The DOE is initiating a new effort to reduce solar costs and stimulate international competition. The department will spend $27 million on projects aimed at reducing costs up to 75%. The projects will advance the development, commercialization and manufacturing of advanced solar energy technologies. The goal of DOE is to drive down the costs to $1 per watt.
The funding, referred to as the “SunShot Initiative” will work to bring down costs using four approaches:
- Solar cell and array technologies
- Electronics that optimized installation performance
- Efficiency improvements during manufacturing processes
- Installation, design and permitting for PV systems.
The project will also eliminate subsidies before the end of the decade and focus on steps to streamline and digitize local permitting processes that would reduce installation costs.