The American-Made Promoting Registration of Inverters and Modules with Ecolabel (PRIME) Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) is a $2.7 million competition that supports the increased registration of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and inverters through the EPEAT ecolabel. The PRIME Prize aims to help manufacturers meet the criteria for EPEAT product standards.
EPEAT is an ecolabel operated and maintained by the Global Electronics Council (GEC) for certain electronic products, including solar PV modules and inverters.
How it Works
The PRIME Prize is open to U.S.-based manufacturing organizations that produce solar PV modules or inverters. Eligible applicants must not have any PV modules or inverters already registered with EPEAT. The PRIME Prize consists of two phases, spanning two and a half years.
- Phase 1 “Apply” – Manufacturers submit a letter of intent to register up to four PV module or inverter products through EPEAT and provide proof of participation from GEC for the chance to win $50,000 cash and move to Phase 2.
- Phase 2 “Certify” – Winning manufacturers from Phase 1 validate that their products meet all required EPEAT criteria and submit proof of EPEAT product registration from GEC to compete for $100,000 cash for each product.
In Phase 1, DOE will select up to 21 winning products. In Phase 2, DOE will review submissions and announce winners on a rolling, three-month basis. Winners of Phase 2 will receive $100,000 cash for each product successfully verified and listed on the EPEAT Registry (up to $400,000).
Timeline
- DOE opened Phase 1 of the competition on October 15, 2024.
- DOE announced Phase 1 winners and opened Phase 2 on October 1, 2026.
- The Phase 2a submission deadline is May 12, 2027, at 5 p.m. ET. For all other submission deadlines, please see the HeroX timeline.
- DOE anticipates announcing the winners of the Phase 2a submission cycle in July 2027.
Phase 1 Winners
The PRIME Prize Phase 1 winning teams are committed to obtaining the EPEAT certification label, addressing issues across the product life cycle including the responsible use of resources, chemicals of concern, and supply chain integrity. Because there are limited solar modules and no inverters currently on the EPEAT Registry for use in the United States, earning this label addresses a gap in the required EPA purchasing program.
Mission Sun
Location: Potsdam, NY
Project Summary: This team’s anticipated product to receive EPEAT certification is a 350kW utility scale solar inverter that was developed through a U.S. Department of Energy incubator program.
Mission Power
Location: Potsdam, NY
Project Summary: This team’s anticipated products to receive EPEAT certification are a solar inverter intended for home use and an inverter intended for small, commercial applications.
Illuminate USA
Location: Pataskala, OH
Project Summary: This team’s anticipated products to receive EPEAT certification are a module intended for large utility projects, as well as a hail resistant module.
Additional Information
- Visit the PRIME Prize website for details on the competition and to download the rules.
- For questions about the PRIME Prize, email PRIMEPrize@nlr.gov.
- For questions about EPEAT, email dgrahamclifford@gec.org.
- Learn about end-of-life management for solar PV.
- Learn about IESO's open funding opportunities.
The American-Made PRIME Prize is a part of the American-Made program and is administered by the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
