The solar industry needs more manufacturing workforce opportunities. The Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce is offering up to $500,000 to U.S.-based photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers and training organizations that can form a partnership to address critical workforce needs within the U.S. solar PV module supply chain.
So, who is eligible to participate?
The Upskill Prize encourages U.S.-based PV manufacturers and U.S.-based training organizations to partner and propose workforce training plans that address new worker training and/or incumbent worker training. That means that every team should have at least one PV manufacturer and one organization skilled in training. Together, the team must develop a workforce training proposal aimed at one or both of the following:
- New Worker Training: Develop and propose plans to train new workers with the skills they need to be successful in the solar manufacturing industry, particularly at new or expanding manufacturing facilities.
- Incumbent Worker Training: Develop and propose plans to train incumbent workers with new skills needed to support the growth of solar manufacturing.
The Upskill Prize is open to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; and academic institutions. See the rules for full eligibility requirements.
Eligible Technology
Training should focus on manufacturing technologies in the solar PV module supply chain, including all upstream components, like polysilicon, ingot, wafer, cell, and module, as well as glass and other module components. Note that balance-of-systems manufacturers are not eligible for this prize.
Don’t forget, submissions are due May 21 at 5 p.m. ET.
