The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $100,000 in cash to Miami-based Pavilion Solar to support the development of the company's solar carports.
It is one of 10 businesses selected to move on to the final phase of the department's multimillion-dollar American-Made Solar Prize competition. In addition to the cash award, Pavilion received $75,000 in technical vouchers to advance its technology.
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Funded by the Department of Energy's solar office, The Solar Prize was launched in 2018 to encourage the commercialization of solar energy solutions. The businesses selected for the final phase are creating everything from a solar panel recycling program to a platform that connects underserved communities with solar technology.
“The Solar Prize has been so instrumental in helping innovators get new solar energy projects off the ground and closer to the hands of consumers,” said Markus Beck, manufacturing and competitiveness program manager at DOE’s solar energy technologies office.
Pavilion Solar is developing a hurricane-ready solar canopy for homes that mimics the look of a carport. The structure is compliant with the Florida Building Code and is manufactured in the United States.
Founder and CEO Aleksandr Bernhard said the product is intended to increase residential solar adoption in storm-prone regions like South Florida. The company's product, called an Enpod, is designed to withstand winds up to 175 miles per hour.
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The Enpod is also an alternative for homes that are ineligible for traditional rooftop solar panels.
"The funding from the American-Made Solar Prize is crucial in accelerating our launch into this market," he said in a statement.
The finalists will present their final prototypes at the Solar Prize Round Demo Day in September. Two teams will be named grand prizer winners and will earn an additional $500,000 in cash and technical support vouchers.
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