DOE DOLLARS TO INNOVATIVE SUN

DOE Announces Awards for up to $11 Million for New Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems
August 10, 2009 (DOE via R&D)

"US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced…the investment of up to $11.8 million – $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – for five projects designed to advance the next stage of development of solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS)…part of DOE's continuing work to help assure the nation's electrical grid reliability… as solar energy technologies reach cost competitiveness and increased levels of integration with the grid…

"Initiated in 2008, the SEGIS activity is a partnership that includes DOE, Sandia National Laboratories, industry, utilities, and universities and emphasizes complete system development. The selected projects focus on the most promising technology advances and include development of intelligent system controls. These projects ultimately seek to maintain or improve power quality and reliability, as well as return economic value, while increasing integration of solar technologies…The selections…"

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"…PVPowered will partner with Portland General Electric…South Dakota State University…and Northern Plains Power Technologies…Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories…[and] SENSUS…The project will reinforce the fundamental objectives of the SEGIS program to optimize interconnections across the full range of emerging PV module technologies through innovative systems integration…up to $3 million…

"…Petra Solar will work with the University of Central Florida…and Fifteen Electric Utilities with service in NJ, PA, OH, DE, MD, DC, FL, TX: This project complements the mission of the Solar Program to achieve the widespread adoption of solar energies. It supports improving reliability and resiliency so that high levels of PV integration can be adapted…up to $2.9 million…

"…Princeton Power will work with Transistor Device Inc…LaGuardia Community College…Idyllwild Municipal Water District…National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration…Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory…Premier Power, SPG Solar…and Spire…This project focuses on lowering manufacturing costs through integrated controls for energy storage and develops new inverter designs…upto $2.8 million…"

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"…Apollo Solar will work in collaboration with Saft Batteries…the Electric Power Research Institute…and California Independent System Operator…This project creates innovative inverters using energy storage and two-way communications between solar electrical systems and utilities…up to $1.5million…

"…Florida Solar Energy Center will work with Satcon Technology Corporation…SENTECH, Inc…SunEdison…Cooper Power Systems EAS…Northern Plains Power Technologies…and Lakeland Electric Utilities…This project focuses on solving technical challenges that must be overcome to include higher PV penetration levels in larger electrical systems…up to $1.3 million…"