SUNSHOT BY FEDS TO DROP SOLAR COSTS

DOE Offering Prize Money To The Most Affordable Rooftop Solar Arrays

Jessica Lillian, 14 June 2012 (Solar Industry)

“With PV module prices plunging, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled new strategies for tackling a more stubborn piece of the solar cost equation: the expenses associated with permitting, financing and installing systems…In addition to providing nearly $8 million in new funding to nine U.S. start-ups focusing on cost reduction, the DOE is also launching the ‘America's Most Affordable Rooftop Solar’ competition…[all aimed at making] solar energy cost-competitive with conventional energy by 2020.

“…[Grants:] Clean Energy Experts LLC - $495,040…Clean Power Finance - $500,000 (first award)…Clean Power Finance - $1 million (second award)…concept3D Inc. - $1,275,791…Distributed Energy Research & Solutions Inc. - $500,000…Genability - $500,000…Simply Civic LLC - $499,510…Solar Mosaic Berkeley - $2 million…Tigo Energy Inc. - $500,000…Urban Glue - $402,050…”

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“Previous SunShot Incubator recipients have attracted follow-on investment at a ratio of $30 in private investment for every $1 of government funding, the DOE notes in the funding announcement…

“R&D will continue to be technology-agnostic…despite the belief among some in the industry that the U.S. may ultimately be globally competitive in manufacturing only thin-film PV products and not crystalline cells and modules.”

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