EERE Solar Energy Technologies Program Financial Opportunities The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP or Solar Program) posts current and past funding opportunities for all program areas, including research and development (R&D), market transformation, and systems integration projects. en-us http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/current_opportunities.html solar energy renewable energy solicitations Improving the Accuracy of Solar Forecasting http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=511 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 MST Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000649 Funding Organization: SunShot Initiative Open Date: 2012-04-16 Close Date: 2012-06-19 Funds Available: Up to $9M Over 3 Years Total Description:

DOE is supporting efforts to improve the accuracy of solar forecasting at sub-hourly, hourly, and day-ahead timeframes. By gaining a better understanding of changes in solar irradiance due to cloud formation, movement, and other weather-related factors, utility companies and power system operators can more accurately anticipate changes in solar power production and take actions to ensure the stability of the national power grid.

As part of the SunShot Initiative, this funding opportunity is designed to accommodate an expanding U.S. solar market. Advancements in solar generation, transmission technology, resource forecasting, operational practices, and regulatory procedures will collectively enable the successful integration of high levels of solar penetration on the grid. By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems.

]]> http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=511 Regional Test Centers: Validation of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules and Systems http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=488 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 MST Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000661 Funding Organization: SunShot Initiative Open Date: 2012-03-19 Close Date: 2012-06-30 Funds Available: Notice of Opportunity for Technical Assistance (NOTA) Description:

Under this Notice of Opportunity for Technical Assistance (NOTA), DOE will provide technical assistance to the photovoltaic (PV) industry and other stakeholders in the form of validation testing and systems monitoring through DOE Regional Test Centers (RTCs). While the primary mission of the RTCs is to develop standards and establish the technical basis for bankability, the RTCs will also function as test beds for large-scale systems and provide independent validation of PV performance and reliability.

Recipients of technical assistance will install PV modules and/or systems at all three RTC sites, if appropriate. Technologies may include photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) applications. The DOE/RTCs would provide the land, the grid tie, and the testing / data monitoring required to support an assessment of product/system performance, consistency of PV module quality, degradation rates, and/or PV system reliability issues.

Through this effort, the RTCs will develop standards and guidelines for validating the performance and operation of PV modules and systems. Recipients will benefit by acquiring third-party validation of the module or system performance which they may then compare with their prediction of performance. Recipients may also propose to ask the RTCs to develop models for predicting module or system performance instead of asking for verification of their own predictions.

Technical assistance will not be provided for research, development, or early-stage testing and evaluation. The focus of the RTCs is to accelerate adoption of renewable energy generation sources by helping U.S. PV manufacturers validate new commercially ready technologies.

DOE will not purchase hardware or otherwise provide direct funding to organizations selected from this Notice. Agreements are comprised of Technical Assistance only.

]]> http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=488 Plug-and-Play Photovoltaics http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=510 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 MST Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000653 Funding Organization: SunShot Initiative Open Date: 2012-04-16 Close Date: 2012-06-18 Funds Available: Up to $25M Over 5 Years Total Description:

DOE is supporting the development of commercial plug-and-play photovoltaic (PV) systems that make installing a solar energy system as easy as plugging in an appliance. This funding advances the concept of a market-ready plug-and-play PV system, which is envisioned as an off-the-shelf product that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. The homeowner simply plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility.

As part of the SunShot Initiative, this funding opportunity is designed to reduce costs and simplify installations so that solar can be more accessible for Americans. This solicitation targets universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders with an interest in transforming the residential solar market. By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems.

]]> http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=510 SunShot Incubator Program http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=465 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 MST Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000651 Funding Organization: SunShot Initiative Open Date: 2012-02-07 Close Date: 2012-05-29 Funds Available: Up to $12M Over 18 Months Total Description:

DOE is soliciting proposals for the seventh round of the SunShot Incubator Program that will bring to market a novel, non-incremental technology capable of achieving cost-reduction goals in any area of solar energy deployment. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Photovoltaics
  • Concentrating Solar Power
  • Balance of Systems
  • Power Electronics
  • Tools to Reduce Non-Hardware Costs
  • Plug-and-Play Wiring and Installation Techniques
  • Energy Storage.

As part of the SunShot Incubator program, this funding opportunity is designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs develop both hardware technologies and non-hardware solutions that will make solar more accessible for Americans.

By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of photovoltaic systems.

]]> http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/financial_opps_detail.html?sol_id=465