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American-Made Challenges (SETO)

American-Made Solar Desalination Prize

Funds U.S. teams developing low-cost solar-thermal desalination systems through a multi-stage prize competition with a $1 million grand prize.

ClosedDOE Solar Energy Technologies OfficeUnited States

The American-Made Solar Desalination Prize is a multi-stage prize competition administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). It operates under the American-Made Challenges program, which uses prize competitions to incentivize U.S. entrepreneurs and accelerate ideas and prototypes to manufacturing…

Solar desalination — specifically low-cost desalination systems that use solar-thermal power to produce clean drinking water from salt water.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.One-off
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.—
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.—
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.—
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Prize
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.—

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Last verified: 24 Jul 2026Source: www.energy.gov