August 19, 2008

DOE to Invest up to $24 Million for Breakthrough Solar Energy Products

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary announced that DOE will invest up to $24 million in Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond—subject to the availability of funds—to develop solar energy products to significantly accelerate penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. The Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) projects will…

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary announced that DOE will invest up to $24 million in Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond—subject to the availability of funds—to develop solar energy products to significantly accelerate penetration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States.

The Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) projects will provide critical research and development (R&D) funding to develop less expensive, higher performing products to enhance the value of solar PV systems to homeowners and business owners.

DOE has selected 12 industry teams to participate in cost-shared cooperative agreements focusing on conceptual design of hardware components, and market analysis. For these 12 winning projects, $2.9 million total in DOE funding is leveraging $1.7 million in industry cost-share. The plan is to award additional contracts in Fiscal Year 2009 and in the out years—subject to the availability of funds— for projects demonstrating the most promising technology advancements exhibiting a high likelihood of commercial success.

When the projects are combined with the overall industry cost share of up to $16 million, more than $40 million in total could be invested in these SEGIS projects, with future federal funding subject to appropriations from Congress. The Department’s Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM will provide project management support to these projects.

To see the awardees, click here.

Source: DOE Press Release

August 12, 2008