Projects Aim to Accelerate Adoption of Solar Energy and Develop Solar Workforce
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the opening of the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon on the National Mall, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced up to $87 million will be made available to support the development of new solar energy technologies and the rapid deployment of available carbon-free solar energy systems. Of this funding, $50 million comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The 47 projects with universities, electric power utilities, DOE's National Laboratories, and local governments have been selected to support use of solar technologies in U.S. cities, help address technical challenges, ensure reliable connectivity with the electrical grid, and train a new generation of solar workers to install and maintain solar energy systems. These projects will help speed adoption of solar energy nationwide, while supporting development of a skilled workforce, and continuing to pursue new scientific breakthroughs to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of solar technologies.
"Today's awards are among the many investments made to create new jobs and a clean energy future with solar power. The projects will help accelerate the use of solar energy by residents, businesses and communities, and promote the long-term viability of solar energy by investing in the technologies of the future," said Secretary Chu. "I applaud each of these award winners who are vital to moving our country towards a sustainable solar infrastructure."
The selected projects will help accelerate the commercialization of solar technologies in an effort to achieve cost-competitive solar electricity by 2015, in addition to developing advanced solar technologies for the future. Projects focus on both technology improvements and the elimination of market barriers to help make solar electricity accessible to a wide variety of consumers.
The projects selected for negotiation of awards are in four categories:
-- High Penetration Solar Deployment. Seven projects will model, test, and
evaluate the impact of large amounts of photovoltaic (PV) electricity on
the reliability and stability of the electric power system. These
projects will help pave the way for broader adoption and growth of
grid-tied solar energy systems by improving understanding of the impact
of PV electricity on the grid.
-- Solar America Cities Special Projects. As the load centers of energy
use across the nation, cities play a strategic role in accelerating
solar technology adoption at the local level. Sixteen cities have been
selected for projects that will address specific barriers to solar
adoption in urban settings and support innovative approaches that can be
widely replicated. Many cities will use this funding for multiple
efforts.
-- Solar Installer Training. Nine colleges, universities, and local
organizations have been selected to lead regional solar installation
"train-the-trainer" programs. The projects will support a
national ramp-up and coordinated network of training programs. This
funding will help address the critical needs for qualified solar energy
system installers.
-- Research projects at DOE National Laboratories. Fifteen projects at DOE
National Laboratories will seek to improve technologies, devices and
processes for both the PV and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) industry.
PV projects focus on development of next generation devices and
processes, as well as supply chain technologies for the entire PV
system. CSP projects focus on improved energy storage technologies to
enable consistent and reliable energy generation.
For more information about the Solar Energy Technologies Program and a list of selections, please visit: www.solar.energy.gov.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
