Solar thermal power has generally proven it can
create electricity at a lower cost than PV. With that in mind, the U.S.
Department of Energy has decided to spend $60 million over the next five years
developing low-cost solar thermal technology. It will also fund projects
related to "advanced thermal storage."
According to the DOE,
increasing the use of solar energy is an important component of the
Administration’s efforts to diversify the nation’s energy sources in an effort
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security. U.S. Under
Secretary of Energy Clarence “Bud” Albright announced the Solar Funding
Opportunity Announcement issuance in his recent remarks to the Energy
Marketer’s Association Convention.
“Harnessing the natural
and abundant power of the sun and more cost-effectively converting it into
energy is an important component of our comprehensive strategy to commercialize
and deploy advanced clean, alternative technologies that will allow us to
become less reliant on foreign oil,” Albright said. “The Administration’s
investment in solar technology will not only bolster innovation, but will help
meet the President’s goal of making solar power cost-competitive with
conventional sources of electricity over the next seven years.”
The FOA makes funding
available for projects from industry and academia that develop advanced thermal
storage concepts and heat transfer fluids to further increase the efficiency of
concentrating solar power plants. DOE anticipates making 10-25 awards through
this competitive solicitation. With a minimum 20 percent cost share by the
private sector for research and development phases and a minimum 50 percent private
cost share for final demonstration phases, the total research investment in
advanced solar technologies under this solicitation is expected to exceed $75
million.
CSP systems use heat
generated by concentrating and absorbing solar energy to produce thermal
energy. This type of solar energy can be used immediately for generating
power through a steam turbine or heat engine, or may be saved as thermal energy
for later use. Storage of solar energy in this manner removes the
intermittency of sunlight, making it “dispatchable” and thus enabling CSP
systems to provide electricity day or night.
Applications
for this solicitation are due on or before Thursday, July 10, 2008. Funding
beyond monies available in Fiscal Year 2008 are subject to appropriations from
Congress. For more information on this FOA, visitwww.Grants.gov.
DOE To Invest $60M In Solar Thermal Funding
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