Solar Snapshot: đź’¸ New Photovoltaics Funding; Solar Prize Round 7 Finalists

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Energy dot gov Office of Energy Efficiency and renewable energy

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, 48 seconds


What's New?

New Funding for Photovoltaics (PV) Research and Development

DOE announced $20 million for innovative solar projects that reduce the cost of PV modules, reduce carbon and energy intensity of PV manufacturing processes, and optimize PV technology for new, specialized markets. Register for an informational webinar on May 8 at 4 p.m. ET to learn more about the funding opportunity. Mandatory letters of intent are due June 12.

pvrd fy24 foa

Joint Notice of Intent to Invest in Distributed Energy Resources on the Grid

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released a notice of intent to issue more than $100 million across three technology offices for field demonstrations and other research to support improved planning and operation of the electric grid. SETO intends to fund projects that develop and demonstrate technologies and market tools for better integration of distributed energy resources including solar, wind, and energy storage.

Solar District Cup Announces 2024 Winners

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced the Class of 2024 winners in the Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition. Throughout the competition, student teams designed and modeled solar-plus-storage systems to meet the needs of real-world districts. See which teams were crowned the winners.

SDC23-24

Finalists Announced for Solar Prize Round 7

SETO selected 10 teams as finalists for the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7, each earning $100,000 in cash and $75,000 in technical support vouchers. Three of the teams equally divided a $50,000 prize for their participation in the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Contest, which seeks to boost underserved communities’ access to solar deployment. Finalists will now work to bring their concepts closer to commercialization and present their innovations at the RE+ Conference in September, where winners will be announced.


Upcoming Deadlines

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

Solar Photo competition

Some Light 🌞 Reading

New Investment to Expand Clean Transportation Across American Communities

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, through DOE, announced the $54 million Communities Taking Charge Accelerator funding opportunity, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will help communities lacking access to home charging infrastructure and help to transition all types of fleets to electric vehicles (EVs). It will also develop charging solutions that optimize grid efficiency and integrate renewable energy to promote sustainability, economic growth, and community health. Mandatory concept papers are due May 20.

CelLink Receives Loan to Strengthen Domestic EV Supply Chain

Former SETO-awardee CelLink received $362 million from the DOE Loan Programs Office to support domestic manufacturing of key EV supply chain components. This loan will help finance construction of CelLink’s manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Texas. The facility will develop lighter and more efficient flexible circuits, creating jobs and supporting the manufacturing of millions of EVs each year.

Active SETO Projects Mapped Out on the Solar Energy Research Database

Learn more about active SETO-funded projects at national laboratories, state and local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private companies across the United States.

Project map SETO

Share Your Thoughts on Clean Energy Supply Chains

The DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains released a request for information on clean energy supply chain data and analysis methods. Industry and other stakeholders are encouraged to highlight specific supply chain gaps, vulnerabilities, and challenges by June 10.

DOE and Treasury Release Additional Clean Energy Tax Credit Guidance

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with DOE, announced up to $6 billion in a second round of tax credit allocations for projects that expand clean energy manufacturing and recycling and critical materials refining, processing, and recycling, and for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities.

Call for Communities to Join the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project

Remote and island communities aiming to address their energy resilience challenges can apply to the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project. Communities will create and pursue energy resilience projects defined by local priorities and goals, using technical assistance from national laboratories and regional partner organizations. Apply by July 10.

ETIPP

Upcoming Events

Upskill Prize - Tips and Tools for Success Webinar

May 3 | 12 p.m. ET | Virtual
Potential Upskill Prize applicants can join Power Connector ADL Ventures in this webinar to learn about past examples of successful teaming for job training and upskilling within the solar industry to encourage applicants to find the right organizations as team members. 

SOLSTICE Proposers’ Day

May 7 | 10 a.m. ET | Virtual
Register by May 3 to attend the Proposers' Day conference hosted by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity’s Superior Options for Long-Life Solar Technologies with Impressive Conversion Efficiencies (SOLSTICE) program. Prospective participants can connect with other interested organizations. 

i2X Solution e-Xchange: Introducing the DOE Transmission Interconnection Roadmap

May 14 | 1 p.m. ET | Virtual
Join the i2X team and researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to kick off another webinar series with a meeting that will provide an overview of the roadmap and lay the foundation for future deep-dive conversations. 

Clean Energy Security and Reliability Forum

May 15-16 | Houston, TX
Join SETO’s Dr. Marissa Morales-Rodriguez at the Clean Energy Security and Reliability Forum, where she will be moderating a panel about the Securing Solar for the Grid project.


In Case You Missed It


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

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