Solar Energy Technologies Office/SunShot

The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is a U.S. DOE program that conducts RD & D on solar energy technologies and systems, including improvement of the efficiency and performance of solar cells; development of new installation—or balance of systems—technologies; advancement of solar energy grid integration; and research in new materials and processes for solar PV technologies.SETO focuses on achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade. Since the SunShot Initiative was announced in February 2011, the Solar Program has funded more than 350 projects in the following areas: Photovoltaics (PV), Concentrating solar power (CSP), Balance of systems costs (soft costs), and Systems integration.In addition to RD & D, SETO conducts market transformation activities that work to ensure that new technologies become accepted in the marketplace. SETO addresses the removal of non-technical market barriers such as through: updating codes and standards, improving interconnection agreements among utilities and consumers, and analyzing utility value capacity credits for utilities. SETO’s initiatives help consumers, businesses, and utilities make more informed decisions when considering renewable energy, and also facilitate the purchase of solar energy.

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