The American-Made Solar Prize is a multi-million-dollar prize competition from the Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) that accelerates U.S. solar manufacturing innovation. Administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the program guides entrepreneurs through three progressive contests—Ready\! , Set\!

, and Go\! —providing increasing financial support and resources at each stage. Competitors develop concepts into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing, supported by the American-Made Network of national labs, incubators, investors, and industry mentors.

The competition has run eight rounds since 2018, with demonstration day events where finalists showcase their innovations. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based individuals and teams working on novel solar energy solutions.

American-Made Solar Prize | Department of Energy American-Made Solar Prize The American-Made Solar Prize (Solar Prize) is a multi-million-dollar prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar manufacturing through a series of contests and the development of a diverse and powerful support network that leverages national laboratories, energy incubators, and other resources across the country.

The competition enables the rapid development of innovative solar solutions by providing resources and support to entrepreneurs as they transform concepts into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing. By tapping into the nation’s unparalleled innovation ecosystem and America’s competitive spirit, this competition helps to reenergize American energy innovation and supports the growth of U.S. manufacturing.

The program was announced on January 24, 2018 and is administered by the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Entrepreneurial individuals and teams based in the United States can compete, progressing through a series of three connected contests— the Ready! , Set!

, and Go! Contests —developing new ideas, products, and solutions. As competitors progress through the contests, they receive more financial support and resources, accelerating the cycles of learning from months to weeks and reducing the overall time it takes to bring products to the market.

On Dec. 4, 2020, Maxout Renewables and Wattch Inc. were named winners of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 3. Take a look at their journey through the competition to see where they started and how they grew.

U.S. Department of Energy Competitors are supported by the American-Made Network , which is comprised of national labs, incubators, investors, and seasoned industry mentors. The institutions and people that help competitors navigate the innovation process are called Connectors and provide competitors technical insight, product validation, and strategic support throughout the competition.

Connectors can win Recognition Rewards for recruiting, mentoring, and advancing Solar Prize competitors. This program takes a resource-multiplying approach that creates a foundation and reinforces a network that encourages rapid manufacturing, supports future business growth, and strengthens the critical connections needed for product commercialization.

Power Connectors are a core group of national labs, accelerators, incubators, universities, industry organizations, and other entities who further develop and sustain the program. They substantially help teams achieve project success, build long-term alliances and capabilities for the program, host demonstration days, and partner with NREL to envision and execute a long-term sustainable strategy for scaling the American-Made Challenges.

American-Made Solar Prize Winners: Where Are They Now? Learn More about American-Made Solar Prize Winners: Where Are They Now? Round 1 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on June 7, 2018 .

Semifinalists were announced on February 27, 2019. The final winners were selected at a demonstration day event in September 2019. Round 2 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on March 22, 2019 .

Semifinalists were announced on September 24, 2019. Final winners were selected at a virtual demonstration day in August 2020. Round 3 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on September 24, 2019 .

Semifinalists were announced on February 11, 2020. Finalists were determined at a virtual demonstration day on July 9, 2020. Final winners were selected at a virtual demonstration day in December 2020.

Round 4 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on July 9, 2020 . Semifinalists were announced on December 4, 2020. Finalists were announced on April 9, 2021.

Final winners were selected at a virtual demonstration day in September 2021. Round 5 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on June 10, 2021 . Semifinalists were announced on December 7, 2021.

Finalists were announced on April 22, 2022. Final winners were selected at a live event at the RE+ conference on September 20, 2022. Round 6 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on June 15, 2022.

Semifinalists were announced on December 8, 2022. Finalists were announced on April 5, 2023. Final winners were selected at a live event at the RE+ conference on September 12, 2023.

Round 7 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on June 12, 2023 . Semifinalists were announced on January 11, 2024. Finalists were announced on May 1, 2024.

Final winners were selected at a live event at the RE+ conference on September 10, 2024. Round 8 of the American-Made Solar Prize opened on June 14, 2024 . Semifinalists were announced on January 15, 2025.

Visit the American-Made Solar Prize website for details on the competition. Learn about other American-Made Challenges in the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). Follow the American-Made Challenges on Twitter .

Download the American-Made Solar Prize Infographic . Download the American-Made Solar Prize Executive Summary . For questions about the Solar Prize, email challenge@nrel.

gov . The American-Made Solar Prize is a part of the American-Made Challenges and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory .