The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds early-stage 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 the next SETO quarterly stakeholder webinar on December 17, 2020.
News
Energy Department Announces Solar Desalination Prize Competitors
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DOE announces quarterfinalists for Solar Desalination Prize, aimed at developing thermal desalination technologies to solve water challenges.
Solar Energy Technologies Office Announces New Job Openings
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Learn more about the open positions in the Solar Energy Technologies Office.
DOE Launches Partnership Initiative to Strengthen Remote and Islanded Communities’ Energy Resilience
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DOE launches new program to enable remote and islanded communities to plan for, withstand, and recover from energy disruptions.
U.S. Department of Energy Provides $65 Million for ‘Connected Communities’ of Buildings Powered to Transform Electric System
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DOE announces up to $65 million through its Connected Communities FOA to expand DOE's network of efficient building communities nationwide.
EERE Success Story – The Plug-and-Play Device That Streamlines Solar Cleaning
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In 2017, a company called Fracsun received $150,000 in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding for its idea for solar cleaning.
Energy Department Announces Grand Prize Winners of American-Made Solar Prize Round 2
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The Department of Energy announces the grand prize winners of the American-Made Solar Prize in its second round of the competition.
Department of Energy Announces $20 Million to Advance Perovskite Solar Technologies
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $20 million in funding to advance perovskite solar photovoltaic technologies.
Department of Energy Announces American-Made Solar Prize Round 3 Finalists and Launches Round 4
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Department of Energy Announces American-Made Solar Prize Round 3 Finalists and Launches Round 4.
Department of Energy Announces Winners of Collegiate Solar Competition
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DOE announces winners of the Solar District Cup, where collegiate teams design innovative, cost-effective distributed energy systems for a district.
Department of Energy Launches $9 Million Desalination Prize
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Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of the $9 million American-Made Challenges: Solar Desalination Prize.
Blog Posts
The Road to Resilience with Rooftop Solar
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What happens to the electricity in your home during a power outage when you have rooftop solar panels installed?
Helping Drive Domestic Manufacturing
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A top priority for EERE is supporting game-changing manufacturing innovations across multiple sectors, including American solar panel manufacturing.
A Unique Heat Storage Technology Gathers Steam
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An innovative system being developed at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory can quickly store heat and release it for use when needed.
American-Made Network: Launching Innovations
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One of the ways the Energy Department is driving innovation in the solar technologies is through prizes such as the American-Made Challenges.
PV Cells 101, Part 2: Solar Photovoltaic Cell Research Directions
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Part 2 of the PV Cells 101 primer, exploring new materials and cell designs that can improve conversion and performance.
PV Cells 101: A Primer on the Solar Photovoltaic Cell
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Part 1 of the PV Cells 101 primer explains how a solar cell turns sunlight into electricity and why silicon is the semiconductor that usually does it.
New Solar Design Competition Announced: Solar District Cup
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Universities and community colleges can join the inaugural DOE Solar District Cup, to re-imagine how solar energy is generated, managed, and used.
Solar-Plus-Storage 101
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This blog post will explain the terminology around solar-plus-storage, how many solar-plus-storage systems are in the country, and what they cost.
Activating American Solar Movers and Makers
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The solar industry is on the move—expanding into new states and creating new business opportunities across the country.
Research Helps Texas Renewables Work Better Together
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New NREL research will help ERCOT better manage its solar power and integrate it with the 20 gigawatts of wind capacity already installed in the state
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