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Program announced July 2023; 10 awardees already selected and announced May 2024. Not accepting new applications.
Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator Funding Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). This funding program supports projects that enable continued solar cost reductions while developing next-generation solar technologies and boosting American solar manufacturing, specifically in silicon solar manufacturing and dual-use photovoltaics.
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Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator Funding Program | Department of Energy Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator Funding Program Light Text on a Dark Overlay (Default) The Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator funding program provides $27 million for projects to enable continued solar cost reductions while developing next-generation solar technologies and boosting American solar manufacturing.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the funding opportunity on July 6, 2023 and the 10 selected projects on May 16, 2024. A robust domestic solar manufacturing sector increases supply chain resilience and brings other direct domestic benefits, including job creation and economic development.
The projects in this funding program support innovation in photovoltaic (PV) materials across the supply chain, as well as the development of new dual-use solar technologies to create new markets for American products. These projects will support an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and facilitate secure, robust, and reliable integration of solar electricity into the nation’s energy grid.
– Award and cost share amounts are rounded and subject to change pending negotiations – Topic Area 1: Pilot Demonstration of Silicon Supply Chain Components Project Name: Solar Crystal Puller DOE Award Amount: $1. 9 million Awardee Cost Share: $5.
8 million Principal Investigator: Steve Garrant Project Description: This project aims to develop and manufacture Czochralski ingot pullers for the solar industry, which melt and then freeze the silicon into a crystalline state. Additionally, the project supports necessary ancillary equipment to support the pullers, such as feeders, ingot handling equipment, and crucible handling equipment.
This will ease the U.S. ingot industry’s reliance on imported equipment. Project Name: Cost-Effective, High-Efficiency, Industrial Back Contact Silicon Solar Cells with Passivated Contacts DOE Award Amount: $5 million Awardee Cost Share: $14.
9 million Principal Investigator: Vinodh Chandrasekaran Project Description: This project aims to develop back contact n-type cells, which demonstrate increased efficiency compared to PERC technology at 26%.
The team is developing innovations on a 300-megawatt pilot line, which will be co-located alongside the standard n-type cell manufacturing line, to enable rapid scale-up of back contact cell technology into high-volume manufacturing. Improvements to the solar cells will include surface doping, patterning and isolation, and advanced metallization to reduce the use of silver.
Project Name: Single Crystal Silicon Ingot Growth Using Continuous Czochralski Method (CCz) DOE Award Amount: $11. 2 million Awardee Cost Share: $33. 6 million Principal Investigator: Jim Highfill Project Description: This project is developing the CCz method of manufacturing silicon ingots, which will significantly decrease the cost of manufacturing compared to the standard Czochralski process.
The team has successfully demonstrated the CCz technology with smaller ingots, and this project aims to demonstrate the process with larger ingots and wafers used in today’s high-efficiency solar cell manufacturing processes. Topic Area 2: Dual-use PV Incubator Appalachian Renewable Power Project Name: Diversifying on Farm Income in Appalachia: Quantifying the Integration of Beef Cattle Grazing and Photovoltaics DOE Award Amount: $1.
6 million Awardee Cost Share: $400,000 Principal Investigator: Gary Easton Project Description: This project studies the feasibility of installing and managing solar PV infrastructure in grasslands used for grazing beef cattle. The team will assess the impact of PV products designed for agriculture in the United States on soil health, forage growth, and beef cattle performance.
This project plans to empower rural producers across Appalachia to diversify farm income while reducing the carbon footprint of power generation throughout the region. Project Name: Advanced Thermal and Energy Modeling of Roof-integrated Photovoltaic Shingles DOE Award Amount: $1.
6 million Awardee Cost Share: $400,000 Principal Investigator: David Kavulak Project Description: This project aims to develop, test, and validate a combination of optical, thermal, and energy models for roof-integrated PV shingles to improve assessments of electricity production and heating and air conditioning effects on the building.
The project is building a testing facility for roof-integrated PV systems equipped with weather, PV, and temperature monitoring. Partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and its network of Regional Test Centers allows for testing and validation of PV models across U.S. climates.
New standards will be proposed for temperature and energy modeling of roof-integrated PV systems, which will encourage building designers to integrate PV into rooftops for the electrical and thermal advantages they deliver. Project Name: Tracking and Positioning System for Floating Solar DOE Award Amount: $1.
6 million Awardee Cost Share: $1 million Principal Investigator: Alex Mayer Project Description: This project aims to develop tracker components for floating solar systems, demonstrate and test various sizes of installations, and test certifications to ensure reliable operation and product bankability. The proposed technology allows floating PV islands to rotate and follow the sun throughout the day.
Tracking the sun leads to increased power output per solar panel installed, reducing the cost of electricity from floating solar arrays.
Project Name: A Low-Cost Jack-Up Solar Platform to Conserve America’s Water DOE Award Amount: $600,000 Awardee Cost Share: $160,000 Principal Investigator: Jason Cotrell Project Description: This project mounts solar panels onto frames placed over irrigation canals to generate renewable energy and save water by reducing evaporation.
Locating solar in this way reduces land use for renewable energy generation and capitalizes on existing electrical infrastructure that is integrated within many water canal projects. The team will adapt 3D concrete printing from the offshore energy industry to build solar platforms, reducing the cost and complexity of installation and encouraging PV deployment in this sector.
The platform can be manufactured on or near-site using local materials and workforce.
Project Name: Development of High Efficiency Silicon Solar Spandrels DOE Award Amount: $400,000 Awardee Cost Share: $100,000 Principal Investigator: Eric Schneller Project Description: This project is developing high-quality, high-efficiency building-integrated PV modules in the form of solar spandrels, which have opaque glass that is well suited for the glazed surfaces between two floors of commercial and high-rise buildings where transparent glass windows are not needed.
The project focuses on the technical challenges of merging conventional module manufacturing with construction practices for glass-walled facades. The team will demonstrate key outcomes in PV and building International Electrotechnical Commission reliability tests, a suite of models for thermal performance, electrical performance, return on investment calculations, and building lifetime energy use.
Project Name: Roofing for Solar, Starling RFS DOE Award Amount : $1 million Awardee Cost Share: $400,000 Principal Investigator: Brian Atchley Project Description: This project aims to refine, manufacture, and commercialize a new roofing-integrated solar racking system. The racking system enables rapid solar installation after roof construction.
The system will be designed for improved reliability and lower cost, with roof-integrated wire management for increased safety and aesthetics. Project Name: Design, Fabrication, and Durability Assessment of a Sustainable Composite Refrigerated Trailer Integrated with Photovoltaics DOE Award Amount: $1.
6 million Awardee Cost Share: $700,000 Principal Investigator: Michael Bodey Project Description: This project aims to demonstrate the integration of PV systems into refrigerated trailers for a yearlong study of PV performance, durability, and energy costs.
Efficient, flexible, and lightweight PV modules are being integrated onto the rooftop of a composite refrigerated trailer to address long-term durability, environmental exposure, vehicle loads, and maintenance. The team will track PV performance through mechanical, thermal, humidity, vibration, shock, and impact loads.
Learn more about SETO’s manufacturing and competitiveness research , the domestic solar supply chain , and dual-use solar technologies .
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Diverse entrepreneurs, small businesses, and larger for-profit entities. Specific eligibility may vary by topic area within the funding opportunity. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $1,000,000 - $10,000,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator Funding Program is funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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