- 5 small solar companies are set to benefit.
- Companies will receive $1m each.
- Projects cover a range of solar industry market needs.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will give $1 million each to five small businesses to enable them to advance their solar energy technology innovations. The projects being supported address different challenges in the solar industry, including cybersecurity, floating solar, energy systems for manufactured homes, low-cost manufacturing, and module performance. For example, one awardee is developing a transparent, conductive layer that can be incorporated into thin-film cadmium-telluride solar modules to improve their performance and durability.
These companies, which are part of the second phase of the 2021 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program have developed a proof of concept over the past two years, and the funds will help them to develop prototypes to catalyse private investment.
The SBIR/STTR program consists of competitive funding opportunities that encourage U.S.-based small businesses to engage in high-risk, innovative research and technology development with the potential for future commercialization. The program is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and awards projects in technology areas across the entire department.
The companies set to receive the grant include Atonometrics, NexTC Corporation, Operant Networks Corporation, Phase3 Photovoltaics, and Tau Science Corporation.