The U.S. Department of Energy Role with Solar

In 1975, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) choose solar energy for electricity that launched the Solar Energy Research Institute. This institute later became the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). DOE, its Solar Energy Technologies Office, and national laboratories have interacted with innovators, and entrepreneurs to channel the sun into solar energy.

Solar technology is the fastest-growing energy source for the clean energy generation. Panels are less expensive and more efficient with several financing choices and short installations. We’ll discuss the reasons for the quick progress in this industry.

DOE and the national laboratories partnered with the solar industry to resolve its biggest issues. The laboratories play an important role in creating the scientific foundation for product optimization: making platforms for product testing, pioneering research on dependability, standards, and price. This permits solar companies to create solar systems more efficiently and cheaper.

A cost-share program lets companies improve module manufacturing processes and equipment and speed up price reductions. The project decreased manufacturing costs by more than 50%, resulting in a larger return on investment for the U.S. government and industries involved. Overtime, DOE’s current SunShot Initiative funds cooperative research, demonstration, and deployment projects aim to drive the levelized cost of solar electricity down to $0.03 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale solar by 2030.

SunShot proves the means for adoption by facilitating network integration and decreasing market entry barriers. NREL worked with industry partners to create and apply advanced techniques for increasing reliability.

Clean Energy

In the 1990s, NREL scientists researched cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells as a cheaper option to silicon in the manufacture of panels. With DOE support, NREL created the CdTe National Team with universities and companies focused on pioneering solar energy. NREL’s research confirmed that CdTe technology have efficiencies and mass production.

As for the future, Greg Wilson, co-director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at NREL, believes that network integration and energy storage are the next frontiers. “Energy storage, and the simultaneous pursuit of high efficiency and low cost, will enable PV at a price point that is lower than traditional fossil fuels,” he said.

“The winner of the solar power race will be the winner of the next wave of energy. The United States is so well-positioned to be a leader in this field—we’ve done so much of the groundwork already, and we just need to capitalize on our momentum,” said Wilson.

Further Information

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