PV Technology Incubator

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has issued a Solicitation for Letters of Interest (LOI) to U.S. Small Businesses for the development of prototype photovoltaic (PV) modules and pilot production. This LOI is in support of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and represents a significant enhancement of DOE's business strategy of partnering with the U.S. industry to accelerate commercialization of PV system research and development (R&D) to meet aggressive cost and installed capacity goals. This Solicitation is targeted at innovative R&D on PV cell and module prototypes with demonstrated functionality in either large-area cell/module form or, preferably, prototypes produced in pilot-scale operations. The emphasis on proposed activities should be on the barriers to manufacturing scale-up and 2012 commercialization. The primary objective of this program is to shorten the timeline for companies to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacture. Responders to this Solicitation are expected to focus their efforts on a limited number of high impact areas that lie on the critical path to scaling-up their technology to full manufacture. The minimum entrance criterion is demonstrated PV cells or process lab devices or modules. The successful exit criterion is for prototype modules and pilot production demonstration >5MW/year. Subject to the availability of funds, it is anticipated that 6 to 10 subcontracts, up to $3M each, will be awarded as 18-month phased subcontracts. A Net Conference regarding the project is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 9:30 A.M. Mountain Time. The Solicitation is available to view/download from NREL's website at: http://www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/solicitations_rfps.html.