solar Prize newcomers and alumni to apply!