The Sunny Awards

The Sunny Awards are back with even more cash prizes than last year—totaling $200,000! These awards continue to celebrate portfolios and programs that increase access to the benefits of community solar.

This year, the Sunny Awards offer the following prizes: 

• Up to 30 Finalist Awards at $2,500 each
• Up to 15 Meaningful Benefits Awards at $5,000 each
• Up to 5 Grand Prize Awards at $10,000 each

Competitors nominate a portfolio (of 1-5 community solar projects) or state-, tribal-, territory-, municipal- or utility-run program that demonstrates replicable and scalable best practices in providing meaningful benefits to community solar subscribers and their communities. 

Can past Sunny Award applicants compete?

Projects or state or utility programs that have received a finalist award but have not received a Grand Prize or Meaningful Benefit Special Recognition Award in prior years of the Sunny Awards are eligible for the 2023 Sunny Awards.

However, projects or state/utility programs that have received a Grand Prize in prior years of the Sunny Awards are not eligible for additional prizes of any kind. Projects or state/ utility programs that have received a Meaningful Benefits Special Recognition Award in prior Sunny Awards are only eligible for Finalist and Grand Prize awards (will not be eligible for a second Meaningful Benefit Award). 

Submissions due by July 14 at 5 p.m. ET

Competitors must submit a cover page, narrative, and supporting evidence for each Meaningful Benefit category they would like to be considered for, and a single-slide project summary through HeroX.

For more information, follow the 2023 Sunny Awards HeroX page and join an informational webinar on May 9 at 12 p.m. ET. We hope to see you there!

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office announced 31 teams as finalists for The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar. The Sunny Awards is a $100,000 prize competition that recognizes community solar projects and programs that employ or develop best practices to increase equitable access to the meaningful benefits of community solar for subscribers and their communities.

The finalists, representing community solar champions in 13 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, will each receive $1,000 in cash prizes and will move on to compete for one of five $10,000 Grand Prize awards. Grand Prize winners are expected to be announced in early 2023.

The finalists are also eligible to win special recognition awards for excellence in providing a specific meaningful benefit of community solar, which may include greater household electricity bill savings, low-to moderate-income household access, resilience and grid benefits, community ownership and wealth building, equitable workforce development, and innovation in community engagement and impact. 

Read more about the finalists and learn about the prize competition. 

The Sunny Awards is an initiative of the DOE National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP), a coalition of community solar stakeholders working to expand access to affordable community solar to every U.S. household and enable subscribers and their communities to realize its meaningful benefits.

If you have been selected as a winner, you can expect to receive an email from the Prize Administration Team (Solar.Prize@nrel.gov) with next steps for claiming your cash award! 

Today is the deadline to submit your application to the Sunny Awards. Make sure your full submission is uploaded no later than 5 p.m. ET today!

 As a reminder, here’s what you need to submit: 

• Cover page content (will be made public)
• Narrative describing the project or program and how it delivers the community solar benefits described in this document (not to exceed 2,400 words)
• Project photo, video, or program materials, including supporting evidence for benefits provided
• Additional supporting documentation

Make sure you review the rules carefully and use the submission template (optional) to complete your entry. Submissions must be in by 5 p.m. ET and we will not accept late submissions. We highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays. 

Don’t miss your chance to have your community solar project or program be recognized and earn cash awards – submit your Sunny Awards submission now! Good Luck!

A friendly reminder that applications to the Sunny Awards are due this Friday, October 7, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern).  

If you've been thinking about submitting an application to have your community solar project or program be recognized - the time to apply is now! 

As a reminder, the Sunny Awards has three recognition tiers that your project or program could be eligible for: 

• Semifinalist Recognition - Strong evidence + eligible in one category
  • Any competitor that meets the criteria for at least one Primary Meaningful Benefits Category will be recognized on the NCSP webpage and in a public announcement.
• Sunny Finalist Awards - Strong evidence + eligible in one category
  • Up to 50 of the competitors selected for Semifinalist Recognition will be selected to receive a cash prize of $1,000. 
• Sunny Grand Prize Awards - Strong evidence + eligible in at least two categories
  • Up to 5 finalist competitors will be receive $10,000 in prize money for their projects or programs that demonstrate significant achievement in best practices for delivering meaningful benefits across multiple categories.

See official rules for more details on winner recognition and requirements. If you have any questions or concerns as you complete your application, please email us anytime at   

We look forward to receiving your application by 5 p.m. (ET) this Friday! 

This is the final week to apply for the Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar, sponsored by the National Community Solar Partnership! Applications are due this Friday, October 7, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). Create your team and begin your application today via HeroX. 

If you missed the webinar on the Sunny Awards in August, you can also view the webinar recording and slides here (see ‘Past Events’). 

If you have any questions or concerns as you complete your application, please email us anytime at   

We look forward to receiving your application by 5 p.m. (ET) this Friday!