DOE launches $12M space solar R&D fund
The US Department of Energy has opened a $12 million fund for research into lowering the cost and boosting domestic manufacturing of solar panels for use
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a $12 million research and development fund. The money will support projects aimed at cutting costs and expanding American manufacturing of solar panels for space applications.
Led by the DOE's Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO), the Space Photovoltaics Research and Development Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) is now open. It invites proposals from university and industry research labs. Eligible projects include advanced space-based solar PV initiatives, work on PV characterization and stress testing, or near-commercial pilot-scale space PV solutions.
Funding Topics and Amounts
The PIA is divided into two specific topic areas. The first is called 'Next-generation Cell Innovation'. It will focus on improving manufacturing methods and boosting the performance and durability of solar cells. The second area is 'Rapid Production and Demonstration'. This topic will concentrate on manufacturing processes that can scale to high-volume production of module prototypes for space or near-space environments.
Applicants can win different maximum awards depending on the topic they pursue.
| Topic Area | Maximum Award |
|---|---|
| Next-generation Cell Innovation | $1.5 million |
| Rapid Production and Demonstration | $2 million |
Application and Selection Timeline
Applications opened immediately. The deadline for submissions is October 8. The DOE, in collaboration with the TECHWERX hub, will host an informational webinar on September 15. The organizers plan to select winning applicants in December. Final negotiations for the fund awards are scheduled to occur between January and February of next year.
Assistant secretary of energy Audrey Robertson linked the funding to national security goals. "The next frontier for solar PV power generation is in space," Robertson said upon the fund's launch. "As demand for space-grade PV skyrockets, this investment will establish American leadership in next-generation, space-based PV, bolster our national security and enhance our economic competitiveness."
Context and Private Sector Interest
The government's prioritization of energy security provides context for the federal support. A report from Clean Tomorrow last year suggested the DOE would need to invest $25 billion across several energy sectors to significantly improve US energy security. The $12 million PIA fund represents a small part of that total.
Private companies are also showing interest in space-based solar power. In April, tech giant Meta signed a deal with startup Overview Energy. The agreement grants Meta early access to a planned 1GW fleet of space-based solar panels. Overview Energy aims to launch this fleet in 2030.
Space-based solar power will be a topic of conversation at this year's PV CellTech USA conference. Hosted by PV Tech publisher Solar Media in San Francisco, US, on 13-14 October, the final day of the conference will include a presentation from Timothy Siegler, technology manager at the IESO, about how space-based solar power is driving the next generation of PV innovation.
