Input Stories

The Department of Energy is investing $40 million to strengthen the U.S. solar energy supply chain (Supply Chain Brain).

What’s going on: “Around $16 million of those funds will be divided across four solar technology research and development projects, headed up by Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University, kWh Analytics in Sacramento, the University of North Carolina and Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto. The projects will look into reducing the costs of solar energy and finding ways to make solar panels more durable and easier to repair.”

• Another $20 million will go toward a new solar technology incubator focusing on bolstering domestic solar manufacturing.

Prizes: The department also “launched a prize program that will open new markets for solar energy system equipment, announced winners in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7 and issued a notice of intent for up to $20 million to advance solar manufacturing,” according to Renewable Energy World.

• In addition, the DOE put out the call for competitors to apply, through Sept. 26, for Round 8 of the Solar Prize.