Cooperative Agreement DEAR0000630

This $5,197,154 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CFDA 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development) to First Solar, Inc. aims to demonstrate a high-performing 4-terminal perovskite/CIGS tandem solar module with at least 27% efficiency. The project involves collaboration between First Solar's internal R&D sites and two leading academic partners. Key objectives include passing durability testing, achieving at...

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Pinwheel Solar LLC a $275,000 STTR Phase I grant under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program. The project aims to produce durable, flexible, and high-efficiency perovskite solar panels with a projected 20% power conversion efficiency and lower manufacturing costs compared to existing technologies. The key technical focus is on improving the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells by addressing both extrinsic...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems Project Grant, titled "ASCENT: ULTRA-COMPACT PV MICROINVERTERS WITH INTEGRATED ACTIVE POWER DECOUPLING", will provide $1,500,000 in funding from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2027. The project aims to develop transformative solar micro-inverters enabled by innovative circuit topologies, control techniques, sensors, and electro-thermal co-design. Key innovations include single-stage...

Coolcad Electronics, LLC received a $200,000 Project Grant award from the Department of Energy Office of Science on June 27, 2022 to support development of low-cost hybrid SiC/GaN-based single-stage microinverters with integrated planar magnetics technology. The project aims to deliver this technology by March 26, 2023. The award is being made through the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA #81.049), which supports basic research to deliver scientific discoveries and tools...

The Department of Energy's Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049) awarded Optivolt Labs Inc. a $199,873 Project Grant on July 22, 2024 to develop an "ULTRA-EFFICIENT INTRA-MODULE BALANCING DC OPTIMIZER FOR SOLAR SYSTEMS". This grant supports Optivolt Labs' efforts to create innovative solar charging technologies that can improve power generation and distribution. As a minority-owned, small disadvantaged business specializing in sustainable energy solutions,...

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems awarded a $105,194 EAGER (EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) grant to the University of Pittsburgh to develop a novel semiconductor-metal-semiconductor (S-M-S) multilayer film as an interconnect for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The project aims to design an interconnect with high electrical conductivity and optical transparency to enhance the performance of these tandem solar...

This NSF Convergence Accelerator program award to Cornell University, funded under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084), will develop bio-inspired solar collection skins for buildings to increase energy generation from integrated photovoltaic systems. The $650,000 grant, awarded on January 15, 2024, will leverage nature-inspired design principles and advanced manufacturing techniques like kirigami and 3D printing to create adaptable solar panel surfaces that...

This $274,999 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) supports the development of strain-relief interconnection and encapsulation technologies for perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaic (PV) modules at Beyond Silicon Inc., a for-profit solar technology company based in Chandler, Arizona. The project aims to increase the competitiveness of U.S. PV manufacturing by advancing perovskite/silicon tandem PV...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Activities program project grant award provides $300,000 to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to conduct research on integrated photonic platforms leveraging solution-processed wide-bandgap cesium lead halide perovskites. The 2-year project, starting January 1, 2025, aims to advance the understanding of perovskite crystal growth and patterning synthesis, as well as develop cost-effective integrated photonic devices that can enable...

This federal Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain Demonstrations and Commercial Applications program (CFDA 81.253) provides $11,552,157 to RG Resource Technologies, Inc. to deploy a new 120,000 units-per-year capacity manufacturing facility to support the production of the recipient's solar photovoltaic + thermal capture (PVT) system. The project aims to establish domestic manufacturing capabilities equivalent to an annual...