Notice of Funding Opportunity: FY25 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator

Two photos of solar panel manufacturing to the right and text to the left says funding opportunity: solar module and solar hardware incubator (SMASH Incubator)

Office: Solar Energy Technologies Office
NOFO number: DE-FOA-0003460
Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange

On January 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the FY25 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). This NOFO will fund up to 10 awards of $1 to $4 million each for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects in crystalline silicon (c-Si) module technology, cadmium telluride (CdTe) module technology, and non-module hardware technology. For-profit organizations are encouraged to apply.

This NOFO aims to reduce the nation’s reliance on imported materials and technologies by investing in innovations across the photovoltaic (PV) supply chain—from manufacturing tools to module assembly—and hardware components like power electronics and structural equipment. Prior to submitting a full application, a mandatory concept paper is due March 21, 2025, by 5 p.m. ET.

Topic Areas

Topic Area 1: Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) Modules

This topic area seeks to conduct early-stage pilot-scale testing and demonstration of innovative processes or products that can substantively increase domestic manufacturing in all segments of the c-Si module supply chain. Relevant segments of the supply chain are: 

  • Metallurgical-grade silicon  
  • Polysilicon  
  • Silicon wafers  
  • Silicon solar cells  
  • Module assembly  

Each segment also includes manufacturing equipment, input materials, process-control and characterization tools, and consumables used in that segment. 

Topic Area 2: Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Modules

This topic area aims to support the CdTe PV industry, an increasingly valuable part of the U.S. economy and the transition to renewable energy. There are three main areas of interest for projects in this topic: 

  • Supporting the increased deployment of CdTe modules in PV systems leading to reduced levelized cost of electricity 
  • Increasing the scale of the domestic CdTe PV module supply chain 
  • Improving CdTe PV technology to maintain competitiveness with c-Si PV 

Topic Area 3: Non-Module Hardware

This topic area is focused on RD&D activities with the goal of de-risking new non-module PV components and manufacturing processes, while developing and validating a realistic pathway to commercial success. Areas of interest include:  

  • Power electronic hardware components for solar PV  
  • Hardware components for integrating solar energy systems into the electric grid  
  • Multiport systems that bi-directionally integrate solar generation with energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and the grid 
  • Structural or electrical balance of systems hardware components 
  • Hardware components needed for agrivoltaics, building-integrated PV, floating PV, and vehicle-integrated PV technologies 
  • Hardware products for data collection from distributed energy resources  
  • Hardware products that improve the cybersecurity of solar PV systems and distributed energy resources 

On October 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy transitioned from using a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to using a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as the primary means of announcing new financial assistance award opportunities, in accordance with the OMB update to the Uniform Guidance: Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.   

Teaming Partner List 

DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this NOFO. 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.   

Private, for-profit manufacturing entities would benefit greatly from developing strong partnerships within this ecosystem. As such, applicants are strongly encouraged to form teams for projects under this NOFO. Applicants are encouraged to partner with academia, national laboratories, other industry members, supply chain partners, equipment developers, and institutions representing a diversity of individuals, such as Tribal communities, minority-serving institutions, minority business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, or entities located in underserved communities. Applicants are particularly encouraged to partner with a diverse set of organizations for demonstration and field-testing activities.   

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. 

Webinar

SETO will host an informational webinar on January 23, 2025, at 4 p.m. ET. 

Key Dates

  • NOFO Issue Date: January 8, 2024 
  • Informational Webinar: January 23, 2025 (Register) 
  • Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: March 21, 2025 
  • Submission Deadline for Full Applications: May 30, 2025 
  • Expected Selection Notification Date: November 2025 
  • Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations: May 2026  

Additional Information