The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Fiscal Year 2024 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator funding opportunity, which will provide up to $38 million for research, development, and demonstration projects that de-risk solar hardware, manufacturing processes, and software products across a wide range of solar technology areas.
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to increase U.S. domestic manufacturing across the solar energy supply chain and expand private investment in the country’s solar manufacturing sector. These investments will help accelerate the growth of the solar industry, identify emerging opportunities, and drive down costs for our domestic energy market, positioning the United States on the leading edge of solar industry advances.
Technologies of interest include photovoltaics (PV), systems integration, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies, as well as those that connect solar with storage or electric vehicles and dual-use PV applications like agrivoltaics and vehicle-integrated PV. SETO encourages for-profit applicants to team with diverse organizations including academic institutions, non-profits, state and local governments, and Tribal governments.
The FOA also seeks projects that provide outreach, education, or technology development for software that delivers an automated permit review and approval process for rooftop solar PV with or without energy storage. Both for-profit and non-profit entities are eligible to apply under this topic.
SETO expects to make between 11 and 23 awards ranging from $1 million to $5 million under this FOA. Learn more about past Incubator funding program awardees.
Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a mandatory concept paper is due July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.
SETO will host an informational webinar on June 13, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET to discuss the funding opportunity and the areas of focus. Register to attend the webinar.
Applicants can also access free Application Education Services through the American-Made Network and can engage with the following Power Connectors for more details:
Learn more about this funding opportunity and other open funding opportunities within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
