Funding Notice: Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator

Solar Funding Opportunity Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator

Office: Solar Energy Technologies Office 
FOA Number: DE-FOA-0003289 
Link to Apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $50.5 million

On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the FY24 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator funding opportunity, which will provide up to $50.5 million for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that de-risk solar hardware, manufacturing processes, and software products across a wide range of solar technology areas. The FOA also seeks projects that provide outreach, education, or technology development for software that delivers an automated permit review and approval process for rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) with or without energy storage.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to increase U.S. domestic manufacturing across the solar energy supply chain and expand private investment in the country’s solar manufacturing sector. These investments will help accelerate the growth of the solar industry, identify emerging opportunities, and drive down costs for our domestic energy market, positioning the United States on the leading edge of solar industry advances.

Technologies of interest include PV, systems integration, and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies, as well as those that connect solar with storage or electric vehicles and dual-use PV applications like agrivoltaics and vehicle-integrated PV. Read the FOA for the full list of relevant areas.

Topic Areas

Topic Area 1: Solar Research and Technology Development – 5-10 projects, $1-2 million each

This topic area focuses on R&D projects at for-profit companies to de-risk new solar components and/or manufacturing processes, while developing and validating a realistic pathway to commercial success.

Topic Area 2: Solar Technology Demonstration – 5-10 projects, $1-5 million each

This topic area focuses on RD&D projects at established companies or startups for pilot-scale and/or prototype demonstration of solar products. Successful applicants for this topic area will have an existing prototype that requires further testing, engineering work, or demonstration in a controlled environment. 

Topic Area 3: Solar and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Permitting Software Outreach, Education, and Development – 1-3 projects, $1-5 million each

This topic area focuses on outreach, education, or software technology development activities for permitting software that automates code compliance checks and permitting for rooftop solar PV, rooftop solar PV with energy storage, or residential and commercial electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). The permitting software must be designed for use by solar or EVSE installers to submit rooftop solar or residential and/or commercial EVSE permit applications, and by local governments to automate their review and approval. Projects can be led by for-profit or non-profit entities.

Applicant Education

Do you have questions about putting together your concept paper or full application? Is this your first time considering a FOA application? SETO, through the American-Made Network, is providing Applicant Education Services available to you free of charge. 

You can engage with the following points of contact at ADL Ventures, Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN), and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) for more details: 

Note: Participation in the Application Education Services is not mandatory and will have no impact on the evaluation of your application by DOE.

Key Dates

FOA Issue Date:
June 6, 2024
Informational Webinar:
June 13, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET
Submission Deadline for Mandatory Concept Papers:
July 19, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET
Expected Date for Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage Decision
August 23, 2024
Submission Deadline for Full Applications:
October 7, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET
Expected Date for Applicant Interview
January 14-21, 2025
Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications:
March 2025
Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations:
March – July 2025

Teaming Partner List

DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this FOA. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships. 

The Teaming Partner List will be available on EERE eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists. To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Additional Information