DOE to award $130M for solar technologies research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to $130 million for research to technologies to advance solar energy.
This program targets five research areas including photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), soft costs reduction, innovations in manufacturing, and solar systems integration. They are seeking advancements to make solar energy more affordable, reliable, and secure.
“Solar is an integral part of the Administration’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said. “This cutting-edge, early stage research and development will work in concert with other innovative technologies to provide affordable, efficient, and reliable energy to the American people.”
DOE will award $26 million in funding for photovoltaics, $33 million for concentrating solar-thermal power, $17 million for soft costs reduction, $10 million for innovations in manufacturing, and $44 million for solar systems integration.
The $10 million in innovations in manufacturing supports companies with product ideas that can lower solar costs and rapidly achieve commercialization.
This $44 million for solar systems integration supports improving the ability of grid operators to integrate increasing amounts of solar generation onto the grid in a cost-effective and reliable manner. This topic also supports development of technology solutions that enhance the visibility and control of photovoltaic inverters and sensors, while improving the security of those devices from cyberattack.
