PG&E and We Share Solar^® are partnering once again to bring a fully funded, local and global STEM project to classrooms in central and northern California. The Solar Suitcase Program blends engineering skills with sustainable energy lessons and local and international philanthropy.

Learn more about the program

The Solar Suitcase Program, part of the PG&E Foundation's Better Together Giving Program, empowers 8^th-12^th grade students to build We Share Solar^® Suitcases. The program places special emphasis on leveraging a hands-on and humanitarian approach to engage youth traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.

By combining hands-on engineering education with real-world applicability, teachers cultivate students’ interests in clean energy. Students are also inspired to meet an immediate societal need by delivering solar energy to local communities and areas of need in the developing world.

We Share Solar^® Suitcases are small, portable photovoltaic lighting systems, powerful enough to illuminate a classroom. Through this program, participating educators will be trained to teach youth how to build Solar Suitcases that will be delivered to energy-scarce regions of the world.

Learn more about We Share Solar^® Suitcases

Benefits of participating in the PG&E Solar Suitcase Program

• Training and equipment. Teachers receive professional development training and over $7,000 of equipment to provide students with an engaging, flexible STEM program.
• Leadership. Students demonstrate environmental leadership skills by designing and completing a local Solar Suitcase deployment project to benefit their community.
• Global impact. Students build We Share Solar^® Suitcases that each eliminate 6.45 tons of CO₂ per year from the atmosphere, provide light for students to study and help community businesses to thrive.
• Solar Suitcase deployment. Schools build two Solar Suitcases for deployment—one for international installation and one for domestic placement in local communities.
• Engagement. The hands-on and humanitarian approach attracts non-traditional STEM students.
• Program visibility. Schools receive support from PG&E’s communications team to highlight their students’ innovation to local media outlets.
• Emergency preparedness. Each classroom set of suitcases increases a school’s emergency preparedness by doubling as a portable charging, lighting and communication source during disasters.

Application and other information

Applications are due by May 30, 2018 and applicants will be notified by June 8, 2018.

If you miss this year's application deadline, please check this website next spring for program updates.

Download the program fact sheet (PDF, 128 KB)
Complete the application

Still have questions?

Email Alli Pemerl, We Share Solar^® Program Assistant at alli@wecaresolar.org.