Welcome to the hub for the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) activities at Solar Power International (SPI) 2018! While we won’t have a central booth location this year, SETO staff members will be present and representing its projects in full force on the show floor and in numerous presentations. Check the schedule below for more information.
In addition to various speaking roles, SETO is hosting an event to highlight the American-Made Solar Prize at SPI on Wednesday, September 26 at 3:30PM. This $3M prize competition is designed to revitalize U.S. solar manufacturing and accelerate the development of new technology solutions through contests and a network of experts. This session will highlight the competition’s American-Made Network and discuss how solar industry members can participate and benefit from the competition. Register to attend.
Where to Find SETO at SPI
Monday, September 24
“Solar System Modeling at NREL – Recent Updates on Solar Resource, PV Modeling and New Tools!”
8:00AM – 12:00PM | Location: 207AB
This workshop will showcase all solar modeling data and tools available from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), including System Advisor Model (SAM) and REOpt Lite. SAM is now open source, includes PV + batteries, bifacial panels, and more, and REOpt Lite is an online tool for quick photovoltaic and battery sizing for commercial buildings.
Tuesday, September 25
“What is the Future of Concentrating Solar Power?”
11:00AM – 12:00PM | Location: 202AB
To help inform the broader solar community, this panel evaluates what is happening in cost and performance of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) both in the United States and internationally, and assesses how CSP can help advance both grid reliability and further PV deployment. Avi Shultz, SETO program manager, will speak on this panel session.
American-Made Solar Prize Networking Event
5:00PM – 6:00PM | Location: Energy Storage International Exhibit Area
Join the U.S. Department of Energy American-Made Solar Prize team at Solar Power International and network with other "movers and makers" on the SPI show floor. Meet members of the American-Made Network as well as competitors and industry partners who are poised to push U.S. solar innovation to new heights. Register here.
Wednesday, September 26
“Growing the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Base”
11:00AM – 12:00PM | Location: Industry Trends Theater on the Exhibit Floor, Booth 189
On the show floor at Solar Power International, SETO Director Gay will join Cora Dickson, Senior Renewable Energy Specialist at the Department of Commerce, on a panel to discuss the history of U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing, trends in foreign direct investment for solar technology, and opportunities for American-made solar products on both the U.S. and global marketplaces.
“Replicating PV + Storage Solutions: Scalable Applications for Utilities”
1:00PM – 2:00PM | Location: 204B
This panel session highlights the lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES) program and the real-world, field-tested solutions that can be implemented by utilities across the country. Jeremiah Miller, SETO technology manager, will moderate the session with three SHINES utility partners.
“Plug & Play Distributed Energy Resources Challenge - Visionary Interoperability”
3:20PM – 4:50PM | Location: 203AB
With the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) the industry needs one cohesive way to integrate and interact with the electric grid. This session will discuss new ideas for facilitating grid integration and contribute to the next phase of the DER Plug and Play Challenge. Jeremiah Miller, SETO technology manager, will moderate the session.
“Movers and Makers: Spurring Solar Innovation through Prize Competitions”
3:30PM – 4:30PM | Location: Installer Training Theater on the Exhibit Floor, Booth 1486
The U.S. Department of Energy and solar industry experts will discuss the tough challenges they’ll be navigating with solar innovators and how industry members and entrepreneurs alike can benefit from participating in the American-Made Solar Prize. Space is limited, register here.
Thursday, September 27
“The Road to Solar Innovation”
9:15AM – 10:50AM | Location: 203AB
This Technical Symposium is the event for the technical and scientific communities to present and share innovative research in the solar, storage, and smart energy industries. Charlie Gay, SETO director, will provide the keynote address for this event, and along with other industry leaders, participate in the CEO Panel Discussion.
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