The US Department of Energy (DOE) is offering $20 million to select projects that can help develop holistic solutions for rapid deployment of solar energy facilities across the country, while minimizing the use of materials with a focus on streamlining the reuse and recyclability of PV panels.
Available under the Materials, Operation and Recycling of Photovoltaics (MORE PV), the funding opportunity will ask to identify ways to optimize PV systems throughout their lifecycle to lower costs while accelerating installation pace. This will include improving the installation quality and resilience of PV systems.
Through this round, the DOE also aims to set up a Solar Partnership to advance recycling and circularity of PV panels to recover materials. It will develop safe end-of-life practices for PV system components.
It is open to higher education institutions, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, state and local government and tribal entities. A total of $2 million to $8 million are planned to be awarded for around 4 to 7 awards.
"This opportunity also supports DOE's Photovoltaics End-of-Life Action Plan which aims to halve the cost of recycling by 2030 and reduce the environmental impact of solar energy modules at end-of-life," stated the DOE.
Announced on July 21, 2023, the funding round will accept a letter of intent till September 6, 2023. A concept paper will be admitted till September 13, 2023. Details are available on the DOE's website.