The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports research & development to harness America's abundant solar resources for secure, affordable, and reliable solar energy. Learn more about the office's work at our events and webinars.
Learn how to save on solar and review our federal solar tax credit resources.
Areas of Focus
Funding Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports funding opportunities across its research areas. Following an open, competitive solicitation process, these funding opportunities encourage collaborative partnerships among industry, universities, national laboratories, federal, state, and local governments and non-government agencies and advocacy groups. Solicitations may include financial or technical assistance. Learn more about how to apply for a funding opportunity.
Residential buildings with rooftop solar installations.Photos by Quincy Biddle (top left), Josh Moore (top right), and Rachel Gentile (bottom left and right)How Does Solar Work?
The amount of sunlight that strikes the earth's surface in an hour and a half is enough to handle the entire world's energy consumption for a full year. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.
Solar Energy Resources
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has developed online resources to help those who want to go solar or who work with solar energy. From someone who’s looking to add solar to their roof, to someone whose job requires them to understand solar, these web resources will help everyone understand solar energy.
Research Areas
Solar Energy Research Database
Learn more about active SETO-funded projects at national laboratories, state and local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private companies. See active projects in the map and database table—you can sort the projects by program area, funding opportunity, state, and more.
Solar Energy Basics
Connect the Dots on Solar Energy
Every day, Americans are making the choice to power their lives with solar energy. SETO is connecting the dots for you, demonstrating how solar energy investments accrue over years to benefit individuals, communities, and the nation.
Blog Posts
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To support ecologically responsible solar deployment, Argonne National Laboratory developed a camera powered by artificial intelligence to see how birds interact with solar panels.October 24, 2024 -
This team from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) participated in Cohort 4 as team HALO to use Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE) to fabricate high performance solar cells at a lower cost.October 21, 2024 -
Sunvapor designed a solar collector to cut costs and optimize the supply chain by using less energy to manufacture the structural components.October 8, 2024 -
The SETO-funded Bright Solar Futures program has created a free curriculum to educate students throughout the United States about the solar and renewable energy industry and provide them with a direct pipeline to internships and jobs with local employers.October 1, 2024