The American-Made Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), aims to strengthen the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce by addressing critical skill gaps in the photovoltaic (PV) supply chain. With a total prize pool of $7.75 million, this prize incentivizes workforce training programs to support a domestic supply chain. Competitors propose training plans focused on expanding high-quality employment in the solar manufacturing industry through programs for both new and incumbent workers, tailored to the evolving needs of U.S.-based solar manufacturing.

Teams entering the competition must design training programs that provide new workers with essential skills for solar manufacturing roles, particularly at new or expanding facilities, or equip current workers with advanced skills to support industry growth. The training programs must be collaborative, requiring partnerships between U.S.-based PV manufacturers and training organizations. With a flexible approach, the Upskill Prize allows competitors to design customized training aligned with specific industry needs. Winning teams are eligible to receive awards of up to $500,000 each, and the competition plans to distribute awards over multiple rounds until the prize fund is fully allocated.

This initiative is in its second round, with Round 1 launched in March 2024 and concluding in July 2024, followed by Round 2, which opened in July 2024 and will conclude in early 2025. DOE anticipates that the solar manufacturing industry will need between 500,000 and 1.5 million workers by 2035 to meet decarbonization goals, and it emphasizes workforce diversity and equitable access. As part of the prize requirements, teams must outline a strategy for incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into their training programs, aiming to provide access to individuals from disadvantaged and lower-income communities.

Eligibility for the Upskill Prize is limited to U.S.-based private entities, non-profits, non-federal government organizations, and academic institutions. Each team must be led by a U.S.-based PV manufacturer or training organization. Interested participants can view full eligibility criteria on the HeroX platform, where the official rules and application guidelines are posted.

Important dates for Round 2 include a submission deadline of November 20, 2024, by 5 p.m. ET. Judging will follow, with an anticipated winner announcement scheduled for January 9, 2025. To support participants, an informational webinar was held on August 7, 2024, and an upcoming session titled "Utilizing Partnerships and Workforce Programs for Success in Solar Manufacturing" will be hosted by ADL Ventures on October 30, 2024, at 10 a.m. PDT.

Competitors can follow updates on the HeroX page or contact the Upskill Prize team directly via Upskill.Prize@nrel.gov for questions. ADL Ventures serves as a support partner for the competition, providing guidance and resources to participants through workshops and direct assistance.