The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office supports early-stage research and development to improve the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more.
News
Department of Energy Announces $21 Million to Advance Solar Desalination Technologies
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Projects aim to reduce cost of solar-thermal desalination and helping the technology to reach new markets, areas not connected to the electric grid.
Department of Energy Launches $3 Million Prize Competition to Boost Domestic Solar Manufacturing
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Entrepreneurial individuals and teams will compete through a series of three successive prize contests designed to develop American-made products.
Measuring the Impact of the 2017 Solar Eclipse
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A new report released by NREL looks at the impact of eclipses and other major weather events on solar generation.
Austin Energy’s Solar Storage Project Wows Again with Greentech Media Award
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Since 2016, Texas utility Austin Energy has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a low-cost integrated solar plus storage solution.
Department of Energy Announces $72 Million to Advance High-Temperature Concentrating Solar Power Systems
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New systems would enable significant progress toward 2030 goals.
Department of Energy Announces $20 Million in New Projects to Lower Cost of Power Electronics in Solar Energy Systems
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Innovations are critical to address solar photovoltaic reliability challenges and driving down costs.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Announces $105 Million in New Funding to Advance Solar Technologies
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Funding support America’s continued leadership in energy innovation through solar technology.
Catalyst Winner's Software Recognized for Helping Thousands Pay Bills
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Technology developed by former Catalyst winner, Gridmates, played a critical role in helping Direct Energy win a best practices award in Texas.
EERE Success Story—Researchers Illuminate Solar Panel Wear and Tear to Improve Longevity
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Researchers at Case Western Reserve University use electroluminescence and machine learning to reveal the evolution of solar module degradation.
Department of Energy Announces Prize Competition to Accelerate U.S.-Based Solar Manufacturing
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The American Made Solar Prize will incentivize the nation’s entrepreneurs to develop new processes and products for the solar marketplace.
Blog Posts
Solar as the Solution: 3 Ways Solar Can Step Up its Grid Services Game
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Solar energy provides as much as 15% of generation on the grid in some states, solar energy can provide grid services to maintain system balance.
Extending Solar Energy System Lifetime with Power Electronics
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Power electronics are essential to the safe and efficient operation of solar PV systems, serving as a critical gateway between solar and the grid.
Ask a Scientist - Dr. Sarah Kurtz
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In this new blog series, we ask Energy Department researchers about their life as scientists working with energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Concentrating Solar Power Could Provide the Flexibility and Reliability the U.S. Electric Grid Needs
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Developments in concentrating solar thermal power could improve grid flexibility by unlocking new choices to better meet grid operator needs.
Confronting the Duck Curve: How to Address Over-Generation of Solar Energy
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Energy Department research is taming the duck curve by helping utilities better balance energy supply and demand on the grid.
New Solar Collector Tech Could Lower Costs for Concentrating Solar Power
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For the first time ever, ganged heliostats could be a viable option for new concentrating solar power systems.
Step by Step: How SunShot Influences the “Going Solar” Process
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Should I make the leap to solar energy? Is my home suitable for solar? Does it make financial sense to go solar? Who should I go to for installation?
Total Eclipse of the Sun: How Will Changing Solar Power Output Impact the Grid?
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While only lasting about two minutes in each location, the eclipse will dramatically decrease output of photovoltaic power plants across the U.S.
4 Unusual Uses of Solar Power
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As costs drop and energy production rises, solar technologies will be put to more work. Here are 4 unusual uses for solar power today.
Installed Capacity vs. Energy Generation: What's the Difference?
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Capacity is the maximum output of electricity that a generator can produce. Generation is the amount of electricity that is produced over a set time.