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Posted on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 05:50 PM by Bryan Nisperos
viewed 112 times
Last 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 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. MORE NEWS FROM CLEAN ENERGY AUTHORITYSolar stocks likely to remain at record lowsWith fundamental issues in the solar industry, including oversupply and consolidation, solar stocks are likely to remain at record lows through the end of 2012 and into 2013. New solar curriculum teaches students about renewable energyOne Million Lights recently teamed up with SunPower to bring a different kind of solar illumination to the world. Commerce Dept. imposes preliminary tariffs on Chinese PV manufacturersIn the trade complaint against Chinese silicon photovoltaic manufacturers the other shoe dropped today and it was louder than the soft thud of the first shoe. The U.S. Commerce Department preliminarily found that Chinese solar PV manufacturers were guilty of dumping PV cells and modules in the U.S. and impose preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-based PV manufacturers. Enphase brings the AC/PV roadshow to DenverEnphase, a manufacturer of microinverters for solar photovoltaics is making a lot of noise and on the heels of a successful initial public offering, the company has launched the Enphase Roadshow. Through the roadshow the company is traveling across the country to show off its microinverters and associated technologies that allow each PV module in an array to produce to its maximum ability. The roadshow made a two-day stop in Denver at the World Renewable Energy Forum to show off its latest. DOE Secretary sees bright future for solarYesterday Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dr. Steven Chu discussed why he got involved in renewable energy and how solar and wind are becoming cost competitive with natural gas—which is currently cheaper than coal in the U.S. He also warned of the U.S. losing ground in terms of manufacturing jobs, unless Congress takes action to continue to support renewable energy. Chu made his remarks at Wednesday’s World Renewable Energy Forum keynote address. RELATED SOLAR NEWSSolarWorld States Anti-Dumping Duties Against ‘Big China Solar’ a Step Toward Restoring Industry CompetitionApple to Power 3 Data Centers with 100 Percent Renewable EnergyGreenpeace advocates gathered outside of Apple's Cupertino headquarters early this week dressed as iPhones and iPods, declaring their outrage about the company's lack of clean energy use. They projected social media messages from supporters on the side of the building:Solar Industry Reacts to Anti-Dumping RulingThe US has imposed higher-than-expected tariffs of around 31% on Chinese PV imports, drawing support from some US manufacturers and sharp criticism from Chinese officials and companies. In its preliminary ruling May 17, the US Commerce Department issued anti-dumping duties of 31.14% on imports of solar cells and panels from Suntech, 31.22% from Trina Solar, 31.18 percent from other companies that had requested but not received individual duty determinations and 249.96 percent from all other Chinese producers, including those controlled by the Chinese government. NREL Director Named Chair of National Science BoardDan Arvizu, director of the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been elected Chairman of the National Science Board. The 25-member body advises the president and Congress on science and engineering issues, and is the policy-setting and budget-approving body for the National Science Foundation. With an annual budget of $6.9 billion, the foundation funds about 20% of all federally supported basic scientific research at U.S. colleges and universities. Arvizu will serve a two-year term as chairman. Are IT Data Centers Emerging as a 'Killer App' for Green Power? Part 1Last month, Greenpeace launched a series of coordinated protests at Amazon, Apple and Microsoft locations to draw attention to the companies’ use of GHG intensive fuels in powering their data centers. The protests were a follow up to their recently released report, “How Clean is Your Cloud,” which criticized the companies foSOLAR ENERGY ARTICLES
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