Published April 22, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced investments of as much as $170 million to help expand and accelerate the development and use of solar photovoltaic technologies.
The bulk of the money, up to $125 million, is to be spent for research projects focused on manufacturing. The department plans to allot up to $40 million toward supply-chain development that has the potential to reduce costs, and is spending as much as $4.5 million on efforts to train people for jobs related to selling and installing solar PV systems.
The agency also will spend up to $39 million to help develop water-power technologies that harvest energy from oceanic waves, tides, currents and thermal gradients, or from free-flowing rivers.
The funding "represents a down payment that will help the solar and water-power industries overcome technical barriers, demonstrate new technologies, and provide support for clean-energy jobs for years to come," the DOE said in a news release.
On photovoltaic manufacturing – producing the types of modules used on homes and businesses -- the department said it will invest in research projects that will have near-term and mid-term impacts on the U.S. solar industry and will stimulate greater cooperation within the industry.
The $125 million in funding will be divided over five years between university-focused projects and industry-focused development. Both topics will consider collaborative research models to accelerate manufacturing-related technologies and to provide maximum leverage to the federal funding.
The goal is to help strengthen the U.S. photovoltaic industry, which faces intense competition from other solar-focused countries, including China, Germany, Japan and Spain. Funding applications are due in early August.
For photovoltaic supply-chain development, the department wishes to identify and accelerate unique products or processes that will have a major impact on the industry. The projects are intended to help meet the department's goal of achieving cost-competitive solar PV systems compared with conventional forms of electricity generation. The goal is widespread use of solar PV technology.
The department is seeking projects focused on component and manufacturing technologies that have strong potential to affect a substantial segment of the photovoltaic industry within two to five years. Examples include engineering lower-cost coating materials, designing electrical components to improve performance, developing processes that reduce manufacturing waste, or creating equipment that dramatically improves manufacturing or installation speed.
The department plans to select both large and small companies that can quickly develop new photovoltaic supply-chain improvements. The DOE anticipates that about $10 million to $15 million will be available annually to fund PV supply-chain projects. Applications are due July 2.
The energy department is allotting up to $4.5 million for solar-related training. The money will go to a national administrator that will act as a central coordinating organization for an existing training network. The network was created in 2009 by the department to establish high-quality, local, and accessible training for people involved in the sales, design, installation, commissioning and inspection of solar photovoltaic and solar heating and cooling systems. Earlier awards went to nine regional resource and training providers.
The national administrator will be expected to manage collaboration among the nine network members, disseminating their products and conducting other outreach efforts, such as providing recommendations for the adoption of best practices. The selected organization will also serve as a national point of contact for the training network and will work with other groups to define, establish priorities for, and address issues related to solar training and workforce development. Applications are due June 15.
"Expanding the U.S. clean-energy manufacturing base is an important part of the administration's goals to diversify electricity supply options, increase national security and accelerate green jobs development," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "These investments will help strengthen American competitiveness in renewable energy and transform the U.S. into a lasting manufacturing presence in the 21st century clean-energy economy."
Source: http://sunpluggers.com/news/us-investing-up-to-170-million-toward-widespread-use-of-solar-pv-0450
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced investments of as much as $170 million to help expand and accelerate the development and use of solar photovoltaic technologies.
The bulk of the money, up to $125 million, is to be spent for research projects focused on manufacturing. The department plans to allot up to $40 million toward supply-chain development that has the potential to reduce costs, and is spending as much as $4.5 million on efforts to train people for jobs related to selling and installing solar PV systems.
The agency also will spend up to $39 million to help develop water-power technologies that harvest energy from oceanic waves, tides, currents and thermal gradients, or from free-flowing rivers.
The funding "represents a down payment that will help the solar and water-power industries overcome technical barriers, demonstrate new technologies, and provide support for clean-energy jobs for years to come," the DOE said in a news release.
On photovoltaic manufacturing – producing the types of modules used on homes and businesses -- the department said it will invest in research projects that will have near-term and mid-term impacts on the U.S. solar industry and will stimulate greater cooperation within the industry.
The $125 million in funding will be divided over five years between university-focused projects and industry-focused development. Both topics will consider collaborative research models to accelerate manufacturing-related technologies and to provide maximum leverage to the federal funding.
The goal is to help strengthen the U.S. photovoltaic industry, which faces intense competition from other solar-focused countries, including China, Germany, Japan and Spain. Funding applications are due in early August.
For photovoltaic supply-chain development, the department wishes to identify and accelerate unique products or processes that will have a major impact on the industry. The projects are intended to help meet the department's goal of achieving cost-competitive solar PV systems compared with conventional forms of electricity generation. The goal is widespread use of solar PV technology.
The department is seeking projects focused on component and manufacturing technologies that have strong potential to affect a substantial segment of the photovoltaic industry within two to five years. Examples include engineering lower-cost coating materials, designing electrical components to improve performance, developing processes that reduce manufacturing waste, or creating equipment that dramatically improves manufacturing or installation speed.
The department plans to select both large and small companies that can quickly develop new photovoltaic supply-chain improvements. The DOE anticipates that about $10 million to $15 million will be available annually to fund PV supply-chain projects. Applications are due July 2.
The energy department is allotting up to $4.5 million for solar-related training. The money will go to a national administrator that will act as a central coordinating organization for an existing training network. The network was created in 2009 by the department to establish high-quality, local, and accessible training for people involved in the sales, design, installation, commissioning and inspection of solar photovoltaic and solar heating and cooling systems. Earlier awards went to nine regional resource and training providers.
The national administrator will be expected to manage collaboration among the nine network members, disseminating their products and conducting other outreach efforts, such as providing recommendations for the adoption of best practices. The selected organization will also serve as a national point of contact for the training network and will work with other groups to define, establish priorities for, and address issues related to solar training and workforce development. Applications are due June 15.
"Expanding the U.S. clean-energy manufacturing base is an important part of the administration's goals to diversify electricity supply options, increase national security and accelerate green jobs development," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "These investments will help strengthen American competitiveness in renewable energy and transform the U.S. into a lasting manufacturing presence in the 21st century clean-energy economy."
Source: http://sunpluggers.com/news/us-investing-up-to-170-million-toward-widespread-use-of-solar-pv-0450
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