DOE Selects 13 Projects for Solar Technology Development

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman on February 8 announced the selection of 13 industry-led solar technology development projects for negotiation for up to $168 million (FY’07-’09) in funding, subject to appropriation from Congress.  These projects will help significantly reduce the cost of producing and distributing solar energy.  As part of the cost-shared agreements, the industry-led teams will contribute more than 50 percent of the funding for these projects for a total value of up to $357 million over three years. These cooperative agreements, to be negotiated, will be the first made available as part of President Bush’s Solar America Initiative (SAI), a component of his Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI), announced in his 2006 State of the Union Address. 

These projects enable the projected expansion of the annual U.S. manufacturing capacity of PV systems from 240 MW in 2005 to as much as 2,850 MW by 2010, representing more than a ten-fold increase.  Such capacity would also put the U.S. industry on track to reduce the cost of electricity produced by PV from current levels of $0.18-$0.23 per kWh to $0.05 - $0.10 per kWh by 2015 – a price that is competitive in markets nationwide.

Teams Selected For Negotiations under the Solar America Initiative

Amonix - A low-cost, high-concentration PV system for utility markets.  This project will focus on manufacturing technology for high-concentrating PV and on low-cost production using multi-bandgap cells. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $3,200,000, with approximately $14,800,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Boeing - High-efficiency concentrating photovoltaic power system. This project will focus on cell fabrication research that is expected to yield very high efficiency systems. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be approximately $5,900,000, with approximately $13,300,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

BP Solar - Low-cost approach to grid parity using crystalline silicon. This project’s research will focus on reducing wafer thickness while improving yield of multi-crystalline silicon PV for commercial and residential markets. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be approximately $7,500,000, with approximately $19,100,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Dow Chemical - PV-integrated residential and commercial building solutions. This project will employ Dow’s expertise in encapsulates, adhesives, and high volume production to develop integrated PV-powered technologies for roofing products. Subject to negotiations, funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $3,300,000, with approximately $9,400,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

General Electric - A value chain partnership to accelerate U.S. PV growth.  This project will develop various cell technologies – including a new bifacial, high-efficiency silicon cell that could be incorporated into systems solutions that can be demonstrated across the industry. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $8,100,000, with approximately $18,600,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Greenray - Development of an AC module system.  This team will design and develop a high-powered, ultra-high-efficiency solar module that contains an inverter, eliminating the need to install a separate inverter and facilitating installation by homeowners.  Research will focus on increasing the lifetime of the inverter. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $400,000, with approximately $2,300,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Konarka - Building-integrated organic photovoltaics.  This project will focus on manufacturing research and product reliability assurance for extremely low-cost photovoltaic cells using organic dyes that convert sunlight to electricity. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be $1,200,000, with approximately $3,600,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Miasole - Low-cost, scalable, flexible PV systems with integrated electronics. This project will develop high-volume manufacturing technologies and PV component technologies. Research will focus on new types of flexible thin-film modules with integrated electronics and advances in technologies used for installation and maintenance. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be $5,800,000, with approximately $20,000,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Nanosolar - Low-cost, scaleable PV systems for commercial rooftops. This project will work on improved low-cost systems and components using thin-film PV cells for commercial buildings.  Research will focus on large-area module deposition, inverters, and mounting. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $1,100,000, with approximately $20,000,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Powerlight - PV cell-independent effort to improve automated manufacturing systems. This project will focus on reducing non-cell costs by making innovations with automated design tools and with modules that include mounting hardware. Subject to negotiations, first-budget period funding for this project is expected to be approximately $2,800,000, with approximately $6,000,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Practical Instruments - Low-concentration CPV systems for rooftop applications. This project will explore a novel concept for low-concentration optics to increase the output of rooftop PV systems. The project will also explore designs using multi-junction cells to allow for very high efficiency modules. Subject to negotiations, funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $2,200,000, with approximately $4,000,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

SunPower - Grid-competitive residential solar power generating systems. This project will research lower-cost ingot and wafer fabrication technologies, automated manufacture of back-contact cells, and new module designs, to lower costs.  Subject to negotiations, first-budget period funding for this project is expected to be approximately $7,700,000, with approximately $17,900,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

United Solar Ovonic - Low-cost thin-film building-integrated PV systems. This project will focus on increasing the efficiency and deposition rate of multi-bandgap, flexible, thin-film photovoltaic cells and reducing the cost of inverters and balance-of-system components. Subject to negotiations, funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $2,400,000, with approximately $19,300,000 available over three years if the team meets its goals.

Names of the partners on these projects, comprised of more than 50 companies, 14 universities, 3 non-profit organizations, and 2 national laboratories, which were not included in this post for the sake of brevity, can be found in the full press release referenced at the the begining of this post.

For more information on the solicitation and facts about the Solar America Initiative, visit: http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america/.

These awards include many of the leading suppliers of solar equipment, with projects given to companies representing the equipment, silicon, thin film and CSP segments of the market. Most of these companies are quite far along in their development cycle and may be running into cost barriers that could limit their growth.  This sort of aid is helpful if it will really help these companies solve their problems.  It has been my experience that most companies do not want to divulge what they consider proprietary information, as may be required under terms of their contracts, so the projects may not be as beneficial to the industry as they appear on face value.  None-the-less the government is allotting considerable funding which may help, in a more general way, to help the solar industry to achieve lower costs and make solar energy more competitive.  I think this funding is independent of funding for more basic research which is still needed to provide what could be disruptive technology for solar energy.  Another way to look at this is that several companies have already claimed that they can produce solar energy at less than $1 watt at reasonable efficiencies and that not more government funding is required.

Comments

[Ken]

Seems like there is plenty of room for PV prices to drop and for production to go through the roof. I still think PV has a potential unmatched by other energy options - the potential to be very cheap and massively mass producable. The well of innovation in this area has not reached it's peak, let alone look like running dry. Sliver cells are another very promising new technology, utilizing the established reliability of Silicon but making it go an order of magnitude further. CIGS is getting close to commercialization - Nanosolar's nanoparticle inks and roll printing could see the solar market change quite dramatically. There are others, but across the board the funding is still relatively small. I'd be surprised if worldwide R&D spending on PV is as much as gets spent on Oil exploration and it ought to be much more.

[odograph]

I like it, but I the the wide range of projects is kind of scary.

Doesn't it say there isn't a clear leader right now?

The DOE might still be trolling widely for a contender.

[Michael Gross]

Excellent news! Although I hope private industry continues development and production as well. Individuals can signup to show their support for the concept and reap rewards of solar power at the following link.
www.SolarPanel-Rental.com

[Thomas Foreman]

Japan and Germany are very good examples of PV solar use. Oil is not easy to come by in these parts of the world. It's getting harder to come by in this part as well. (PEAK OIL) I think they created a great solution to their energy needs. I'm glad we are looking into such options as well. We can do much more then we do now. We can be positive examples of solar use to the world.Our children can grow up having much of their energy needs met by the SUN.
I pledge to Contribute clean solar energy to the grid. I'm the change I want to see in the world. I'm asking if you will be part of the CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTION? There are great choices here available to use now! Do we have to wait for neccessity and crisis to dictate our actions? My hope is that we could use our gifts of forsight.
Thomas Foreman

[JeffS]

Thanks for the post Mr. Foreman. I must concur with your post. After seeing some of the comments about the alternative energy dabate with people bashing each other, it made me wonder, why the hostilities. We are all in this together and hopefully amicable solutions, diverse as they inherently may be, will be put into to play.
I am only a lowly electron microscopist and green farmer. It pains me to see posts where people put their energies into arguments and not solutions. From what I've gleened off this sight, the majority of posters seem to have a an understanding of energy resources and alternatives. I feel compelled to learn as much as possible as I feel responsible for what happens tomorrow, however small that may be. In the final analysis it is extremely difficult with the rants and raves.
I respect what is being brought forth, albeit, some of the wasted mental energy I've experienced here would without a doubt be enough to power my house.

[Thomas Foreman]

Jeffs,
Thanks for reading my post. You have a very empowering and encouraging tone in your writing. I know this must serve you and people close to you well in life and in farming. Jeffs will have a great crop this year.
I feel lucky to have people share their views with me even if they are not the same as mine. I know we each have great knowledge and ideas to share. The Energy blog is a great sight to do it on.
Thomas Foreman

[Kit P.]

Solar can never be a low cost, have low environmental impact, or provide a significant source of electricity. It is about making electricity not installing capacity. Using a diffuse source of energy requires large amount of material and an army of maintenance workers.

Siting of solar panels should be based on the best return by matching a good resource to an exceptional demand supplied by the dirtiest power supplies.

To capture solar energy to warm by house and keep it cooler in the summer requires low e glass and properly designed overhangs and windows. To make electricity requires a huge investment in materials and maintenance.

[Thomas Foreman]

Kit,P
Going solar is a more economical and Eco friendly choice. I know for certain you can rent a solar system that takes care of your energy needs and I'm able to freeze my rental cost for 1,5 or 25 years at current cost from my power company.This can be done in any state of the USA that allows for NET Metering. KIT, P Will your power company freeze your rates for 25 years? I project energy prices will go up more at a compounded rate of 2 and one half percent increase per year average. It makes CENTS to lock in the cost for as long as you can
There are huge saving to be had by renting solar and not having to deal with the maitnence of it. Electricity is one of the larges causes of pollution on earth.
I want my children to breath clean air.
Harness an unlimited renuable supply of Sun.
Energy independence NOW.
Thomas Foreman

[Kit P.]

Thomas, I am not sure what your scam is but I am not buying it. My children already breath clean air and I see no reason to cut down my shade tree to make electricity. My local power company does an excellent job of providing energy at a reasonable cost.

[JeffS]

Kit, I do believe Thomas has the mind set of self service, to which some of us prescribe. If we as an independant unit can provide for ourselves and take some stress off the grid and down size our footprint, why not? I'm under the impression that there are ways of fitting and positioning pvs without deforestration. I also believe , hopefully not in the too distant future, wind power will become a viable option for Joe Schmoe. Until then, we tend to make do with what we have and develop and nurture what our soul dictates to us. Believe it or not, there are those of us who live life without an " angle " and truly believe we are Stewards and take that responsibilty seriously.

[Kit P.]

Jeffs, my intention is not to denigrate solar PV so I will not provide my long list of why you should not put solar panels on your roof if your goal is to be a steward of the environment. I have yet to see the business model for solar PV on the roof's of individual homes that will make a profit. It is an economy of scale thing. Maybe Thomas has developed a business model that makes money based on regulations regardless of the solar potential. If someone talks like a con artist, let the renter beware.

I nurture my soul with big shade trees around my house and use the leaves for compost. This a huge ghg reduction strategy too. When lived in California, the fire danger precluded shade trees near the house. I used passive and solar hot water (not on the roof).

For those who have a mindset that installing a big (very expensive) electronic device on the roof to power their big TV, is the route to oneness with nature; please feel free to choose your own path.

[odograph]

i'm not that strong a partisan on the solar-vs-efficiency front, but i do lean toward efficiency myself.

i mean, when i've got a couple computers, with 20"widescreen LCDs, and a 32" widescreen TV, along with the "usual" appliances ... and a $12 electic bill ... i sort of wonder about the multi-thousand dollar rooftop systems.

with a cost of $12/mo how long does it take for me to pay back a $20K investment?

(i know that's unfair but it is also telling that the big solar providers do not have a package system as small as i need. why is that? is it because solar sales really do go with high consumption?)

... ok, that did come across as more forceful than i expected, but please take it as good natured banter.

[Thomas Foreman]

Odogragh,
A twelve-dollar electric bill, you do a great job with efficacy. I have two kids and one on the way. My energy bills are a lot more. You have ability to tred on this earth much lighter then I do. I want to harness the sun so as to help me tred lightly as well.
A way to get a smaller system is to rent and have a design that accommodates your electrical needs. The system is maintained and there is no huge investment made on your part + I can lock the yearly average rate I pay today for1, 5 or 25 years. I think cost of power will go up in a big way in the next 25 years. What do you think?
The reason solar only accounts for less then one half of one % in residential use is because it has always been cost prohibitive and maintenance extensive. These are some of the fears I think people have. Now those barriers to entry are gone. I think solar will start to see a huge resurgence. It’s still in the first adaptors stage. When it gets going the tipping point will have huge momentum and truly be a positive change in the way we harness energy. I like the possibilities of it ecologically and economically.
Thank you for this discussion it has really helped me to learn how to articulate my mission.
LET THE SUN SHINE IN
THESUNSHARVEST A GOOD OPTION not the only option but a good one.
Thomas Foreman

[Harvey D.]

Mr. Foreman:

Sunlight is by far the greatest source of clean power available to the human race.

However, since current converters such as PVs + energy storage units (ESU) are (still) not very effective and too costly, application is not yet economical.

With more R & D, efficiency will come up and cost down enough to make affordable 25 Kwh to 50 Kwh home power supplies a reality within 5 to 10 years.

The 10 Kwh to 20 Kwh required daily, for the family car, could be supplied by the home power system. The 50 Kwh onboard (car) storage unit could complement the home storage unit when required.

Don't give up, it is coming.

The worst thing would be to switch from oil to coal as too many want to do.

[jworth]

Interesting article and comments. If we can get the $20k cost of a system down to $5k there will be a mad rush to SolarCity. My $200-$300/mth electric bill used to be $75-$150 just 5 years ago. What will it be in the next 5 years?

On the other hand, most of these thin-film companies have plans to integrate the solar cell into glass that will go into tall commercial buildings. Cutting down shade trees won't be a concern in that application.

[roofing in york pa]

I like the idea when JFK said we're going to the moon in 10 years. We should have the same idea that everyone will be driving alternative energy in 10 years. It would help to restore America.

[home solar power]

It is nice that DOE selected 13 projects for the development of solar technology.

[buy wholesale]

I like the idea when JFK said we're going to the moon in 10 years. We should have the same idea that everyone will be driving

[丰胸]

丰胸

[丰胸]

丰胸

[丰胸]

丰胸

[vibram five fingers]

Great!This article is creative，there are a lot of new idea，it gives me inspiration.I think I will also inspired by you and think about more new ideas

[coach bags]

Yeah, you're right.*

[Adam Mack]

It took me a long time to read the comments..:)
Solar technology is really the way now. This is to cut costs and help save the environment. I have read a lot of solar energy information and Im happy to know that a lot of people are making this move.

Thanks!