Solar Snapshot: 📨 Systems Integration Request for Information; Request for Feedback on the Draft Interconnection Roadmap

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Solar Energy Technologies Office

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

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Estimated read time: 4 minutes, 4 seconds


What's New?

Feedback Requested on Draft Transmission Interconnection Roadmap

DOE seeks stakeholder feedback on a draft roadmap that addresses interconnection challenges on the transmission grid. Responses will help DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) develop a resource on long- and near-term solutions and best practices for interconnecting clean energy resources to the bulk power system. Grid operators, utilities, state and local governments, Tribal governments, clean energy developers, energy justice organizations, nonprofits, trade associations, and other stakeholders can submit feedback by November 22.

i2x

Request for Information on Solar Energy Grid Integration

SETO has issued a request for information (RFI) on technical challenges and opportunities for grid integration of solar energy systems, including photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage facilities connected to the bulk power systems, distribution systems, microgrids, and behind-the-meter customer premises. Feedback will help SETO determine research needs and priorities and develop new research, development, and demonstration initiatives to support rapid solar deployments and the smooth transition to a reliable, secure, resilient, and decarbonized grid of the future. You can submit responses until November 30.


Upcoming Deadlines

Don't forget to participate in these funding opportunities, prizes, and solicitations:


Some Light 🌞 Reading

Solar Eclipse + Solar Energy: What to Expect When the Sun Goes Dark

On October 14, an annual solar eclipse blocked up to 90% of the sun across parts of the United States. With U.S. solar energy generation capacity on the rise to meet the country’s decarbonization goals, solar eclipses could have more of an impact on the power grid than they did in the past. This is one reason why DOE’s investments in grid resilience and reliability are vital to keeping the lights on even when the sun doesn’t shine.

eclipse

Success Story: Community Solar Advances in the Southeast

In the past, it hasn’t been easy for rural electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities to offer community solar to their customers because they often lack the funding or expertise needed to develop community solar cost-effectively while navigating their existing rules and rates. Learn how a SETO-funded project developed several tools and resources that make it easier than ever before for states in the Southeast to make community solar more readily available.

New Best Practices Guide to Delivering Meaningful Benefits with Community Solar

The National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) recently published a guide that shares high-level best practices, successful strategies, and key resources for providing meaningful benefits to households and communities through community solar. The guide draws from the work of the 2022 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar winners and materials developed during the ‘Building with Benefits: Meaningful Benefits as a Foundation for Equitable Community Solar’ webinar series.

Report Breaks Down Community Solar Software as a Service

Software tools are an important part of developing community solar projects and there is a range of online (cloud-based) community solar software toolkits, known as software as a service. A new NCSP report provides information about what to consider when choosing a software provider, how to work with the developers who are the primary clients for most platform providers, and how to customize platform tools to meet local needs.

reportpv

Community solar platforms provide cloud-based tools and services to support the developer, owner, and stakeholders in a community solar program. Variations in how these relationships work may be affected by policy. Source: SAAS Report

Meet the 2023 Clean Energy Innovator Fellows

DOE announced the 29 recent graduates and early career energy professionals who have been matched with critical energy organizations as part of the Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship (CEIF). The CEIF program helps advance clean energy solutions while providing fellows with training and professional development opportunities that will help kickstart their careers.

ceif2023

Latest PV Cost Benchmark Report on Potential Cost Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released its annual cost breakdown of installed solar PV and battery storage systems. The report reflects price data from the first quarter of 2023. Read about the impacts of manufacturing credits, changes in costs for community solar, and a new cost model.


Products & Publications


Upcoming Events

DOE Justice Week 2023: Equity Empowered

October 30 – November 3 | Washington, D.C. and hybrid
SETO is participating in DOE’s Justice Week 2023, a five-day hybrid event dedicated to empowering each other to move toward a more equitable, clean, and just energy future.

Workshop: Solar Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

October 31 – November 1 | Alexandria, VA
Join SETO for this two-day, in-person workshop on the solar applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Learn more and register.


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

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