ARRA OPP #24:  DOE Solar Energy Technologies

President Obama recently announced that the Department of Energy will direct $117.6 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to accelerate the development, deployment, and use of solar energy technologies.  These funds are part of the Administration’s efforts to develop the clean energy economy by commercializing renewable energy technologies, including solar energy.
 
The Administration plans to provide $117.6 million to accelerate commercialization of clean solar energy technologies, including:

• $51.5 million for photovoltaic technology development/high penetration solar deployment;
• $40.5 million for solar energy deployment;  and
• $25.6 million for concentrating solar power R&D (restricted to DOE national laboratories or DOE-led consortia).

These funds will support the scaling up of solar energy technologies to make them cost competitive with conventional sources of energy.  DOE plans to support partnerships that include universities, the private sector, local governments, and DOE national laboratories.  DOE will allocate Recovery Act funding to:
 
Photovoltaic Technology Development/High Penetration Solar Deployment.  DOE plans to allocate $51.5 million to advanced photovoltaic concepts and high-impact technologies to promote cost-competitive solar energy.  DOE will fund projects in four topic areas:
Topic Area 1 – Improved Modeling Tools Development;
Topic Area 2 – Field Verification of High-Penetration Levels of PV into the Distribution Grid;
Topic Area 3 – Modular Power Architecture; and
Topic Area 4 – Demonstration of PV and Energy Storage for Smart Grids.
 
DOE prefers a team approach that would include members of PV suppliers and integrators and research entities (universities and national laboratories).  The participation of at least one electric utility is required in all topic areas.  Cost-sharing is required at 20 percent for Topic 1 and Topic 2 projects and at least 50 percent for Topic 3 and Topic 4 projects.

DOE expects to make approximately four awards in Topic Area 1 to total $7 million in federal funding; 5 awards in Topic Area 2 to total $18 million in federal funding; 1 award in Topic Area 3 to total $7.5 million in federal funding; and 1 award in Topic Area 4 to total $5 million in federal funding.  Approximately $17.5 million in Recovery Act funding is to be allocated for Phase 1 awards under this solicitation, with an additional $20 million in future year funding subject to the availability of appropriated funding.
 
A synopsis of this funding announcement can be found at here. The complete announcement can be accessed through FedConnect as described in the synopsis.
 
Solar Market Transformation.  DOE anticipates awarding $50.5 million to address current market barriers to the adoption of solar technologies and to establish a nationally-coordinated effort to spread solar installation training to the local level.  DOE has outlined two topics for proposals for this funding:
 
Topic Area 1 – Solar America Cities Special Projects; eligibility is limited to the 25 Solar America Cities previously selected.  According to DOE, projects proposed by Solar America Cities should:

• promote the city’s overall plan for integrating solar energy into the city’s energy and master plan;

• target key barriers that are preventing applicants from reaching their solar energy goals and which are barriers shared by other local governments nationally;

• be replicable by other local governments, and;

• complement activities addressed under the existing Solar America Cities award.

Topic Area 2 – Solar Installer Instructor Training; eligibility for these funds is open to all domestic institutions, including universities.  According to DOE, this topic intends to address the workforce development needs of the solar industry, both for grid-tied PV systems in residential, commercial, and utility markets, and for solar heating and cooling (SHC) systems.  Funded activities are not intended to support off-grid PV applications.  This activity will be carried out in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education.  The overall goal of this topic is to promote an increase in the quality and availability of instruction relating to the installation of PV and SHC systems.  This Topic will provide funding to two Categories of Applicants – Regional Resource and Training Providers and Administration of the National Consortium for Solar Installer Instructor Training.
 
DOE anticipates providing $20 million for initial grants under this FOA.  Funding awards are expected to range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $6 million (depending on the type of project) over the life of the project.  There is a cost-sharing requirement for the Solar America Cities Special Projects.  There is no cost-share required for solar workforce training proposals.
 
The synopsis of the DOE announcement can be found here. The full announcement can be accessed through FedConnect as described in the synopsis.

National Laboratory Call for Photovoltaics (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP).  This solicitation is only open to DOE national laboratories or DOE-national laboratory led consortia and will focus on five topic areas, including Next Generation PV Technologies (Topic 1), PV Supply Chain and Crosscutting Technologies (Topic 2), and Advanced Heat Transfer Fluids and Novel Thermal Storage for Concentrating Solar Power (Topic 3).  This program also seeks to enhance capabilities for testing and evaluating advanced CSP concepts (Topic 4) and advanced Photovoltaics manufacturing capability (Topic 5). Cost-sharing is required for non-laboratory participants.
  
 A synopsis of this funding announcement can be found at here.  The complete solicitation can be accessed through FedConnect as described in the synopsis.