Solar Energy Research Areas

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds solar energy research and development efforts in seven main categories: photovoltaics, concentrating solar-thermal power, systems integration, soft costs, manufacturing and competitiveness, expanding access to solar energy, and solar workforce development. The R&D projects funded by SETO aim to improve the affordability, performance, and value of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more about SETO’s goals here.

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.