The funding will support the department’s hardware efficiency and soft cost reduction goals, while helping company’s transition lab-scale ideas to prototype phases or move early-scale projects to commercial launch.
Of the total funding, about $4m will be employed in the development of efficient manufacturing processes and equipment to move technology from a full-size prototype to pilot-scale production.
SunShot Incubator Program will enable the launch of startups and new business units within existing companies to accelerate the development and installation of solar technology in the country.
This initiative had earlier invested in technological innovation for solar hardware, however since 2011, the department broadened the scope of the program to include projects that address soft or non-hardware costs such as installation, permitting, interconnection, and inspection, which can amount to up to 40% of the total cost of solar installation.
The current round of soft cost projects are developing creative business models, financing options, system designs, and software which are applicable to the entire solar industry.
