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DOE announces $60M for solar power research

www.energy.gov/sunshot

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2014

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MRS Bulletin , Volume 39 , Issue 1: Materials for Biological Modulation, Sensing, and Imaging , January 2014 , pp. 11
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Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

Building on President Obama’s broad-based plan to cut carbon pollution and support clean energy innovation across the country, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced in October 2013 about $60 million to support innovative solar-energy research and development. As part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) SunShot Initiative, the purpose of these awards is to help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration, and support a growing US solar workforce.

According to DOE, over the last three years, the cost of a solar-energy system has dropped by more than 70%. DOE will award approximately $16 million to four projects that will help develop solar devices that are near the theoretical efficiency limits of single junction solar cells, or about 30% efficiency. DOE will also award about $7 million to develop stronger, more reliable solar components as well as dependable performance tests for microinverters and microconverters. They provide easier installation and more effective capture of energy for both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power systems. Together, these awards are expected to help accelerate research breakthroughs in solar-energy conversion efficiency and performance—driving further cost reductions.

During President Obama’s first term, the United States more than doubled the generation of electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal sources, according to DOE. The President has now set a goal to double renewable electricity generation once again by 2020. As the cost of solar energy continues to fall and deployment expands, seamless and efficient grid integration will help make variable clean energy resources even more affordable. To this end, DOE is investing about $8 million to help utilities forecast and integrate high levels of renewable energy generation into the grid, while ensuring reliable and affordable power.

To help support the necessary solar workforce, DOE is also awarding about $1 million to Delaware State University and the University of Texas at San Antonio to provide solar-energy research and education opportunities to minority students.