The Solar America Initiative R&D Technology Pathway Partnerships (TPPs) will focus on development, testing, demonstration, validation, and deployment of new PV components, systems and manufacturing equipment. TPPs will be industry-led, DOE says, and may include one or more companies, universities, national laboratories, and/or non-governmental organizations.
Because DOE is requiring that the industry-led teams match their awards dollar for dollar, a total investment of $340 million will be realized when the private cost share is included. The prime recipient of DOE awards under this FOA must be a U.S. commercial entity with current or planned U.S. manufacturing capacity. An applicant may be a prime recipient on one award, and may also participate as a sub-recipient partner on multiple awards.
The cost of PV generated electricity has been reduced by over 20 percent in the last five years, and the U.S. PV industry has doubled in size during that time, according to DOE.
More information on the solicitation and facts about the Solar America Initiative can be found at http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america
