Community Power Accelerator Round 3

This page is dedicated to Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator. Please note that information about competing teams and prize details for Round 1 and Round 2 of this prize are located on their own HeroX pages. Round 3 of this prize is the only round currently accepting new applications through Dec. 17.

Applicants interested in competing should follow Round 3 on HeroX and read the Official Rules document before submitting any materials. 

The American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize is a $10 million prize competition designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and codevelopers to grow multiple successful community-benefiting distributed solar projects.

After the successful launches of the Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 1 and Round 2, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is excited to open the prize for Round 3. Organizations that have previously won only Round 1 Phase 1 or Round 2 Phase 1 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize are eligible to compete but must include a new portfolio of projects. Organizations that have previously won Round 1 Phase 2 or Round 2 Phase 2 are not eligible to compete in Round 3.

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 portfolio project may exceed 5 MW AC. Distributed solar projects may include but are not limited to:

• Community solar
• Behind-the-meter virtual power plants (VPPs)
• Distributed energy resource (DER) aggregations
• Microgrids
• Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar 
• Multifamily projects.

Structured to Accelerate Solar Investments 

Through this prize, DOE seeks to increase the number of equitable distributed solar projects by providing: 

• Tools and resources to connect developers with both public- and private- sector, project capital to build distributed solar projects using a standardized process.
• Training to build understanding of the full cycle of distributed solar development, including site acquisition, community relations, customer acquisition, financing, costs, and the unique challenges and benefits of a distributed solar model.
• Free consulting services for competitors on the steps necessary to secure the capital necessary to build a portfolio of distributed solar projects.
• Coaching for solar developers interested in expanding customer markets to include low- and moderate-income populations and disadvantaged communities.

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. 

Round 3 Prize Phases

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 solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States. The Five Meaningful Benefits below can help build consumer trust and ensure that all U.S. households have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the clean energy transition.

Each eligible portfolio submitted to Round 3 must include at least one of the following meaningful benefits bolded below:

• Equitable Access and Consumer Protections (required benefit for portfolio submission)
• Meaningful Household Savings (required benefit for portfolio submission)
• Resilience, Storage, and Grid Benefits
• Community-Led Economic Development
• Solar 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 solar project development practices and develop a pipeline of multiple projects for new solar project developers.  

On Oct. 1 and 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 October or November webinar to learn more about Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator Prize. A recording of both webinars will be made available on HeroX shortly after each event for those unable to attend the live sessions. 

The Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3 is open to U.S. solar developers, including new developers and experienced developers who are expanding their solar operations. 

The prize also welcomes solar co-developers, organizations that are partnering with a project developer, and other non-developer organizations to apply. Examples of new developers include (but are not limited to): 

• Community-based organizations, such as local community health organizations, community action agencies, houses of worship, and community and economic development organizations, that have real estate portfolios
• Multifamily affordable housing providers
• State, local, and Tribal governments and their agencies, including schools and school districts
• Intermediary organizations such as community development institutions 
• General contractors with roofing and/or electrical experience
• Other large real estate holders that may be available for solar deployment.

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.