The American-Made Community Power Accelerator PrizeTM is a $10 million prize competition designed tofast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects.
After a successful launch of the Community Power Accelerator Prize in early 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is excited to open the prize for Round 2. Applicants who applied to Round 1 are encouraged to apply again in Round 2 with updated submission materials.
The goal of Round 2 remains the same as Round 1—grow a robust ecosystem of community solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States.
Structured to Accelerate Community Solar Investments
Round 2 of this three-phase prize aims to increase the number of equitable community solar projects by providing funding and resources for developers and co-developers throughout the project pre-development process, including:
Tools and resources to connect developers with private sector project financing for community solar projects using a standardized process.
Training to understand the full cycle of community solar development, including site acquisition, community relations, customer acquisition, securing financing, costs, and the unique challenges and benefits of a community solar model.
Free consulting services to competitors on the steps necessary to get a community solar project financed.
Coaching on expanding developers’ solar customer markets to include low- and moderate-income populations, disadvantaged communities, and local workforce development, as well as increase resilience to power outages and household savings to make community solar projects attractive to the widest range of customers possible.
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.
Informational Webinars
On Aug. 1 and Sept. 19, prize administrators will hold informational webinars on the Community Power Accelerator Prize.During the webinar, we’ll provide participants with an overview of the prize, submission requirements, scoring criteria, and winner selection process. Prize administrators will also answer audience questions.
Register for the August or September webinar to learn more about Round 2 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize. A recording of both webinars will be made available on HeroX shortly after each event.
Community Power Accelerator Round 2 Prize Phases
Prize Phase
Duration
Anticipated Number of Awards
Dollar Amounts
Phase 1: Ready!
3 Months
Up to 25
$50,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $1,250,000)
Phase 2: Set!
4-7 months (anticipated)
Up to 25
$200,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $5,000,000)
Phase 3: Grow!
4-7 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 community solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States. These benefits provided by community solar subscriptions can build consumer trust and ensure that everyone can participate in the clean energy transition.
The Community Power Accelerator Prize provides funding and resources to empower developers to deploy community solar projects that provide at least two of the following five meaningful benefits to subscribers and their communities:
Low- to moderate-income (LMI) household access
Greater household savings
Resilience and grid benefits
Community ownership
Equitable 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 community solar project development practices and develop a pipeline of multiple projects for new community solar project developers.
Who Can Compete?
Round 2 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize is open to U.S. community solar developers, including new developers, co-developers (organizations who are partnering with a project developer), or developers who are expanding their community solar operations.
The prize encourages organizations who are new to community solar development to apply to this prize, including (but are not limited to):
Community-based organizations (such as local community health organizations, community action agencies, community, and economic development organizations etc.) that have real estate portfolios and/or are in construction
Multifamily affordable housing providers
State, local, and municipal governments
Intermediary organizations such as community development financial institutions (CDFIs)
General contractors with roofing and/or electrical experience
Socially and economically disadvantaged individual (SEDI) demographics-related business and women and minority-owned businesses.
Other large real estate holders that could be available for solar deployment
Solar co-developers
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.
Join us Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 3 p.m. ET for the first Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 2 Informational Webinar. During the webinar, interested applicants will hear about competitor eligibility, submission requirements, and key dates. Plus, there will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar where participants can get live answers from prize administrators.
Can’t make it to the first webinar? We’ve got you covered! A recording of the webinar will be available shortly after the event on HeroX, and a second Informational Webinar will be held on Sept. 19 for those interested in attending a live session.
Make sure you’re following the Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 2 HeroX page to receive an email notification when the recording is published and a reminder to register for the second session.
The Community Power Accelerator TM Prize is back for another round with $10 million in cash prizes up for grabs! Round 2 of this three-phase prize aims to increase the number of equitable community solar projects by providing funding and resources for developers throughout the project pre-development process, including:
Tools and resources
Training
Free consulting
Coaching on expanding developers' solar customer markets
Round 1 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize received many high-quality applications and prize administrators were unable to award all applicants. If you applied to Round 1 and weren’t selected to move forward to Phase 2, we highly recommend reapplying to Round 2!
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.
What prize amounts are available?
This round, the Community Power Accelerator Prize will offer the following prizes:
Up to 25 Phase 1 awards at $50,000 each
Up to 25 Phase 2 awards at $200,000 each
Up to 25 Phase 3 awards at $150,000 each
Where can I find more information about Round 2?
Follow the prize on HeroX to stay up to date on the latest announcements, and don’t forget to register for one of the two upcoming Round 2 Informational Webinars:
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