*If you missed the webinars on Oct. 28th or January 6th, the slides and script are available for download below.*
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The mission of the Solar Energy Technology Office’s Tech-to-Market sub-program is to enable the widespread market penetration of highly impactful solar technologies and solutions through technology research, development and demonstration to overcome technical, institutional and market challenges. Historically, annual funding opportunities have been separated by stage of technology development (Incubator and SolarMat). In the interest of optimizing the application and selection process, these funding opportunities have been combined into a single FOA, with the goal of bringing disruptive innovation to the solar industry in the near term that will take root in the U.S.
The purpose of this funding program is to help remove barriers that are addressable by technology and business innovation. These solutions cover hardware innovation and manufacturing, software, cost-reductions throughout the value chain, and non-cost (capability) related solutions. These solutions are expected to aid in achieving a ubiquitous solar energy solution and provide a clear path for these highly impactful technologies and solutions to rapidly reach market success. This funding program seeks to fund for-profit entities to develop products and solutions which will further reduce the price of solar energy and de-risk the integration of solar energy to the electricity grid.
This FOA will be separated into Tiers based on the stage and type of technology development:
Hardware Tiers:
Tier 0: SunShot Incubator Program Round 11, 20% cost share, up to $500k in funding, up to 12 month project periods - Accelerate transition from a proof-of-concept of all critical components to an early stage functional prototype.
Tier 1: SunShot Incubator Program Round 11, 20% cost share, up to $1M in funding, up to 12 month project period- Accelerate transition of an early stage functional prototype to a lab made, manufacturing- and commercially-relevant prototype whose full functionality has been proven in all possible commercial use cases.
Tier 2: SunShot Incubator Program Round 11, 50% cost share, up to $2M in funding, up to 18 months project periods – Accelerate transition of a lab made, manufacturing- and commercially-relevant prototype to a full developed prototype whose initial reliability and certification testing has been passed and is ready to begin/develop pilot manufacture.
Tier 3: Solar Manufacturing Technology (SolarMat) Round 4, 50% cost share, up to $5M in funding, up to 24 month project periods - Develop and demonstrate innovative manufacturing technology, step process(es), or equipment that enable a globally best-in-class cost advantage.
Soft Cost (Non-Hardware) Tiers:
Tier 1S: SunShot Incubator Round 11, 20% cost share, up to $500k in funding, 12 month project periods - Accelerate the transition of a proof-of-concept solution or business plan to alpha capability and early customer trials.
Tier 2S: SunShot Incubator program Round 11, 50% cost share, up to $2M in funding, 18 month project periods - Transition alpha capability through beta launch and full commercialization.
Questions about this Funding Opportunity can be sent to SunShot.T2M@ee.doe.gov .