American made challenges and american made network

A $4.1 million prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation through a series of contests that accelerate the entrepreneurial process from years to months. Competitors leverage the American-Made Network, our innovation engine of more than 250 organizations, including world-class experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national labs, clean tech accelerators, incubators, universities, facilities, and more.

​The American-Made Geothermal Geophone Prize is designed to address the challenges of operating seismic sensors in geothermal environments. Fast-tracking innovative solutions for economically viable and durable downhole sensors is crucial to the increased deployment of geothermal energy and the clean energy revolution.

Accelerate breakthroughs in clean and affordable hydrogen production technologies with the H-Prize: Hydrogen Shot Incubator! The Hydrogen Shot Incubator—a $2.6 million prize contest—is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) comprehensive strategy to reduce the cost of hydrogen production and meet the Hydrogren Shot goal. The Hydrogen Shot Incubator encourages entrepreneurs and inventors to compete for cash prizes and vouchers to accelerate the development of novel concepts and transformative technologies

The Lighting Prize (L-Prize) is designed to advance the U.S. clean energy economy for next-generation LED lighting, encouraging innovators to engage in advanced lighting system development that leads to transformative designs, products, and impact. The L-Prize will reward innovations that move rapidly to improve lighting performance, resulting in energy, emissions, and cost savings for American businesses and consumers. The competition will award a total of $12.2 million in cash prizes across three distinct phases: Concept, Prototype, and Manufacturing and Installation.

Stage 2 (Open NOW): Competitors will provide a sample of their material for electrical conductivity testing and preliminary plans to scale-up and manufacture the material according to prize requirements. Up to 6 competitors each will win $200,000 in cash awards and $100,000 in noncash voucher support to work with a DOE national laboratory (including user facilities) or other AMN provider in Stage 3. Any eligible entity can compete in Stage 2 regardless of whether they were a competitor in Stage 1.

​Prize Contests The Perovskite Startup Prize consists of two consecutive contests that accelerate efforts to develop new, innovative perovskite solar companies with the potential to manufacture commercially viable products in the United States. The best-performing competitors in the Countdown Contest are awarded with cash prizes and are eligible to compete in the Lift-off Contest. This cycle of contests repeats until 2-3 final winners are selected for successfully completing the challenge.