U.S. Energy Deptartment setting aside $22.7M for solar technology projects

WASHINGTON—With the solar industry booming, and in support of President Barack Obama’s efforts to combat climate change, the U.S. Energy Department has announced it will pump US$22.7 million into 23 projects that aim to significantly reduce the costs for solar energy systems across a variety of technologies.

The Energy Department said the new projects cover a variety of areas and will promote the next generation of products, services and manufacturing processes, which will help accelerate solar deployments and reduce the cost of solar energy across the U.S.

“The solar energy industry has been one of the fastest growing industries in the United States for the past five years. Costs are falling, deployment is booming, and factories are opening,” David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said.

“As of the second quarter of 2015, total solar installed capacity in the U.S. surpassed more than 22.7 gigawatts with approximately 785,000 solar projects operating across the country. The new projects announced today show the Obama Administration’s continuing commitment to help industry develop and manufacture new, efficient, and innovative technologies that will help maintain and grow our country’s solar leadership,” Danielson added.

Among the technologies the projects will develop or look to improve are: photovoltaics, tracking systems, grid monitoring, power electronics as well as PV, load, and storage integration

“These private-sector companies will also help to grow the number of jobs in the domestic solar industry and increase U.S. solar energy manufacturing capabilities,” the department said.