DOE Grants GE $8.1M for Solar Energy Research
March 28, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
The GE project is one of 13 solar technology development projects that would help decrease the cost of manufacturing and distributing solar electricity.
Its goal is to drive down the cost of electricity to make solar energy competitive with other power generation technologies, leading to widespread application in the U.S.
Funding, which amounts to $8.1M for the first year with approximately $18.6M available over three years if the GE-led team meets its goals, is subject to award negotiation and appropriation from the U.S. Congress.
GE Energy will head an alliance of companies, universities and researchers that are collaborating to accelerate the large-scale commercialization of solar technology into products that are cost competitive with retail electricity rates without the need for government assistance.
The commercialization strategy focuses on residential and commercial buildings that consume more than 60% of the electricity generated in the U.S. By 2010, GE and its team will deliver more than 200 megawatts (MW) of GE-branded solar electric products and Brilliance systems into the U.S. residential and commercial markets.
Balance-of-system technologies also will be developed to support low-cost installation and increased energy yield and future enhancements to building energy management and power quality. All will support the development, commercial scale-up and customer delivery of complete solar systems.
Source: GE Energy.