Energy Department Announces Funding to Develop “Plug-and-Play” Solar Energy Systems for Homeowners

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

As part of the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $5 million available this year to develop “plug-and-play” photovoltaic (PV) systems that can be purchased, installed, and operational in one day. This effort is part of the Department’s broader strategy to spur solar power deployment by reducing non-hardware, or “soft” costs, such as installation, permitting, and interconnection, which currently amount to more than half of the total cost of residential systems. The funding will help drive innovations to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems, reducing costs for homeowners and simplifying installations and grid connectivity.

“Providing families and businesses with new choices to use American energy resources that can save them money is an important part of President Obama’s all-of-the above energy strategy,” said Secretary Chu “The Department’s announcement today supporting plug-and-play solar energy technologies will help make it easier and cheaper for consumers to adopt clean, affordable solar energy, while supporting U.S. manufacturing leadership in the next generation of clean energy technologies and diversifying America’s energy portfolio.”

As the costs of solar PV modules continue to come down, “soft” costs and other non-module hardware costs, such as electronics and mounting hardware, now account for a majority of the total costs of systems. This offers significant opportunities to bring down costs through more efficient installation and permitting processes or new ways to affordably and effectively connect solar panels to the grid.

Plug-and-play solar energy systems will make the process of buying, installing, and connecting solar energy systems faster, easier, and less expensive, potentially unlocking major cost reductions in this area. Plug-and-play PV systems could be installed without special training or tools, and simply plugged into a PV-ready circuit, through which an automatic detection system would initiate communication between the solar energy system and the utility. Plug-and-play systems are already in wide use in the computer and automotive industries. The Energy Department believes that similar innovations can be made in the solar energy industry to reduce costs and simplify installations.

As part of a planned five-year program, the Energy Department will invest an initial $5 million this year for two projects that will develop innovative plug-and-play prototypes through partnerships with universities, industry, utilities, and other stakeholders. The Department plans to make an additional request of $20 million to Congress over the next four years to support these efforts.

The SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Inspired by President Kennedy’s “Moon Shot” program that put the first man on the moon, the SunShot Initiative has created new momentum for the solar industry by highlighting the need for American competitiveness in the clean energy race.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and facilitates deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality.

Source: EERE Solar

For more information on: EERE Solar

 

 

Source: EERE Solar

For more information on: EERE Solar

43 Trackbacks

  1. By click here on April 23, 2013 at 6:01 am

    [...]Here is a great Blog You may Come across Fascinating that we Encourage You[...]…

  2. By Dental implants dublin on April 23, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    well seen info…

    A particular person point We’ve spotted is the actual fact you will find generally misconceptions based on the banking companies anticipation whilst revealing property foreclosures. You impression acquire is unquestionably how the mortgage support acc…

  3. By Sparkling water flavour info on April 24, 2013 at 7:51 am

    Major Thanks For This Article…

    Say, you got a nice post. Many thanks again. Just too cool….

  4. By MBT Shoes on April 24, 2013 at 10:22 am

    mbt mens kabisa 11…

    I view something really special in this website….

  5. By Health Insurance For Individuals In Minnesota on April 24, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Links……

    Exactly what do I find the biggest everyday obstacle is for me during the school week? I think it would have to be getting my research done and really having a life! Because it takes me so long to do my research, I have to make time to do that first. T…

  6. By food processor reviews on April 24, 2013 at 7:17 pm

    Emmanuel Kounovsky…

    Emmanuel Kounovsky…

  7. By buy clomid on April 24, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    [...]one of our visitors a short while ago proposed the following website[...]…

  8. By heating repair on April 25, 2013 at 11:39 am

    Recommeneded websites…

    [...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……

  9. By heating repair on April 25, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Websites we think you should visit…

    [...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……

  10. By ang mo kio cluster housing on April 25, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    Superb website…

    [...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……

  11. By buy champix on April 25, 2013 at 11:06 pm

    [...]that may be the end of this article. Right here you will locate some web-sites that we feel you’ll enjoy, just click the hyperlinks over[...]…

  12. By go here on April 27, 2013 at 11:36 am

    site…

    Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my…

  13. By buy synthroid on April 27, 2013 at 11:56 am

    [...]The data mentioned within the article are some of the ideal available [...]…

  14. By vacuum furnace on April 28, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    OK…

    Magnificent web site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!…

  15. By beats by dre on April 29, 2013 at 7:37 am

    Just Browsing…

    While I was browsing today I noticed a great article about…

  16. It is remarkable, very useful piece…

    I can not take part now in discussion – it is very occupied. But I will soon necessarily write that I think….

  17. Excuse, that I can not participate now in discussion – it is very occupied. But I will return – I will necessarily write that I think on this question….

    As the expert, I can assist. Together we can come to a right answer….

  18. By airport transfer Melbourne on April 30, 2013 at 6:43 am

    Links…

    [...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……

  19. By internet marketing on April 30, 2013 at 7:42 am

    Links…

    [...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……

  20. I advise to you to look for a site, with articles on a theme interesting you….

    Excuse for that I interfere … But this theme is very close to me. Write in PM….

  21. By this link on April 30, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    Souls in the Waves…

    Excellent Morning, I just stopped in to go to your web site and thought I would say I enjoyed myself….

  22. By web link on May 2, 2013 at 3:14 am

    The Absent Game…

    In between me and my husband we have owned far more MP3 gamers through the years than I can count, like Sansas, iRivers, iPods (typical & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few ages I’ve settled down to one line of gamers….

  23. By driving lesson maidstone on May 4, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    driving schools maidstone…

    My own Driving instructor is usually an for yourself function business offering up premium driving tuition in as well as all over Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Water wells, Sittingbourne, Chatham, Gillingham & Rest of the world Sending….

  24. By 罗塞塔官方 on May 4, 2013 at 7:13 pm

    mbt mens kabisa 11…

    I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend :)

  25. By villaer tyrkia on May 4, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    … [Trackback]…

    [...] Read More: greenjobs.com/news/2012/industry-news/washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-april-24-2012-2 [...]…

  26. By [read] on May 5, 2013 at 7:40 am

    The Slave of the Husband…

    Searching for ahead to learning added from you afterward!……

  27. By LSAT Study Guide on May 6, 2013 at 11:52 am

    … [Trackback]…

    [...] Read More Infos here: greenjobs.com/news/2012/industry-news/washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-april-24-2012-2 [...]…

  28. Now all is clear, I thank for the help in this question….

    What phrase… super, excellent idea…

  29. By luminess air online store on May 8, 2013 at 11:58 am

    The Slave of the Husband…

    Searching for forward to researching additional from you afterward!……

  30. By Hotele w Rzymie on May 9, 2013 at 12:09 am

    The Ships’s Voyages…

    I feel technologies just makes it worse. Now there’s a channel to hardly ever treatment, now there would not be considered a prospect for them to find out….

  31. By iphone 4S fix on May 9, 2013 at 7:32 am

    smashed iphone 5 screen melbourne…

    iPhone repair services were created to assist you to repair a itouch new generation ipod due to vacations or fails….

  32. By Buy a title on May 9, 2013 at 8:58 am

    Recent Blogroll Additions……

    [...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……

  33. By rugby coach on May 9, 2013 at 9:55 am

    Gems form the internet…

    [...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……

  34. By blk water benefits on May 9, 2013 at 10:10 am

    Read was interesting, stay in touch……

    [...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……

  35. By hermes bags on May 10, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    hermes bags…

    http://955.cc/dsF9 hermes totes for sale in a denmark…

  36. By resort vanuatu on May 15, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    Blogs ou should be reading…

    [...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……

  37. By www.blog-assurance.info on May 16, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Informative and precise…

    Its difficult to find informative and accurate info but here I found…

  38. By คาสิโนออนไลน์ on May 16, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    … [Trackback]…

    [...] Read More Infos here: greenjobs.com/news/2012/industry-news/washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-april-24-2012-2 [...]…

  39. By All about personal finance success on May 16, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    Yahoo results…

    While searching Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…

  40. By My blog on May 17, 2013 at 12:25 am

    Its hard to find good help…

    I am forever saying that its difficult to find quality help, but here is…

  41. By stryker hip implant on May 17, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    … [Trackback]…

    [...] Find More Informations here: greenjobs.com/news/2012/industry-news/washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-april-24-2012-2 [...]…

  42. By Pacifica on May 19, 2013 at 10:08 am

    … [Trackback]…

    [...] There you will find 33342 more Infos: greenjobs.com/news/2012/industry-news/washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-april-24-2012-2 [...]…

  43. By their website on May 20, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    Healing’s Dragon…

    to seek out concerns to improve my web page!I suppose its okay to create usage of a few of one’s ideas!!…