The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $20 million in funding for nine projects to advance early-stage solar power electronics technologies. These innovations are critical to address PV reliability challenges, as well as to drive down the cost of installing and maintaining a PV solar system.

Power electronics are used to convert electricity from one form to another. As the critical link between PV arrays and the electric grid, advances in power electronics can also help grid operators rapidly detect and respond to problems, protect against physical and cyber vulnerabilities, and enable consumers to manage electricity use. Advanced solar power electronics can also help deliver power safely, integrate PV with storage controls, and ensure power reliability.

The nine projects in Power Electronics include: Flex Power Control, Inc. (Encino, California); Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia); North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee); University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas); University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland); University of Texas (Austin, Texas); University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, Virginia).

Each project must meet a 20 percent cost share requirement and will last up to a three-years, enabling teams to significantly improve on innovative concepts throughout the project period.