U.S. Department of Energy has issued a Solar Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $60 million over five years to support the development of low-cost Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology. Covering fiscal years 2008-2012, the funding includes $10 million in FY 2008 appropriations and $10 million in the FY 2009 Budget request.
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% cost share by the private sector for research and development phases and a minimum 50% private cost share for final demonstration phases, the total research investment in advanced solar technologies under this solicitation is expected to exceed $75 million.
"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," Under Secretary of Energy Clarence "Bud" Albright said.
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.
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