DOE Announces $87 Million in Funding to Support Solar Energy Technologies

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

Tom Welch of the U.S. Department of Energy, +1-202-586-4940