Funding Number:  DE-FOA-0001195

Funding Amount: $9,700,000

DESCRIPTION

The Physics of Reliability: Evaluating Design Insights for Component Technologies in Solar 2 (PREDICTS 2) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) seeks research and development projects that will advance the reliability and durability of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Eligible projects will examine the performance of PV modules and will develop accelerated tests to better understand how solar modules degrade over time and achieve improved lifetime performance of the modules. Key focus areas will include using physics and chemistry and advanced data analysis to gain a better understanding of why solar modules fail, developing improved product tests and new rapid testing techniques or instruments – either outdoors after installation or during the manufacturing process – that evaluate module reliability, and improving data models to predict performance over time.

These projects will directly support SunShot’s mission to cut the cost of solar energy technologies and increase widespread deployment of safe, reliable and efficient solar electricity nationwide. The total federal funding for this opportunity will be approximately $9.7 million with a minimum 10%-20% required awardee cost share (see page 16, Section III.B of the FOA document for more information). Individual awards will likely range from $500,000 to $1,500,000.

Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a brief, mandatory concept paper is due on January 14, 2015. See all application dates below.

FOA Issue DateDecember 1, 2014
Informational WebinarDecember 10, 2014
Submission Deadline for Concept PapersJanuary 14, 2015 at 5:00pm ET
Submission Deadline for Full ApplicationsMarch 12, 2015 at 5:00pm ET
Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer CommentsApril 22, 2015 at 5:00pm ET
Expected Date for Selection NotificationsJune 2015
Expected Timeframe for Award NegotiationsAugust 2015

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