The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Partnerships to Accelerate Training & Hiring for Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP PATHs) Prize aims to kickstart regional partnerships focused on building a stronger workforce for geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), which is necessary to help expand the use of GHPs for efficient heating and cooling nationwide.
The goal of the $3 million GHP PATHs Prize, a competition opened to U.S.-based individuals, teams, and organizations, is to streamline workforce entry and growth by fostering connections and collaboration.
Approach
The GHP PATHS Prize will create or enhance regional train-to-hire partnerships targeting four key challenges to scaling the GHP workforce:
- Complexity of certification process
- Certification cost for installers
- Limited training opportunities
- Need for more coordinated industry collaboration
The Prize has three phases:
- Connect—Competitors will submit proposals outlining their visions for building a workforce pipeline in their region. Up to 20 teams will receive $40,000 each and proceed to Phase 2.
- Engage—Competitors will formalize partnerships with stakeholders and develop a comprehensive workforce development program. Up to eight teams will receive $150,000 each to refine their plans and move on to Phase 3.
- Execute—Competitors will implement their workforce development programs and show impact by reporting on the number of workers hired and trained, as well as the long-term impact on industry. Winning teams will share the remaining prize pool, with each receiving $100,000 to $400,000.
The GHP PATHs prize is part of the American-Made Challenges network and is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Get more information on the Prize webpage.
Timeline
The GHP PATHs Prize launched on December 10, 2024. Phase 1 of the prize closed on June 5, 2025.
The full prize timeline is available on HeroX.
Additional Information
- Learn more about the GHP PATHs Prize.
- Download the rules for the competition.