NREL Funds Solar Energy Start-Ups

Utilising cash from the Department of Energy’s Sunshot Program, the USA’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has awarded four innovative solar companies vital funding to develop new technologies that will help lower the cost of solar energy.

Utilising cash from the Department of Energy’s Sunshot Program, the USA’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has awarded four innovative solar companies vital funding to develop new technologies that will help lower the cost of solar energy.
   
The NREL says the $5.8 million grant will come from the DOE’s Sunshot Incubator initiative, designed to help solar start-ups bring their products to market more quickly, and at a cheaper price. 
  
Public purse funds will in turn provide the private sector and venture capitalists with the assurance they need to invest in the solar technology of the future.
  
Unknown companies bringing game-changing technologies to the field of solar research need support from government to reach their full potential, according to NREL Incubator Manager Brian Keyes.
 
"When these companies work with NREL researchers, they increase the likelihood that they reach their performance and reliability objectives and reach them soon."
 
The four companies chosen will come under rigorous scrutin during their time at the NREL. Failure to maintain performance standards during the commercialisation process could result in that company losing its place in the program.
 
The recipients are:
 
Halotechnics , which received $1 million to develop a two-tank system using molten salt that has a low melting point while transferring heat at 700 degrees C. It has demonstrated unprecedented efficiency for concentrating solar power (CSP).
 
Solaflect Energy, which received $999,595 to develop its innovative Suspension Heliostat, that uses 65 percent less steel than normal, thus reducing significantly the cost of the mirror field in a concentrated solar power plant.
  
Renewable Power Conversion, Inc., which received $793,325 to improve its advanced photovoltaic (PV) inverter technology. Its inverter gives indications of lasting 25 years while maximizing system efficiency. Sold commercially, this would reduce the cost of renewable energy loaded onto the grid.
  
Tigo Energy of Los Gatos, Calif., which was awarded the bulk of the funding – $3,026,000 to ramp up production of its low-cost DC arc-fault detector. The unique detector enhances the safety of photovoltaic arrays, reduces ongoing operations and maintenance costs for system owners, and can be retro-fitted to all residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar power systems.
 

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