Top News: Clean Energy Goals; Solar Prize Round 4 Events; How to Streamline Solar Permitting
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) webinar will feature Secretary Granholm and a virtual technology tour; find out which teams will advance to the final round of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 4; sign up for a webinar on a new solution to high-cost solar permitting; and check out the presentations from our recent solar with storage and demand-response series.
These stories and more in this edition of the SETO newsletter.
DOE Secretary to Discuss Solar’s Role in a Clean Energy Future
Join DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Kelly Speakes-Backman, and SETO Director Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus for a webinar, “100% Clean: How DOE’s Solar Investments Will Help Achieve Ambitious Decarbonization Goals,” on Thursday, March 25, at 2:30 p.m. ET. We’ll go on a virtual technology tour and discuss solar’s role in creating a reliable, resilient, and carbon-free electricity grid. We’ll answer some questions at the end. Register for our webinar today.
 One Click Away: Photovoltaics Research
Through SETO, DOE has funded hundreds of photovoltaics (PV) research and development projects to bring low-cost solar energy to rooftops across the country, support the U.S. electric grid, and combat climate change. Now you can learn more about the areas of research we focus on, whether it’s cell, module, or system design; energy yield; industry standards; or lengthening the lifespan of PV systems. Visit our PV research area webpage to find all our PV-related resources.
Mark Your Calendars: Solar Prize Round 4 Finalists
On Friday, March 26, at 1 p.m. ET, the 20 semifinalists in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 4 will showcase their innovations before a panel of expert judges at a demonstration day hosted by Carnegie Mellon University’s Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. After the judges make their decisions, join us as we announce the 10 finalists on Friday, April 9, at 12 p.m. ET. The finalists will receive $100,000 in cash and $75,000 in vouchers redeemable at the National Laboratories and other partner facilities and advance to the final round. Register for the showcase and the announcement of the finalists.
Streamlining Solar Permitting
The permitting process for solar installations is often time-consuming and costly. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP) tool aims to make it faster and easier. Learn how with Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and the SETO team for a webinar on April 29 at 2 p.m. ET. Sign up today.
New Report Suggests How to Improve the U.S. Grid
“The Future of Electric Power in the United States,” a new report by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides 40 recommendations to improve the understanding and evolution of the nation’s power system, including reforming the time-consuming electrical transmission planning and siting process. It identifies the social, technical, and economic driving forces that will determine how the grid evolves and calls for the creation of task forces and processes to facilitate technology innovations. Learn more about the report.
The Right Combination: Webinar Series Recap
Last month, over 600 researchers, utilities, and solar stakeholders attended our two-day webinar series on DOE-funded projects that integrate solar energy systems with storage and demand-response technologies. Awardees presented on a range of technologies, from inverter-based resources, like smart buildings and appliances, to utility communication and control systems. View the slides to learn more about the projects.
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