Solar Snapshot: Perovskite Startup Prize Finalists, RE+ Workshops, and Funding Deadline Reminders

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Energy dot gov Office of Energy Efficiency and renewable energy

Solar Energy Technologies Office

Divider

What's Inside: Solar Snapshot, the newsletter of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), shares recent announcementsupcoming events; products and publicationsand more.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, you can subscribe here.

Reach out to us at solar@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.

Estimated read time: 4 minutes, 51 seconds


Funding Opportunities and Prizes

Finalists Announced for Perovskite Competition

DOE selected two startups to advance to the next stage of the American-Made Perovskite Startup Prize. These teams will receive $200,000 to help accelerate the development and manufacturing of perovskite solar cells. An additional two teams won the Power Up Prize, a $40,000 award that will enable them to continue refining their technologies.

Perovskite Startup Prize

Apply for Round 2 of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize

Energy innovators and entrepreneurs: it’s time to be a part of something epic! Submit your most creative and impactful design ideas to the EPIC Prize for a chance to win cash prizes. Register for an informational webinar on September 7 and apply by October 25 at 5 p.m. ET.

Deadline Approaching: Grid Services Funding Opportunity

There is $26 million in funding available for projects that demonstrate the reliable operation of a decarbonized electrical grid. Concept papers for the Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration funding opportunity are due September 1 at 5 p.m. ET.

Apply for Funding to Study Solar and Agriculture

Applicants who submitted concept papers have until August 30 at 5 p.m. ET to submit full applications for the Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity. SETO is interested in projects that examine how agrivoltaics can scale up to provide new economic opportunities to farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry.


Some Light 🌞 Reading

Secretary Granholm on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022

Read Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm’s statement on the passage of the IRA, the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history. Learn how it positions America to meet President Biden’s “pledge to build a new economy powered by clean energy—one that lowers costs for American families, creates good-paying jobs for American workers, and increases our energy independence.”

Reminder: Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (PV) Request for Information (RFI)

DOE seeks public input on challenges and opportunities for vehicles with integrated or attached PV systems. Submit your response by August 22 at 5 p.m. ET.

Submit Your Response to the Community Solar Subscription Platform RFI

DOE seeks feedback on the structure of the community solar subscription platform from community-based organizations, community solar subscription managers and developers, state and local governments, researchers, and others. Submit your response by August 31 at 5 p.m. ET.

SETO Workshops at RE+

SETO is heading to California for RE+ 2022, a U.S. clean energy industry conference, in September. You can join us for two workshops: “First Look at DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) 5-year Strategic Roadmap” and “Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: Beyond the Shingle.” Stay tuned for more information about SETO’s activities at the show!

re+

New Machine-Readable Databases for Siting Wind and Solar Energy Projects

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released two new databases of state and local wind and solar energy zoning laws and ordinances in the United States. The new datasets allow geospatial analysts and researchers to readily evaluate siting impacts, which can affect U.S. renewable energy resource potential and inform planning for decarbonization goals.

An Energy Justice Analysis of Solar and Wind Project Siting Patterns

In a new journal article, researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory explore the potential energy justice implications of both solar and wind energy project siting patterns from multiple perspectives.

Breakthrough in Power Generation Using Brayton Cycle Technology

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have successfully delivered electricity to the grid using a new, closed-loop, power-generating system that utilizes the cutting-edge Brayton cycle.  


Upcoming Events

Webinar: The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar

August 18 | 3 p.m. ET
The National Community Solar Partnership will host an informational webinar to discuss the new prize program and how to participate.

Workshop on Solar Energy: Heliostats, Metrology Challenges, and Heliostat Consortium Funding Opportunities

August 24 | 3:30 p.m. ET
The Heliostat Consortium for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power is hosting a workshop to bring together heliostat metrology experts and discuss challenges and funding opportunities.

Webinar: Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition

August 25 | 12 p.m. ET
Students are welcome to attend this webinar for a discussion of updates to the Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023, including competition goals, participation options, rules, timeline, participation benefits, and more.

Webinar: Community Solar Resources for Multifamily Affordable Housing Providers

August 25 | 2 p.m. ET
NREL will host a webinar to introduce the resources developed to support Multifamily Affordable Housing providers in their efforts to accelerate deployment of community solar.

Webinar: EPIC Prize Round 2

September 7 | 1 p.m. ET
Start-ups and innovative teams are encouraged to join NREL for an informational webinar to go over details of the prize, including timelines, deliverables, and rules.

Panel: Women in Cybersecurity – Critical Infrastructure

September 8 | TBD
Join this panel to hear from cybersecurity professionals and energy scientists, including SETO’s Marissa Morales-Rodriguez, as they discuss risks to the grid and actionable steps that can help ensure its resilience.


Products and Publications


In Case You Missed It

Webinar: Equity Through Workforce Partnerships Funding Opportunity

Watch the recording of this webinar (password: WyJAxBq5) about the $10 million funding opportunity for projects that identify common challenges and opportunities to facilitate the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies while supporting an inclusive workforce.

Webinar: Advancing an Equitable Solar Workforce

Learn about workforce challenges and opportunities, efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within the solar sector, and potential ways for solar employers and labor unions to work together to ensure quality jobs and a stable workforce in this webinar recording.

Webinar: Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration Funding Opportunity

Watch this webinar about the new $26 million funding opportunity for projects that demonstrate the reliable operation of a decarbonized electrical grid.

Webinar: Justice40 Kickoff

Learn how DOE is implementing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative in this webinar (recording link to be posted soon). Secretary Granholm, Director Baker, and representatives from across the Department, including SETO’s Nicole Steele, discuss how DOE is working to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit from its investments.


Learn more about SETO or DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.