Update, September 10, 2024: Congratulations to Monique Dyers and EmpowerSun Solutions for also winning the final round of the JEDI Contest in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7!
The American-Made Solar Prize is a $4.2 million prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation. In addition to accelerating the commercialization process for any solar innovation, the prize includes the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest, which divides a bonus $200,000 among winners whose companies focus on advancing solar in underserved communities.
EmpowerSun Solutions’ mission is to empower landowners in underserved communities and regions to profit from solar energy projects they own and control. As a finalist for the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7, EmpowerSun Solutions has already received a $100,000 cash award and a $75,000 technical support voucher to help the team tackle the final phase of the challenge. They are also one of just three teams that split the $50,000 prize from the JEDI Contest.
We spoke with Monique Dyers, founder and CEO of EmpowerSun Solutions, about her experience with the Solar Prize and the JEDI Contest.
Why was winning the JEDI Contest important to you?
Winning the JEDI Contest is meaningful to us because it highlights the importance of developing sustainable, efficient, and equitable energy technologies. By focusing on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, this prize ensures that energy solutions benefit everyone, especially communities that have been historically underserved or marginalized.
Promoting diverse perspectives in energy innovation leads to more creative and effective ways to tackle challenges like reducing carbon emissions. The JEDI Contest not only drives technological progress but also helps build a more resilient and inclusive energy infrastructure.
Recognizing and rewarding efforts in energy innovation also inspires the next generation of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to prioritize sustainable energy solutions. This contributes to global efforts to combat climate change, enhance energy security, and promote economic growth through green technologies.
Learn more about the American-Made Solar Prize and the JEDI Contest.
How might the JEDI Contest be useful for other innovators?
By focusing on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the JEDI prize pushes for energy solutions that everyone can access and benefit from, driving more equitable and sustainable progress.
This contest also acts as a strong motivator, inspiring others to take on ambitious projects that uplift historically underserved and marginalized communities. It sets a high standard for innovation, encouraging excellence across the board. Ultimately, the JEDI prize doesn’t just support individual innovators like EmpowerSun—it fosters a culture of innovation that benefits the entire energy sector and society as a whole.
Why are you passionate about this work?
We’re passionate about this work because it directly supports the growth of renewable energy and the transition to a more sustainable future. Solar energy plays a key role in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and fighting climate change. By developing a tool that evaluates land feasibility, we empower more people and organizations to invest in and build solar projects.
Making it easier to develop solar projects is crucial for broader adoption. The current development process can be overwhelming, with many technical, financial, and regulatory challenges. Our software not only automates land evaluation but also guides users through every step of the development and technical due diligence process. By simplifying this process, we encourage more collaborators, including underserved landowners and communities, to be empowered to develop solar projects on their land, which will lead to greater renewable energy generation.
Additionally, connecting users with trusted partners ensures that solar projects are executed efficiently and effectively. We believe that by making solar project development more accessible and streamlined, we can speed up the transition to clean energy, create more jobs, and contribute to a healthier planet. This alignment with our values, and the real, positive impact on our environment and communities, drives our passion for what we do.
What support has been helpful as you’ve advanced in the Solar Prize?
We’ve made the most of VentureWell’s resources to push our technology forward. The expert workshops and training modules gave us essential knowledge on commercializing our technology and navigating the competitive landscape.
We also had the privilege of mentorship from VentureWell advisors, including Erika Block, Jade Garrett, Sarah Wharmby, and Tricia Compas-Markman. Their guidance helped us sharpen our goals and seize opportunities for our platform, especially in preparing for the American-Made Solar Prize 7. The mentorship and networking opportunities provided by VentureWell gave us valuable feedback and connections with industry experts, helping us tackle technical and business challenges. Their support also validated our business model and strategy, improving our platform and positioning us strongly for the competition.
Additionally, EmpowerSun Solutions was honored to be part of this year’s VentureWell Aspire Climatetech cohort, led by Patrick Beattie and Christina Tamer. The Aspire program offered us invaluable mentorship, access to investors, and simulated due diligence sessions. This experience allowed us to fine-tune our investor pitch and deal room materials, boosting our readiness to secure equity investment. We’re deeply grateful for the chance to work with experienced investor-mentors and gain insights that are crucial to our growth and success.
We hear you have an upcoming pilot project; tell us about it.
We’re thrilled to be working with Domineca Neal, one of the mentor-advisors from the VentureWell Aspire program. Domineca trusted EmpowerSun to help evaluate her family land for potential solar development. We’re using our land evaluation tool to assess the land’s solar energy potential, guiding her through the technical process, and making sure all technical and regulatory aspects are covered. This collaboration not only helps Domineca make informed decisions about solar on her family land, but also showcases how our tool can be applied in real-world projects and for landowners. We’re excited to see how this project unfolds and the role it will play in advancing solar energy development.
EmpowerSun Solutions—along with the other nine finalists—will present their final innovations at the Solar Prize Round 7 Go! Demo Day at the RE+ Conference in September 2024. Two teams will then be named grand prize winners, each earning $500,000 in cash and additional technical support vouchers. Select teams may also be awarded additional funds through their participation in the JEDI contest.