U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium—Enabling America’s Solar Revolution Award Number: DE-EE0004947 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.11 Solar Energy Technologies Office Date: 8/1/2016 Location(s): NY Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 11, 2016
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U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium—Enabling America’s Solar Revolution
Award Number: DE-EE0004947
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.11
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Date: 8/1/2016
Location(s): NY
Office(s): Golden Field Office
DOE is proposing to provide federal funding to U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (USPVMC), a multi-faceted industry-driven collaborative intended to accelerate the coordination of stakeholders and fund technology development efforts across the solar industry and facilitate the development of a strong photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry and supply chain in the United States.
DOE completed two previous NEPA reviews for Budget Periods (BP) 1 and 2 (GFO-0004947-001 CX A9, B3.6 and B5.1 on 9/1/2011; GFO-0004947-002 CX B3.6 on 9/1/2011) which included research and development (R&D) activities and the purchase and installation of PV manufacturing equipment. A third determination was completed for BP 3 tasks (GFO-0004947-003 CX A9, B3.6 on 08/08/2014) which included PV market analysis; development and indoor testing of prototype lightweight PV mounting systems; outdoor testing of prototype lightweight PV mounting systems; testing of PV module (panel and mounting system) manufacturing; field-testing of lightweight PV modules in a solar array; and research, development and testing of PV module and mono-crystalline silicon wafer technology. A fourth NEPA determination was completed for tasks associated with BP 4 (GFO-0004947-004 CX A9, B3.11 on 1/6/2016) which included meetings, member recruitment, and product marketing and economic analysis activities; development and demonstration of PV module, mount and wiring packages; and data collection and computer modeling activities. This NEPA determination applies to only BP 5 tasks as described below. There will be a Go/No-Go decision at the end of BP 5.
BP 5 would consist of four main tasks and associated subtasks. Tasks 0 and 1 would include meetings, member and partner recruitment, completion of a tech-to-market business plan, and product marketing and economic analysis activities. Task 2 would include cost analysis, development, and demonstration of components for installations. Demonstration of components would necessitate the operation and upgrade of the established photovoltaic systems at the pilot scale (<10kW each) at the U.S. PVMC facility in Halfmoon, NY which was reviewed in a previous NEPA determination (GFO-0004947-003). Task 3 would include data collection and analysis, and computer modeling.