Applications are currently being accepted for the sixth annual Solar Games competition, which will take place at the San Diego Convention Center from February 18–20, 2026, organized by Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA).
In a stadium-like environment inside the exhibit hall, teams competing in the Solar Games are tasked with constructing home solar + storage systems, which include solar modules, racking, inverters, battery storage, and other components. As teams go through the tournament, they will be evaluated on installation quality, safety, speed, and other factors. The 2026 competition will include additional tests and obstacles that have yet to be revealed. The victorious team will get $10,000 and be dubbed the Solar Games Champion.
2025 Solar Games Winners: for installation teams considering submitting, Huston Solar offered advice:
“We strongly recommend it. The trade fair itself is an amazing experience, even if you don’t go very far in the games. You may learn new things by observing experts at their trade and develop an incalculable sense of teamwork.”
Team requirements and details:
- Applications from North American teams must be submitted by September 19, 2025.
- Every team member must be OSHA 10 certified, and at least one person needs to be a licensed or apprenticed electrician, a Technical Sales Professional, or a NABCEP PV Installation Professional.
- First place receives $10,000, second place receives $3,500, and third place receives $2,500 in cash rewards.
- The competition will be developed and supervised by an advisory group that includes representatives from the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, ReVision Energy, Rolls Battery Engineering, SnapNrack, Solar Cowboyz, and Twende Solar.
- Later, Twende Solar will get the donated equipment from the sponsor to utilize in initiatives that equip underserved areas with sustainable energy systems. Among the expanding list of 2026 equipment sponsors are SolaDeck, K2 Systems, and Fronius.
