Outlook for the US PV research program and implications for terrestrial systems and applications

Abstract

The U.S. PV program has proposed a strong research agenda for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001. The program has established milestones to achieve a 14% efficient stable prototype thin-film module, and achieve further advances in laboratory cell efficiencies that will have implications for the PV products deployed in terrestrial systems and applications. Key efforts include basic research to investigate innovative, non-conventional PV materials, devices and processes; high-performance PV research into thin-films and Ill-V materials; new PVMaT work on in-situ monitoring and process diagnostics: and continued research into PV building integration. Congress' response to the FY2001 budget request may significantly influence our plans. This paper provides an update on the appropriations process and highlights new elements of the US. PV program in FY 2001. BUDGET OUTLOOKSome day in September or early October of this year there will be final Congressional appropriations for the U.S. Photovoltaics program. At that point we will know which elements of our ambitious plans for FY 2001 will be feasible. The signs are moderately encouraging. The House of Representatives has come forward with a budget mark of $76.7 million, and the Senate arrived at a mark of $76.5 million, after some favorable action by key Senators to boost the Appropriations Committee recommendation. That is below our request of $82.0 million, but a distinct improvement over the FY2000 budget level of $65.9 million. We have high hopes for nearly full funding for the majority of our program, including the High-Performance PV Initiative, expanded basic research, and a new competition of the Thin-Film Partnerships. Adequate research funds are the means to achieving the technical milestones that are essential to PV reaching its full technical and economic potential. THE U.S. PV RESEARCH PROGRAM IN 2001We are anxiously following the appropriations process because it will set the tone for meeting our nearterm program goals. By 2004 we intend to blaze new 0-7803-5772-8/00/$10.00 0 2000 lEEE 1736 trails in PV research by setting new performance records in all leading PV technologies. Our researchers also expect to identify two new promising PV options for future R&D. We also plan to increase the efficiency of commercial thin-film modules from 7% to 12%, which is already within striking distance, and reduce the manufacturing cost of PV modules by 40%. And we are pursuing a greater than 25-year lifetime for PV systems by improving reliability and reducing recurring costs by 50%. These advances will provide the foundation for sustaining the PV industry growth rates of 25% per year or greater laid out in the PV industry's technology roadmap. [l] Based on our FY2000 accomplishments, we are confident that we have the skills and resources to meet these objectives. This year we published a new 5-year plan and industry roadmap that details the research and market milestones we need to accomplish. We achieved new records in cell and module efficiencies, notably a 32.3% multijunction I...

Photovoltaics — a path to sustainable futures

“…The United States is also trying to create a solar energy option. In 2000, the Department of Energy spent $17 million for cost-shared PV projects and that will increase to $19 million in 2001 [22]. By far the most ambitious U.S. government program is the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which will enable businesses and communities to install solar systems on one million rooftops across the United States by 2010 [23].…”

“…By far the most ambitious U.S. government program is the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, which will enable businesses and communities to install solar systems on one million rooftops across the United States by 2010 [23]. The million solar roofs project, on target in 1999 (nearly 0.3MW of mostly grid connect schools) and 2000, and looks to be on target for installed capacity in 2001 [22]. Individual states are also contributing to the promotion of solar power.…”

“…California instituted a buy down program ($3.00/Wp subsidy) 2 that resulted in 200 PV systems in the 2-4kW range being installed [20]. The U.S. government is also continuing to support research into PV, investing ~$76.7 million in 2001 [22].…”