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Title: US National Photovoltaics Program and applications experiments in the intermediate sector

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5386952· OSTI ID:5386952

A brief overview of the US National Photovoltaics Program is presented. The Department of Energy (DOE) commercial readiness goals for photovoltaics technology are summarized and the role of the national labs, research centers, and institutes in the strategy for achievement of these goals is outlined. Some examples of the flat-plate and concentrator photovoltaics experiments that are under construction through the DOE Program Research and Development Announcements (PRDAs) are discussed. These experiments are intended to establish system feasibility and demonstrate the applicability of photovoltaics as an alternative energy source in the intermediate sector (industrial, commercial, and agricultural). Installed system costs for the proposed PRDAs are given and concentrator technology requirements for achievement of DOE commercial readiness goals are presented. Some new DOE activities intended to further assist the commercialization of photovoltaics are briefly outlined. These new activities include the completion of an International Photovoltaics Plan.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5386952
Report Number(s):
SAND-80-0587C
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English