Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2019 Funding Program (SETO FY2019)

RFP Summary provided by the agency

The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) works across the solar energy technology spectrum with the goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. Ensuring that more Americans can benefit from the declining costs of solar is one of SETO’s primary goals, which support early-stage research, development, and demonstration of solar technologies. Achieving SETO’s priorities across the solar energy technology landscape requires sustained, multifaceted innovation. With this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the office intends to fund high-impact, early-stage research in the following areas:

• Topic Area 1: Photovoltaics Research and Development
• Topic Area 2: Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Research and Development
• Topic Area 3: Balance of Systems Soft Costs Reduction
• Topic Area 4: Innovations in Manufacturing: Hardware Incubator
• Topic Area 5: Advanced Solar Systems Integration Technologies

What is the mission and focus of the program: research, social, economic or others?

SETO works across the solar energy technology spectrum with the goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. Solar energy technologies fall into two broad categories: PV technologies that directly convert sunlight into electricity and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies that convert sunlight to heat, which can be used to generate electricity or provide other energy services.

How do you submit to this opportunity?

The application process will include three phases: an LOI phase, Concept Paper phase, and a Full Application phase. Only applicants who have submitted an LOI and an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application. At each phase, EERE performs an initial eligibility review of the applicant submissions to determine whether they meet the eligibility requirements of Section III of the FOA. EERE will not review or consider submissions that do not meet the eligibility requirements of Section III. All submissions must conform to the following form and content requirements, including maximum page lengths (described below) and must be submitted via EERE Exchange at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/, unless specifically stated otherwise. EERE will not review or consider submissions submitted through means other than EERE Exchange, submissions submitted after the applicable deadline, or incomplete submissions. EERE will not extend deadlines for applicants who fail to submit required information and documents due to server/connection congestion.

Who are the target applicants: cities, universities, companies, small business, nonprofits, or others?

• Individuals
• Domestic entities – For-profit entities, educational institutions, and nonprofits, State, local, and tribal government entities, DOE/NNSA FFRDCs.
• Foreign Entities – Foreign entities, whether for-profit or otherwise, are eligible to apply.
• Incorporated Consortia – Domestic and foreign.
• Unincorporated Consortia – Domestic and foreign