Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce

Today’s the day! Make sure to press the submit button on your Upskill Prize application before 5 p.m. ET today. Late submissions will not be accepted, so prize administrators strongly recommend submitting prior to the 5 p.m. ET deadline to manage connectivity issues or slow upload speeds.  

This is your chance to be rewarded for building a stronger, more efficient solar manufacturing workforce and revitalizing the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain. Winning teams will receive up to $500,000 each in cash in support of their workforce training plans! 

Don’t miss this chance to make an impact on the U.S. solar manufacturing industry—upload your Upskill Prize submission by 5 p.m. ET today. Good luck! 

If you’re applying for Round 2 of the Upskill Prize, make sure your application is submitted by Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. ET. Prize administrators highly encourage you to apply early to avoid technical difficulties or upload delays. The submission portal closes at 5 p.m. ET sharp, so make sure you hit submit well before then! 

Remember to read through the official rules for full details on what to include in your submission: 

• Team information: List basic information about your submission, including project title, team name and address, key project members, and a short description of the prize. 
• Declaration of other funding: Declare any other funding or in-kind support for training that the organization is currently receiving, if any.    
• Narrative: Follow the prompts in the official rules (not to exceed 3,000 words for new submissions and 4,000 words for returning submissions).    
• Summary PowerPoint slide: Share your team name, requested prize funding amount, key personnel and summary of plan in the suggested Summary Slide Template.  
• Letters of commitment or support: Include a mandatory letter of commitment from your partner; if you’re a U.S.-based manufacturer, then a letter of commitment from a training organization is required. If you’re a training organization, then a letter of commitment from a U.S.-based manufacturer is required.   

If you have any questions you don’t see answers to in the official rules, the prize administrators would be happy to help you at upskill.prize@nrel.gov. 

If you’re interested in applying to Round 2 of the Upskill Prize, now is the time to concentrate on completing your submission!  

Eligible submissions will include a comprehensive training plan to upskill existing solar manufacturers, or to attract and train new workers in collaboration with training organizations. Before submitting, please read through the official prize rules in their entirety to understand what’s expected in each submission.  

If you still have questions about the prize, reach out to prize administrators at upskill.prize@nrel.gov. 

Why Was the Upskill Prize Created?  

The Upskill Prize was created to build a more secure energy supply chain by boosting solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing in the U.S. One of the challenges U.S. solar manufacturers face is a lack in trained labor, from entry-level to senior-level positions, to operate advanced solar manufacturing facilities.  

The Upskill Prize will address this gap to increase the U.S. domestic supply chain. In doing so, the prize will provide high-quality jobs for Americans, not only by creating new jobs, but also by ensuring that these jobs are accessible to workers, provide competitive wages and benefits, and are family sustaining careers that will reinvigorate communities across the country. 

Competitors in this challenge–you are revitalizing the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain! We can’t wait to see your submission. 

Join ADL Ventures, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), for an engaging webinar focused on utilizing partnerships and workforce programs for success in solar manufacturing. 

Discover valuable insights and strategies for workforce development partnerships within the solar manufacturing sector. Learn from industry experts Desari Strader and Blair Mandell, as they share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in advancing workforce training programs and overcoming logistical hurdles during factory rollouts in and out of the solar industry. 

The webinar will take place at 1:00 pm ET on October 30, 2024. You can register to attend here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable knowledge in the field of solar manufacturing!

The Upskill Prize now has a prize pool of up to $7.75 million! The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has increased funding from $5 million to up to $7.75 million for all rounds of the Upskill Prize.  

The Official Rules have been modified with the new prize amount. 

Expanding the domestic solar manufacturing workforce is a priority for SETO. We hope to see your submissions!