EERE T 540.117-01 Funding Opportunity Announcement for PVRD FY 2024.pdf

Template Version November 2023

EERE T 540.117-01: Funding Opportunity Announcement

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Photovoltaics Research and Development (PVRD) FOA 2024

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE_FOA-0003337

FOA Type: Initial Assistance Listing Number: 81.087

FOA Issue Date: 05/01/2024

Submission Deadline for Letter of Intent: 06/12/2024 5 p.m. ET

Informational Webinar: 05/08/2024 4 p.m. ET

Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 07/01/2024 5 p.m. ET

Submission Deadline for Full Applications: 09/16/2024 5 p.m. ET

Expected Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments:

11/06/2024 5 p.m. ET

Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications: Early 2025

Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations: Spring 2025

• Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent and a Concept Paper by 5 p.m. ET on the due date listed above to be eligible to submit a Full Application.

• To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE eXCHANGE at eere-eXCHANGE.energy.gov, EERE’s online application portal.

• Applicants must designate primary and backup points-of-contact in EERE eXCHANGE with whom EERE will communicate to conduct award negotiations. If an application is selected for award negotiations, it ires not a commitment to issue an award. It is imperative that the applicant/selectee be responsive during award negotiations and meet negotiation deadlines. Failure to do so may result in cancelation of further award negotiations and rescission of the selection.

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) – Each applicant (unless the applicant is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110) is required to: (1) register in the SAM at www.sam.gov before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid UEI number in the application; and (3) maintain an active SAM registration with current information when the applicant has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

Questions about this FOA? Email pvrd@ee.doe.gov. Problems with EERE eXCHANGE? Email EERE- ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line.

the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, DOE will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

NOTE: Due to the high number of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process.

Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process they should use the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will address service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity.

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents.................................................................................................................................................... i

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose

ii. Technology Space and Strategic Goals

iii. Teaming Partner List

B. Topic Areas

i. Topic Area 1: PACERS

ii. Topic Area 2: Building Academic Capabilities in Cadmium Telluride

C. Applications Specifically Not of Interest D. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion E. Authorizing Statutes

II. Award Information

A. Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

ii. Period of Performance

iii. New Applications Only

B. EERE Funding Agreements

i. Cooperative Agreements

ii. Funding Agreements with Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDCs)

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

i. Domestic Entities

ii. Foreign Entities

B. Cost Sharing

i. Legal Responsibility

ii. Cost Share Allocation

iii. Cost Share Types and Allowability

iv. Cost Share Contributions by FFRDCs

v. Cost Share Verification

vi. Cost Share Payment

C. Compliance Criteria D. Responsiveness Criteria E. Other Eligibility Requirements

i. Requirements for DOE/NNSA FFRDCs Listed as the Applicant (Topic 1 Only)

ii. Requirements for DOE/NNSA and Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs Included as a Subrecipient

F. Limitation on Number of Concept Papers and Full Applications Eligible for Review G. Questions Regarding Eligibility

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Application Process

i. Additional Information on EERE eXCHANGE

B. Application Forms C. Content and Form of the Letter of Intent D. Content and Form of the Concept Paper E. Content and Form of the Full Application mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

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i. Full Application Content Requirements

ii. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

iii. Technical Volume

iv. Resumes

v. Letters of Commitment

vi. Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO) Milestone Table

vii. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan

viii. Budget Justification Workbook

ix. Summary for Public Release

x. Summary Slide

xi. Subrecipient Budget Justification (if applicable)

xii. Budget for DOE/NNSA FFRDC (if applicable)

xiii. Authorization for Non-DOE/NNSA or DOE/NNSA FFRDCs (if applicable)

xiv. SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

xv. Waiver Requests

xvi. Current and Pending Support

xvii. Locations of Work

xviii. Transparency of Foreign Connections

xix. Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

F. Content and Form of Replies to Reviewer Comments G. Post Selection Information Requests H. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) I. Submission Dates and Times J. Intergovernmental Review K. Funding Restrictions

i. Allowable Costs

ii. Pre-Award Costs

iii. Performance of Work in the United States (Foreign Work Waiver)

iv. Construction

v. Foreign Travel

vi. Equipment and Supplies

vii. Build America Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

viii. Lobbying

ix. Risk Assessment

x. Invoice Review and Approval

xii. Affirmative Action and Pay Transparency Requirements

xiii. Foreign Collaboration Considerations

V. Application Review Information

A. Technical Review Criteria

i. Concept Papers

ii. Full Applications

iii. Criteria for Replies to Reviewer Comments

B. Standards for Application Evaluation C. Other Selection Factors

i. Program Policy Factors D. Evaluation and Selection Process

i. Overview

ii. Pre-Selection Interviews

iii. Pre-Selection Clarification

iv. Recipient Responsibility and Qualifications

v. Selection

E. Anticipated Notice of Selection and Award Negotiation Dates mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

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VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

i. Ineligible Submissions

ii. Concept Paper Notifications

iii. Full Application Notifications

iv. Applicants Selected for Award Negotiations

v. Alternate Selection Determinations

vi. Unsuccessful Applicants

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

i. Registration Requirements

ii. Award Administrative Requirements

iii. Foreign National Participation

iv. Subaward and Executive Reporting

v. National Policy Requirements

vi. Environmental Review in Accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

vii. Flood Resilience

viii. Applicant Representations and Certifications

ix. Statement of Federal Stewardship

x. Statement of Substantial Involvement

xi. Intellectual Property Management Plan

xii. Subject Invention Utilization Reporting

xiii. Intellectual Property Provisions

xiv. Reporting

xv. Go/No-Go Review

xvi. Conference Spending

xvii. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statements

xviii. Real Property and Equipment

xix. Implementation of Executive Order 13798, Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty

xx. Participants and Collaborating Organizations

xxi. Current and Pending Support

xxii. U.S. Manufacturing Commitments

xxiii. Interim Conflict of Interest Policy for Financial Assistance

xxiv. Data Management Plan

xxv. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

xxvi. Human Subjects Research

VII. Questions/Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

A. FOA Modifications B. Government Right to Reject or Negotiate C. Commitment of Public Funds D. Treatment of Application Information E. Evaluation and Administration by Non-Federal Personnel F. Notice Regarding Eligible/Ineligible Activities G. Notice of Right to Conduct a Review of Financial Capability H. Requirement for Full and Complete Disclosure I. Retention of Submissions J. Title to Subject Inventions K. Government Rights in Subject Inventions L. Rights in Technical Data M. Copyright N. Export Control mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

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O. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment P. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Q. Annual Independent Audits R. Informational Webinar

Appendix A – Cost Share Information

Appendix B – Sample Cost Share Calculation for Blended Cost Share Percentage

Appendix C – Waiver Requests For: 1. Foreign Entity Participation; and 2. Foreign Work

Appendix D – Required Use of American Iron, Steel, Manufactured Products, and Construction Materials Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

Appendix E – Definition of Technology Readiness Levels

Appendix F – List of Acronyms file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

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I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose Building a clean and equitable energy economy and addressing the climate crisis is a top priority of the Biden Administration. This FOA will advance the Biden Administration’s goals to achieve carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and to “deliver an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050” to the benefit of all Americans.1 DOE is committed to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering, catalyzing clean energy jobs through research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D), and ensuring environmental justice and inclusion of underserved communities.

The research and development (R&D) activities to be funded under this FOA will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection. Specifically, this FOA will fund innovative solar photovoltaics (PV) R&D that reduces the cost of PV modules, reduces carbon and energy intensity of PV manufacturing processes, and optimizes PV technology for new, specialized markets.

Plummeting costs of solar PV technology have driven record global deployment levels year over year.2 In the United States, installed costs of PV technology have decreased from > $3 per watt alternating current (Wac) in 2015 to $1.3/Wac in 2022 for utility-scale PV.3 This has in turn led to exponentially increasing usage of solar energy, with roughly 40 terrawatt-hours (TWh) of solar energy generated in the United States in 2015 expanding to over 200 TWh of solar energy generated in 2022.4 In 2022, more solar photovoltaic capacity was added to the U.S.

electrical grid than any other electricity source,5 and solar energy generation has increased by 25% year over year on both a national and global basis.6

However, even greater expansion of solar PV deployment is required to achieve the Biden Administration targets for 2035 and 2050. In 2021, the DOE Solar

1 Executive Order 14008. January 27, 2021. “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.”

2 Feldman, D., et al. May 10, 2022. Spring 2022 Solar Industry Update. NREL/PR-7A40-82854, 1868053, 82854.

National Energy Renewable Lab (NREL). www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/82854.pdf.

3 Feldman, D., et al. October 26, 2023. Fall 2023 Solar Industry Update. NREL/PR-7A40-88026, 2229356, 88026.

NREL. DOI: 10.2172/2229356.

4 U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electricity Data Browser. www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser.

5 Feldman, D., et al. Fall 2023 Solar Industry Update. DOI: 10.2172/2229356.

6 Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy. www.energyinst.org/statistical-review/home.

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Energy Technologies Office (SETO) commissioned the Solar Futures Study, a report detailing the potential role of solar in a future decarbonized U.S. energy mix.7 The report identified deployment targets of roughly 28 gigawatts alternating current per year (GWac/yr) from 2021 to 2025, 76 GWac/yr from 2026 to 2030, and over 80 GWac/yr from 2031 to 2035. For reference, the United States installed 18 GWac of PV capacity8 in 2022 and is estimated to have installed 33 GWac in 2023.9

SETO supports solar energy research, development, demonstration, and technical assistance in seven areas—PV, concentrating solar-thermal power, systems integration, manufacturing and competitiveness, strategic analysis and institutional support, solar workforce development, and equitable access to solar energy—with the goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and domestic benefit of solar technologies on the electric grid.10 Achieving this vision requires that the solar industry achieve SETO’s 2030 PV cost reduction target of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of $0.02 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).11 There are multiple pathways to achieve these goals, but all require sustained innovation across solar energy technologies.

ii. Technology Space and Strategic Goals SETO’s PVRD program works to accelerate the deployment of solar energy technologies by funding innovative R&D in PV cell and module technologies, balance-of-system components, reliability tracing and tracking, metrology, and other key research questions in PV. To accelerate toward these deployment targets and augment SETO’s ongoing PV research portfolio,12 this FOA will fund R&D on innovative cell- and minimodule-level technologies focused on three major goals:

• Enable cost reduction on an LCOE basis through development of durable, high-efficiency cell and module PV technology

• Identify pathways to reduce the carbon intensity and energy intensity of industrial processes required to fabricate PV cells and modules

• Increase technical viability of PV cells and modules tailored for emerging integrated PV sectors, such as building-integrated PV (BIPV) and vehicle-integrated PV.

7 Ardani, K., et al. September 2021. Solar Futures Study. SETO. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-futures-study.

8 Feldman, D., et al. May 2023. Spring 2023 Solar Industry Update. NREL/PR-7A40-86215, 1974994, 86988. NREL.

DOI: 10.2172/1974994.

9 Feldman, D., et al. January 2024. Winter 2024 Solar Industry Update. NREL/PR-7A40-88780, 2316015, 88780.

NREL. DOI: 10.2172/2316015.

10 SETO. Solar Energy Research Areas. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-research-areas.

11 SETO. Goals of the Solar Energy Technologies Office. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/goals-solar-energy-technologies-office.

12 SETO. Photovoltaics. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/photovoltaics.

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This FOA will fund innovative R&D projects that aim to advance the state of the art in various cell and module technologies to accomplish these goals of cost reduction, lower carbon intensity, and viability of dual-use markets. This FOA is separated into two topic areas:

• Photovoltaic Advances in Cell Efficiency, Reliability, and Supply Chain (PACERS): Applications in four PV supply chain, cell, and module technology spaces are of particular interest: low-carbon synthesis of metallurgical-grade silicon (MGS, here defined as silicon that is 98% pure as defined by the 5/5/3 standard)13 production, crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV, III-V PV, and organic PV (OPV). However, proposals for any industrial process, cell, or minimodule-level research that enables the goals of this FOA will be considered, excluding areas specified as not of interest in Section I.C., such as perovskite technology, which is addressed in other funding programs, and CdTe technology, which is addressed in Topic Area 2.

• Building Academic Capabilities in Cadmium Telluride: Applications describing advanced R&D projects requiring the procurement or upgrade of CdTe equipment are of interest. Proposals should detail work that will enhance fabrication, characterization, or analytical capabilities while also benefiting the larger CdTe PV research community.

c-Si PV is the dominant cell and module technology currently being deployed, making up over 95% of global capacity additions in 2021.14 The supply chain for c-Si PV is complex, with several different processing steps required to convert starting materials to final crystalline silicon cells. In the first step of the c-Si PV supply chain, mined quartz is purified into polysilicon. Polysilicon is then melted, and cylindrical ingots are pulled from the melted material. The ingots are cooled and sliced into wafers, which are then processed into solar cells.

Over the last 5 years, the global c-Si PV supply chain has been concentrated in Asia. As of 2023, 92% of polysilicon, 97% of c-Si wafer production, and 88% of c- Si cells were produced in China.15 However, largely as a response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its associated Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (45X) and domestic content bonuses, there have been announcements of significant capacity expansions across the U.S. supply chain, with public announcements of new production facilities exceeding ~ 20 gigawatts direct current (GWdc) of wafer, ~ 45 GWdc of cell, and ~ 100 GWdc of module annual capacity since the

13 Hensfate Metal Co., Ltd. “What Are the Meanings of Silicon Metal 553/441/2202.” www.hsimetal.com/what-are-the-meanings-of-silicon-metal-553-441-2202/.

14 The Renewable Energy Division in the Directorate of Energy Markets and Security. August 2022. Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains. International Energy Agency. iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/d2ee601d-6b1a- 4cd2-a0e8-db02dc64332c/SpecialReportonSolarPVGlobalSupplyChains.pdf.

15 Feldman, D., et al. Winter 2024 Solar Industry Update. DOI: 10.2172/2316015.

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ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 8 passage of the IRA in August 2022.16 Expansion announcements have also occurred upstream for production of polysilicon source material used for wafers, although the total production capacity of these announcements in units of GWdc of generation potential is smaller by comparison. While incentives from the IRA are in place today, R&D on silicon PV can help ensure U.S. manufacturers are competitive beyond the duration of the incentives and support a competitive and durable U.S. silicon manufacturing industry.

This FOA aims to support c-Si PV deployment through R&D projects in “upstream” polysilicon production from quartzite and in cell-level technology.

Lab-scale proofs of concept of new MGS production routes that avoid process emissions, as well as alternative MGS manufacturing methods that reduce the processing temperatures inherent to state-of-the-art silicon manufacturing, are of particular interest. Compelling proposals focusing on decarbonization of the entire silicon supply chain are also in scope. Regarding c-Si cell technology, studies on cell durability of cell technologies likely to be relevant in 5 years are of particular interest.

Engaging in the upstream R&D of MGS manufacturing, this funding opportunity is part of an integrated industrial decarbonization technology development strategy for DOE’s basic and applied research offices. Rooted in the principles identified in the 2022 Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap,17 DOE is building an innovation pipeline to accelerate the development and adoption of industrial decarbonization technologies with investments spanning foundational science, research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), and technical assistance and workforce development. DOE’s highly coordinated RD&D investments are designed to achieve deep decarbonization across the industrial sector, targeting both industry-specific innovations and crosscutting technologies.

III-V PV cells use absorber layers with at least one group III element from the periodic table and one group V element. Despite holding the world record for highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) for both single-junction and multijunction PV cells,18 III-V PV is not cost competitive for terrestrial PV generation, due to high cell fabrication costs, with current III-V technology estimated to cost about $77/Wdc,19 over 200 times the cost of c-Si PV modules.20 Despite limited terrestrial deployment to date, there is still potential for

16 Feldman, D., et al. Fall 2023 Solar Industry Update. DOI: 10.2172/2229356.

17 DOE. September 2022. Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap. www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022- 09/Industrial%20Decarbonization%20Roadmap.pdf.

18 NREL. Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html.

19 Smith, B. L., et al. November 2021. Photovoltaic (PV) Module Technologies: 2020 Benchmark Costs and Technology Evolution Framework Results. NREL/TP-7A40-78173, 1829459, 78173. DOI: 10.2172/1829459.

20 Feldman, D., et al. August 2023. Summer 2023 Solar Industry Update. NREL/TP-7A40-78173, 1829459, 87189.

NREL. DOI: 10.2172/1998635.

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ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 9 deployment in niche applications where the value of increased power density from improved PCE can justify higher costs. This is currently seen in the satellite and space solar sectors, which often employ III-V technology to maximize the amount of power generated per unit weight.

This FOA aims to support III-V PV technology development through R&D projects that enable a radical reduction in the cost of III-V PV technology. Areas of specific interest include technological development enabling multiple (> 20) reuses of the same crystal growth substrate with high cell yield and minimal substrate preparation, low-cost and rapid-throughput growth techniques, and low-cost deposition of metal contacts.21 Another area of interest is in cell-to-module design, with low-cost module integration that is amenable to high-volume manufacturing (HVM) and handling of III-V wafers that are < 10 microns in thickness, which is approximately 1/100 the thickness of conventional silicon wafers.

OPV cells use layers of semiconducting organic materials. Two materials with complementary electric properties, called the donor and acceptor, are typically used together in OPVs. Continuing improvements in organic materials discovery have empowered steady progress in OPV technology over the last two decades, with certified cell records over 19% PCE22 accompanied with significant advances in durability. While these efficiency values are still below c-Si PV, OPV has some unique advantages that could enable its deployment, given further improvements to module performance and durability.23

Unlike conventional semiconductors, OPV cells can be designed to absorb only in specific regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing for unique applications. Namely, OPV cells can be tailored to selectively absorb near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) light, enabling photovoltaic windows that can still let visible light pass through to achieve optimized aesthetic effects or agricultural outcomes in greenhouses. Alternatively, OPV multijunction cells using both narrow- and wide-band organic absorbers can be tailored to selectively absorb specific regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in next-generation tandem and multijunction PV architectures. While this feature of organic absorbers has historically been used to fabricate all-OPV tandems, this could also be used to fabricate hybrid tandems with combinations of OPV and c- Si or other thin-film PV devices.

21 Horowitz, K. A. W., et al. November 2018. A Techno-Economic Analysis and Cost Reduction Roadmap for III-V Solar Cells. NREL/TP-6A20-72103, 1484349, 72103. DOI: 10.2172/1484349.

22 NREL. Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html.

23 Li, Y., et al. 2021. “Non-Fullerene Acceptor Organic Photovoltaics with Intrinsic Operational Lifetimes over 30 Years.” Nature Communications 12: 5419. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25718-w.

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This FOA aims to support OPV development toward large-area proofs of concept for these applications. Specific areas of interest are improving efficiency of OPV minimodules designed for BIPV or tandem architectures, determining how OPV devices degrade to improve field durability, optimizing interfaces in OPV cells and modules, and developing minimodules to develop relevant module-level technology for larger-scale formats.

SETO funding has supported R&D efforts in the silicon PV area with major investments in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 PVRD FOA24 as well as the FY 2023 MORE PV FOA.25 Projects focused on low-cost III-V PV cell development and growth substrate spalling/reuse have been funded through the FY 201826 and FY 201927 PVRD FOAs. SETO also maintains funding in III-V PV development through NREL.

OPV technology was last funded in the FY 2018 PVRD FOA.

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is the only thin-film PV technology that is being deployed on the multi-GW scale. The successful commercialization of CdTe PV was assisted by sustained SETO R&D partnerships from the 1980s into the early 2000s.28 These partnerships helped yield cell efficiency advancements and new manufacturing techniques that allowed CdTe to compete with c-Si PV technologies. CdTe PV R&D continues to be a SETO priority, including large R&D investments in the FY 2022 Incubator FOA,29 the FY 2023 Thin Film FOA,30 and the Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium (CTAC).31 Topic Area 2 aims to leverage these investments by supporting academic institutions pursuing CdTe R&D projects that require new or upgraded equipment.

iii. Teaming Partner List DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this FOA. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish

24 SETO. SETO Fiscal Year 2022 Photovoltaics Research and Development (PVRD) Funding Program.

www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-photovoltaics-research-and-development-pvrd-funding-program.

25 SETO. Funding Notice: Materials, Operation, and Recycling of Photovoltaics (MORE PV).

www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-materials-operation-and-recycling-photovoltaics-more-pv.

26 SETO. Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Program (SETO FY2018).

www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-fiscal-year-2018-funding-program-seto-fy2018.

27 SETO. SETO FY2019 – Photovoltaics. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fy2019-photovoltaics.

28 Engel-Cox, J. A., et al. 2022. “Clean Energy Technology Pathways from Research to Commercialization: Policy and Practice Case Studies.” Frontiers in Energy Research 10: 1–14. DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2022.1011990.

29 SETO. SETO Fiscal Year 2022 Solar Manufacturing Incubator Funding Program. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-solar-manufacturing-incubator-funding-program.

30 Funding Notice: Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-advancing-us-thin-film-solar-photovoltaics.

31 NREL. Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium. www.nrel.gov/pv/cadmium-telluride-photovoltaics-accelerator-consortium-solicitation.html.

mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-photovoltaics-research-and-development-pvrd-funding-program www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-photovoltaics-research-and-development-pvrd-funding-program https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-materials-operation-and-recycling-photovoltaics-more-pv https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-fiscal-year-2018-funding-program-seto-fy2018 https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fy2019-photovoltaics https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-solar-manufacturing-incubator-funding-program https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/seto-fiscal-year-2022-solar-manufacturing-incubator-funding-program https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-advancing-us-thin-film-solar-photovoltaics https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-advancing-us-thin-film-solar-photovoltaics https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cadmium-telluride-photovoltaics-accelerator-consortium-solicitation.html https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cadmium-telluride-photovoltaics-accelerator-consortium-solicitation.html

ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 11 to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on EERE eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on Teaming Partners within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists.

To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

B. Topic Areas This FOA will fund innovative solar PV R&D that reduces the cost of PV modules, reduces carbon and energy intensity of PV manufacturing processes, and optimizes PV technology for new, specialized markets. This FOA has two topic areas: one dedicated to the PV supply chain and cell and minimodule development, and another dedicated to CdTe technology. While Topic Area 1 is open to proposals for any cell technology, except for perovskite and CdTe technology, three major PV technologies are of particular interest: c-Si PV, III-V PV, and OPV. Topic Area 2 is open only to CdTe technology.

All work for projects selected under this FOA must be performed in the United States. See Section IV.K.iii and Appendix C.

i. Topic Area 1: PACERS The goal of this topic area is to develop innovative PV cell and minimodule prototypes to enable rapidly expanded deployment and identify pathways for reduction in PV module cost, decarbonization of PV manufacturing and supply chains, and expansion of PV into new and emerging applications. Successful mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov

ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 12 applications will be able to demonstrate innovative yet attainable pathways to improving PV cell and module technologies in one or more of these areas and demonstrate a clear line of sight for translating benchtop-scale innovations to profitable high-volume manufacturing. Below are specific challenges that SETO has identified for c-Si, III-V, and OPV technology that are of specific interest to this FOA.

a. Crystalline Silicon PV: Lowering Embodied Carbon of MGS Crystalline silicon PV has contributed significantly to reducing global carbon emissions. The total emissions produced during the manufacturing of silicon PV systems, or embedded emissions, is estimated to be 10–43 g carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq/kWh).32 This is over an order of magnitude lower than fossil fuel systems, which use roughly 1,000 g CO2 eq/kWh. Within 2–5 years of deployment, a PV system using c-Si panels will have abated the global warming potential used in its original manufacture in most parts of the United States.33 However, SETO believes there are opportunities to further reduce the amount of energy and carbon emissions needed to make c-Si systems to further increase the environmental benefits of this technology.

The c-Si PV supply chain begins with the purification of mined quartz (silicon dioxide, or SiO2) into MGS, a silicon feedstock for many industrial processes that has a purity of 98–99% (or “2N”). The primary industrial method used in this initial step is called “carbothermic reduction of quartz.” In this process, a carbon source, usually a combination of coke, coal, and biomass, is exposed to quartz at temperatures of ~ 2,000°C. The carbon then acts as a reducing agent, producing 2N silicon and generating carbon dioxide.34 This is done in an electric arc furnace, which requires significant electricity to operate and utilizes graphite electrodes, which are consumed to form additional CO2 byproduct during operation of the furnace.35 This high electricity consumption means that total embedded carbon of the 2N silicon is strongly dependent on the carbon intensity of the electrical grid supplying the reactor. However, CO2 is also a reaction product, so 2N silicon production via carbothermic reduction will always create carbon emissions, even with a 100% emissions-free electrical grid. 2N MGS production process emissions

32 Frischknecht, R. (ed.) November 2022. “Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity from PV Systems:

2021 Data Update.” International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Fact-Sheet-IEA-PVPS-T12-23-LCA-update-2022.pdf; Wikoff, H. M., et al. June 2022.

“Embodied Energy and Carbon from the Manufacture of Cadmium Telluride and Silicon Photovoltaics.” Joule 6 (7).

doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.06.006.

33 Smith, B.L., et al. March 2024. Summer 2023 Solar Industry Update. NREL/TP-7A40-87372, 2331420, 87372.

NREL. DOI: 10.2172/2331420. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/87372.pdf 34 Xakalashe, B. S., and M. Tangstad. April 2012. “Silicon Processing: From Quartz to Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.”

Chemical Technology: 32–37. www.pyro.co.za/Mintek/Files/2012Xakalashe.pdf.

35 Børset, M. T., et al. October 2015. “Exergy Based Efficiency Indicators for the Silicon Furnace.” Energy 90, part 2:

1916–1921. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.07.010.

mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Fact-Sheet-IEA-PVPS-T12-23-LCA-update-2022.pdf https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Fact-Sheet-IEA-PVPS-T12-23-LCA-update-2022.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.06.006 https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/87372.pdf http://www.pyro.co.za/Mintek/Files/2012Xakalashe.pdf https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.07.010

ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 13 are estimated to be 4–5 kg of CO2 per kg 2N c-Si,36 which corresponds to about

0.4 g CO2 eq/kWh, assuming 20% efficient modules employing present-day material yields and lasting 30 years.37

Many parts of the silicon supply chain involve industrial fabrication processes that either are difficult to decarbonize or directly produce CO2 as a reaction product. For instance, purification from 2N silicon to solar-grade silicon (typically 8N and above)38 requires high-temperature, energy- and emissions-intensive processing techniques such as the Siemens process. In this process, 2N silicon is reacted with hydrogen chloride to form gaseous trichlorosilane (TCS), which then decomposes and deposits elemental silicon onto heated silicon rods in an externally cooled bell-shaped chamber. The Siemens process is the most common method to produce solar-grade polysilicon from 2N silicon.

Temperatures greater than 1,000°C are used in almost every step of this process and are also required to form high-purity ingots, the most common process for which involves melting solar-grade silicon above 1,400°C in an electric arc furnace.39

Alternative pathways to 2N MGS that either massively reduce or eliminate the inherent process emissions from the modern carbothermic reduction process will allow for significant progress toward a decarbonized silicon industrial sector, while limiting the need for carbon capture technologies to sequester emissions.

This topic area solicits proof-of-concept paths to 2N silicon that are not as emissive and/or require less process heat.

Potential solutions could include, but are not limited to:

• Molten electrolytic reduction

• Alternative reducing agents for thermal reduction syntheses

• Alternative chemical routes to carbothermic reduction of quartz that eliminate carbon dioxide as a process emission and/or reduce process heat requirements of the reaction.

Successful applications will not only describe the alternative pathway that will be experimentally demonstrated during the project period, but also present compelling evidence that the technology pathway, if successful, could compete

36 Sævarsdottir, G., et al. 2021. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Silicon Production—Development of Carbon Footprint with Changing Energy Systems.” Proceedings of the 16th International Ferro-Alloys Congress (INFACON XVI) 2021. dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3926088.

37 Kim, M., et al. 2023. “Identifying Methods to Reduce Emission Intensity of Centralized Photovoltaic Deployment for Net Zero by 2050: Life Cycle Assessment Case Study of a 30 MW PV Plant.” Progress in Photovoltaics Research and Applications 31(12): 1–10. doi.org/10.1002/pip.3747.

38 Basore, P., and D. Feldman. February 2022. Solar Photovoltaics: Supply Chain Deep Dive Assessment. DOI:

10.2172/1871588.

39 Sinno, T., et al. 2000. “Defect Engineering of Czochralski Single-Crystal Silicon.” Materials Science and Engineering R: Reports 28(5–6): 149–198. doi.org/10.1016/S0927-796X(00)00015-2.

mailto:pvrd@ee.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov file:///C:/Users/ckouch/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4TEYU9I1/EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3926088 https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3747 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-796X(00)00015-2

ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line. 14 with conventional 2N silicon generation on a cost and material-quality basis at material volumes relevant for the silicon PV industry. Successful applications will also include robust characterization of products, with appropriate quality assurance and quality control standards. These are key to ensuring that the purity of the end product remains high. Detailed analysis of global warming potential of the alternative reaction pathway is also required to ensure that the emissions from the alternative silicon production process result in a net reduction in process emissions compared to the current state of the art. Projects in this area should target chemical routes to 2N silicon with < 1 gCO2 eq/g Si process emissions and/or processes that require < 1,000°C process heat without sacrificing material quality and cost at scale.

b. Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics: Cell Technology Crystalline silicon wafers are processed into cells by cleaning, texturization, doping, deposition, patterning, and metallization steps. The order of operations and materials used in these steps is dictated by the specific cell design and wafer type. Aluminum back surface field cells were the industry standard design until roughly 2018, when Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) cells took over due to their higher power conversion efficiencies.

Currently, another transition in cell type is underway, moving from cells designed using p-type wafers to n-type wafers. N-type designs such as silicon heterojunction (SHJ) and tunnel oxide passivated contacts (TOPCon) are rapidly increasing their market share due to the further efficiency gains they provide over PERC cells. It is predicted that p-type PERC cells will decrease to just 10% of the global market within the next 10 years, from their 2022 share of 80%. N-type TOPCon is forecasted to gain market share from 10% in 2022 to being the dominant technology after 2025.40

Interdigitated back contact (IBC) cells are another n-type technology that provides high power conversion efficiencies but has so far been more expensive to manufacture. IBC cells have all-metal contacts placed on the back surface, which eliminates the front-surface shading present in standard cell designs with both sides metallized.

As advanced n-type technologies are further improved and manufacturing facilities are converted to produce these designs, long-term reliability and degradation mechanisms need to be studied to verify that improvements in efficiency do not come at the cost of long-term cell and module durability.

Increasing the lifetime of cells can also significantly improve the emissions intensity of solar manufacturing and is a major factor in LCOE that is not reflected in upfront capital cost. Improved reliability can also enable PV installations where maintenance may be difficult.

40 ITRPV. 2023. International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV): 2022 Results, 14th Edition. VDMA.

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Furthermore, increasing interest in SHJ designs has raised supply chain concerns for the non-silicon elements in the heterojunction material stack. Namely, concerns exist for indium availability, where limited natural abundance and competition for supply with the flat-panel display sector have raised cost concerns for SHJ designs employing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) transparent conducting oxide (TCO) layers. Today’s SHJ cells also use more silver than competing silicon cells.

Areas of interest in silicon cell R&D include:

• Exploration of field-relevant degradation modes in cells and mechanisms of relevant c-Si cell architectures, including but not limited to: PERC (including bifacial PERC), passivated contact (e.g., TOPCon, HJT), and IBC cell technologies.

• Chemical- and molecular-level insight into degradation modes in emerging module designs (e.g., mechanical stress in shingled modules).

• TCO development or novel structures for SHJ cells that enable reduction and/or elimination of indium or other supply chain-constrained materials, as well as mitigation of parasitic absorption in TCO layers.

• New cell designs and fabrication processes intended to increase efficiency, lower manufacturing cost, and increase manufacturing throughput.

Successful applications will not only demonstrate an innovative technological advance, but also identify a potential pathway to pilot demonstration that could lead to adoption by a silicon PV manufacturer. Applicants are encouraged to directly engage with domestic silicon PV manufacturers or PV manufacturers that have announced U.S. manufacturing plans but have yet to bring capacity online, to include testing of the developed innovation at pilot scale as one of the project goals.

c. III-V Photovoltaics Research into high-efficiency III-V cells, particularly multijunction PV, is currently spearheaded by the space industry, where high specific-power and radiation-tolerant designs have historically found a viable market powering satellites in spite of high cost. Commercial III-V PV companies provide modules and cells for bespoke integration into spacecraft to power onboard electronics.

III-V PV cells currently hold the world record for both single-junction and multijunction (≥ 3 junctions) PV efficiency, exhibit high radiation tolerance, and are stable under a wide range of temperatures. With direct bandgaps, III-V solar cells can be made much thinner than c-Si cells. This enables flexible modules, which can be advantageous for vehicle integration and other emerging PV applications. III-V cells also have superior temperature coefficients, making them attractive for hot climates.

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While there were several commercial approaches prior to 2015 using optical lens or mirror systems to leverage the high efficiency of III-V PV cells, these approaches added significant complexity and…