The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) accelerates the advancement and deployment of solar technology in support of an equitable transition to a decarbonized economy. Learn more about the office's work at our events and webinars.
Learn how the Inflation Reduction Act could help you save on solar and review our federal solar tax credit resources.
Solar Energy Technologies Office Newsletter
News and Success Stories
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July 16, 2024
DOE announced the first winners in the first round of the American-Made Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce.
July 11, 2024
The NRECA ACCESS project researched how to make solar energy affordable for low-and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Through this project, a toolkit was developed to assist electric co-ops and the broader industry deploy equitable solar projects.
July 10, 2024
In the latest round of cohorts in its Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP), 33 innovators will be embedded across four U.S. national laboratories to work with an extensive network of mentors and experts to develop next-generation technologies.
June 18, 2024
The @DisCo software helps utilities and solar manufacturers prevent cybersecurity and ransomware attacks affecting the U.S. electric grid. The software identifies cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the firmware of devices like solar inverters.
June 14, 2024
The American-Made Solar Prize Round 8 is a $4 million competition designed to support U.S. solar manufacturing and address challenges to rapid, equitable solar energy deployment by incentivizing hardware and software development.
June 12, 2024
45 participants will convene to learn from each other and experts about agrivoltaics, residential energy efficiency, and electrifying municipal fleets.
June 6, 2024
The Solar Energy Technologies Office announced a $38 million funding opportunity to strengthen U.S. domestic manufacturing across the solar energy supply chain.
June 4, 2024
Projects will generate actionable insights that improve outcomes for communities hosting large-scale solar installations, particularly those that are underserved, and the solar industry.
May 28, 2024
$31 million funding to improve power systems simulation software tools and demonstrate new business models for operators managing electric grids with large amounts of solar and wind generation, energy storage, and other distributed energy resources.
May 16, 2024
18 Projects in 10 States Will Supercharge the U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chain and Open New Markets for Solar Technologies
Research Areas
The Solar office supports development of low-cost, high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technologies to make solar power more accessible.
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SETO supports CSP research and development to improve the performance, reduce the cost, and improve the lifetime and reliability of CSP technologies.
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Systems integration research in SETO helps advance the reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable integration of solar energy onto the nation's grid.
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Soft costs research in SETO addresses challenges associated with non-hardware cost components of a solar energy system.
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SETO supports solar manufacturing and competitiveness R&D to develop pathways to commercialization for disruptive innovation in the solar industry.
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Solar workforce development includes online training, on-the-job training, curriculum development, and other activities that prepare people for solar.
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Despite unprecedented solar deployment, many Americans still lack access to affordable solar electricity. SETO funds research to improve solar access for all.
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Every day, Americans are making the choice to power their lives with solar energy. SETO is connecting the dots for you, demonstrating how solar energy investments accrue over years to benefit individuals, communities, and the nation.
Solar Energy Basics
Learn more about active SETO-funded projects at national laboratories, state and local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private companies.
Blog Posts
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Is it worth replacing your rooftop solar energy system? Learn why in the vast majority of cases, it's more beneficial for homeowners to keep their existing rooftop solar energy systems for as long as possible.
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More than 85% percent of a solar photovoltaic (PV) module is made of materials we already know how to recycle, like aluminum and glass. However, solar panel recycling—and recycling overall—is not currently cost-effective or widely adopted.
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The new designation requires local governments to automate residential solar permitting.
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This $6.5M DOE funding opportunity is ideal for early-career solar energy researchers, supporting early-stage ideas in photovoltaics and concentrating solar-thermal power.
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States should address key considerations before allocating LIHEAP funds toward community solar subscriptions. Learn about this new guidance from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Building-integrated photovoltaics is a set of emerging solar energy applications that replace conventional building materials with solar energy generating materials in the structure, like the roof, skylights, balustrades, awnings, facades, or windows.
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On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will travel across parts of the United States, blocking up to 90% of the sun for several minutes. What could this mean for our power grid? Learn what to expect when the sun goes dark.
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Harnessing the sun to power your vehicle saves you money, benefits the electric grid, and provides backup power to your home in the future.
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The critical role that interconnection plays in enabling the clean energy transition is why the U.S. Department of Energy established i2x to identify and develop solutions that make interconnection fairer, faster, and simpler.
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Solar panels need to withstand the elements to keep producing power for decades, and water is one of a solar module’s trickiest foes. Using clever measurement and modeling methods, researchers are optimizing the way we seal solar modules to keep water out
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