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| Inside Toledo Solar's manufacturing plant, where the company produce cadmium telluride thin-film solar modules.(Courtesy: Toledo Solar) |
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently made a significant stride towards bolstering the nation's solar manufacturing capabilities, announcing a substantial $71 million investment. This initiative, inclusive of $16 million derived from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to fuel research, development, and demonstration projects crucial for the expansion of domestic solar manufacturing across the United States.
The selected projects are strategically designed to bridge existing gaps within the domestic solar manufacturing capacity supply chain. These encompass crucial areas such as equipment, silicon ingots and wafers, as well as both silicon and thin-film solar cell manufacturing. Notably, the DOE intends for these endeavors to not only fortify existing markets but also pave the way for novel solar technologies, including dual-use photovoltaic (PV) applications like building-integrated PV and agrivoltaics.
Concurrently, this announcement coincides with the White House's decision to revoke tariff exemptions for bifacial modules, accompanied by additional measures aimed at addressing perceived "unfair" trade practices by China. Moreover, the White House recently unveiled plans to escalate tariffs targeting China across various sectors, encompassing critical areas such as steel, aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, and ship-to-shore cranes.
Among the initiatives spearheaded by the DOE is the Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-Use Photovoltaics Incubator funding program. This program earmarks support for the development of technologies geared towards establishing silicon wafer and cell manufacturing within the U.S. Furthermore, a cohort of seven additional projects is poised to advance dual-use PV technologies, facilitating endeavors to electrify buildings, decarbonize transportation, and mitigate land-use conflicts.
The selected projects under this umbrella are diverse and geographically dispersed, reflecting a concerted effort to invigorate solar manufacturing capabilities across the nation. From Nashua, NH, to San Jose, CA, and beyond, these endeavors encompass a spectrum of innovations aimed at propelling the solar industry forward. From Re:Build Manufacturing's $1.9 million allocation to Ubiquity Solar's $11.2 million investment, each endeavor holds the promise of catalyzing tangible progress within the solar energy sector.
Simultaneously, the DOE is driving efforts to advance thin-film PV technologies through the Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics funding program. This initiative underscores the potential advantages offered by technologies like cadmium telluride (CdTe) and perovskites, including reduced energy-intensive manufacturing, lower costs, simplified supply chains, and enhanced energy yield over the long term.
With the selection of eight projects under this program, the DOE is poised to address key opportunities for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and fortifying the supply chain for CdTe systems. Additionally, four projects will focus on validating tandem PV devices, pairing established technologies like silicon and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) with perovskites, thus nearing market readiness and bolstering prospects for domestic manufacturing.
In summary, the DOE's substantial investment represents a pivotal step towards fortifying the United States' position within the global solar manufacturing landscape. By fostering innovation, driving technological advancements, and nurturing domestic capabilities, these initiatives lay the groundwork for a sustainable and prosperous future powered by solar energy.
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