The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds research and development in three technology areas: photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), and systems integration with the goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and domestic benefit of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more about the office's work at our next stakeholder webinar. 

Solar Energy Basics

Research Areas

Photovoltaics
The Solar office supports development of low-cost, high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technologies to make solar power more accessible.
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Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power
SETO supports CSP research and development to improve the performance, reduce the cost, and improve the lifetime and reliability of CSP technologies.
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Systems Integration
Systems integration research in SETO helps advance the reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable integration of solar energy onto the nation's grid.
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Soft Costs
Soft costs research in SETO addresses challenges associated with non-hardware cost components of a solar energy system.
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Manufacturing and Competitiveness
SETO supports solar manufacturing and competitiveness R&D to develop pathways to commercialization for disruptive innovation in the solar industry.
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National Laboratory Research and Funding
The Solar Energy Technologies Office partners with the national labs and its researchers to develop innovations that lower the costs of solar energy.
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Summer of Solar

Join the U.S. Department of Energy for the Summer of Solar! We’re celebrating the diverse people who are taking advantage of the sun’s energy and the communities that are making it easier to go solar. 

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News and Success Stories

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Energy Department Announces Winners of American-Made Solar Prize Round 4
September 16, 2021
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the winners of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 4, a $3 million competition designed to increase U.S. solar manufacturing competitiveness.
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Department of Energy Releases Two Requests for Information on Solar
September 13, 2021
U.S. Department of Energy today released two requests for information seeking input on pathways to use solar energy to decarbonize industrial processes and on impacts of large-scale solar plants on wildlife and ecosystems.
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Open Letter to American Mayors from Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm Speeding Solar Energy Deployment in Your Community
September 11, 2021
Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm wrote a letter to mayors across the United States to encourage the adoption of SolarAPP+ to aid in speeding up solar energy deployment.
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DOE Releases Solar Futures Study Providing the Blueprint for a Zero-Carbon Grid
September 8, 2021
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Solar Futures Study detailing the significant role solar will play in decarbonizing the nation’s power grid.
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Solar Energy Research Database

Learn more about active and inactive SETO-funded projects at national laboratories, state and local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private companies in the solar energy research database.

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Blog Posts

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Where Do I Sign? Understanding Your Rooftop Solar Energy Contract
A solar photovoltaic (PV) installation comes with a proposal and a contract, so if you’re thinking about going solar, it’s important to understand what you’ll be signing.
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Busted: Common Solar Myths and Misconceptions
Addressing come myths and misconceptions about solar energy and the installation process.
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Summer of Solar Citizens: Meet Tionna Richardson
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is celebrating the Summer of Solar and we spoke to solar homeowner Tionna Richardson of Maryland.
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Decisions, Decisions: Choosing the Right Solar Installer
The process of going solar can seem complex, but hiring the right professionals can make it easier. So how do you choose a qualified, certified, and experienced solar installer who uses high-quality solar panels?
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