The U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) funds solar energy research and development efforts in six main categories: photovoltaics, concentrating solar-thermal power, systems integration, soft costs, manufacturing and competitiveness, and solar workforce development. The R&D projects funded by IESO aim to improve the affordability, performance, and value of integrated technologies on the grid.
Explore each of the research areas below and the research topics within them. You can also learn about the basics of solar energy and find solar energy resources.
-
The Integrated Energy Systems Office supports development of low-cost, high-efficiency photovoltaic technologies to make solar power more accessible.August 18, 2026 -
IESO supports CSP research and development to improve the performance, reduce the cost, and improve the lifetime and reliability of CSP technologies.August 25, 2026 -
Soft costs research in IESO addresses challenges associated with non-hardware cost components of a solar energy system.August 25, 2026
-
Systems integration research in IESO helps advance the reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable integration of solar energy onto the nation's grid.August 25, 2026 -
IESO supports solar manufacturing and competitiveness R&D to develop pathways to commercialization for disruptive innovation in the solar industry.August 25, 2026 -
Solar workforce development includes online training, on-the-job training, curriculum development, and other activities that prepare people for solar.December 15, 2025
Subscribe to the Integrated Energy Insider
Sign up to receive the latest news, updates, and opportunities from the Integrated Energy Systems Office.