SunShot Initiative launches into 2012 with $22 million funding opportunities

SunShot Initiative launches into 2012 with $22 million new funding opportunitiesLast year the Department of Energy launched its wide-ranging SunShot Initiative to reduce the cost of solar power by 75 percent by the end of this decade. To do so it’s helping fund innovations across all parts of the solar industry to reduce technology and integration costs and speed deployment of solar.

Most recently it issued two new funding opportunities, totaling up to $22 million. Up to $10 million will support concentrating solar power system advancements and, more recently, up to $12 million for the Solar Incubator Program. The incubator program’s goal is to reduce the cost of installed solar to $1 per watt by 2020.

The Solar Incubator Program has been in existence since 2007 and is in its seventh round of funding, according to DOE spokesperson Chris Kielich.

“Each round is at a different stage of development. Rounds one and two are completed and have produced many successful technologies,” said Kielich. “PrimeStar was an awardee in 2007, now reaching commercial deployment at large scale with a $600 million investment from General Electric in a Colorado plant.”

The third round of funding under the program is nearly complete. The third round has resulted in three technologies that currently hold world records for efficiency in their respective areas, Kielich said.

Those records are Alta Devices’ 28.2 percent efficient cell, Semprius’ 33.9 percent efficient concentrating PV module and Solar Junction’s 43.5 percent efficient cell.

“Rounds four and five are ongoing and are working hard now to meet tough program goals and making significant progress,” said Kielich. “It is a bit too early to tell how large an impact they will eventually have, but we have high expectations.”

The funding opportunity for the incubator program is already more than the SunShot offered in 2011.

“The SunShot Incubator Program, which is just one component of the SunShot Initiative, $10 million was offered and $6 million was awarded in 2011,” Kielich said.

Funding for the sixth round, which covered reducing soft costs of solar, has not yet been awarded.

“This funding opportunity is the most comprehensive round yet released,” Kielich said.

It covers hardware (photovoltaic, concentrating solar power, power electronic, and balance of system) non-hardware (customer acquisition, financing, permitting, installation, inspection, interconnection, and operations and maintenance), and anything else which significantly impacts the goals of the SunShot Initiative. The $12 million round of funding will remain open to applications until April 9.

In November 2011, SunShot Incubator Program – Soft Cost Reduction (round 6) was released and offered $7M. This Funding Opportunity is in the midst of concept paper reviews. Round 7 of the SunShot Incubator program was just released, offered $12M and will remain open for applications until April 9.