The research and demonstration projects resulting from this funding opportunity will help enable domestic manufacturing of affordable solar hardware, increase the portion of solar hardware value kept in the U.S. economy, and promote domestic manufacturing of taxpayer-funded technology developments. Projects from this funding opportunity will also support an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and facilitate secure, robust, and reliable integration of solar electricity into the nation’s energy grid.
Applications are due November 14, 2023.
SETO expects to make between five to 12 awards ranging from $1 million to $10 million under this funding opportunity announcement (FOA). SETO encourages diverse entrepreneurs, small businesses, and larger for-profit entities to apply.
DOE Informational Webinar Recording
Topic Area 1: Pilot Demonstration of Silicon Supply Chain Components – 3-4 projects, $1-10 million each
Projects will conduct pilot-scale testing and demonstration of innovative products or solutions that can substantively increase the domestic manufacturing of silicon photovoltaics (PV) in all segments of the supply chain. These demonstration projects will accelerate manufacturing innovations that are part of the silicon solar module supply chain such as: silicon production, silicon ingot and wafering, solar cells, glass and backsheets and other module components, and associated manufacturing equipment.
Topic Area 2: Dual-use PV Incubator – 2-8 projects, $1-1.6 million each
Projects will develop products that can open new markets for emerging dual-use PV sectors, in particular agricultural PV or agrivoltaics, building-integrated PV, floating PV, and vehicle-integrated PV. These markets require application-specific hardware, including PV cells, modules, mounting, and other dedicated balance-of-system components.
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