Posted by: Francis Koster Published: September 18, 2024
Community Power Accelerator Prize (Exp. December 17, 2024)
The Community Power Accelerator Prize is a $10 million funding opportunity designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and codevelopers in the U.S. to grow multiple successful community-benefiting distributed solar projects. As part of a larger program initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Community Solar Partnership, it brings together verified investors, philanthropic organizations, developers, community-based organizations, and technical experts in one online platform, where competitors can showcase credit-ready projects.
The current offering by the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office marks a third round of competition for awards, which include funding and the following benefits:
The Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3 is open to the following types of organizations:
Round 3 of the prize seeks organizations that have the desire and ambition to develop and finance a portfolio of two or more projects that, in aggregate, total at least 1 MW AC of distributed solar generation. To be eligible, no single project may exceed 5 MW AC. Distributed solar projects may include but are not limited to:
Each eligible portfolio must include at least one of the following meaningful benefits bolded below:
Prize Phase | Duration | Anticipated Number of Awards | Dollar Amounts |
Phase 1: Ready! | 4 Months | Up to 25 | $50,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $1,250,000) |
Phase 2: Set! | 6-10 months (anticipated) | Up to 25
|
$200,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $5,000,000) |
Phase 3: Grow! | 6-10 months (anticipated) | Up to 25
|
$150,000 per winning competitor
(total prize pool: $3,750,000) |
On Nov. 13, prize administrators will hold an informational webinar on Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize.During the webinar, the team will provide participants with an overview of the prize, submission requirements, scoring criteria, winner selection process, and more. Prize administrators will also answer audience questions.
Register for the November webinarto learn more about Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize.A recording will be made available on HeroX shortly after each event for those unable to attend the live sessions.
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 questions, please subscribe by using the contact feature on the HeroX platform or send a message to communitypower@nrel.gov.
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.
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