SIPS Awards Shine Light on Solar Power R&D

For a perspective on where photovoltaic (PV) R&D is focused, check out the Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS), part of the U.S. Energy Department’s Photovoltaic Research and Development (PVRD) funding program. On July 28, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced funding for 16 projects under SIPS totaling nearly$11 million.

According to the Energy Department: “These first-of-their-kind, single-year projects in the SunShot Initiative’s PV R&D portfolio are designed to allow researchers to test a concept and, if successful, develop data to support further research. This approach allows researchers to take a year to demonstrate that their ideas merit greater investment in the future.”

The round of awards is one of the first to look beyond the government’s 2020 goals. It focuses on research that demonstrates potential to drive the industry towards levelized cost for solar energy of $0.02-0.03/kWh by 2030. Its small-scale projects cover thin-film III-V technology, perovskite cells, and optimizing PV manufacturing—plus a big bet on concentrated solar power. Read more here.