The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) under the US Department of Energy (DOE) is continuing with its push towards commercialization of advanced, next generation solar energy technologies with its latest effort being a $36 million funding opportunity for metal halide perovskite and cadmium telluride (CdTe).

The notice of intent issued by the agency targets to support research, development and demonstration projects for these 2 technologies with an aim to ‘promote American leadership in thin-film PV technology and the domestic manufacture of thin-film PV modules’.

Of the funding amount, $20 million is reserved for industrial perovskite PV research and development to enable future commercialization by reaching specific thresholds of efficiency, long-term reliability, manufacturability and economic viability.

Remaining $16 million will be funded to advance CdTe research, development, demonstration and commercialization across the materials, equipment, installation and performance monitoring supply chain.

A total of 3 or more projects stand to win financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to last 18 to 36 months. Each project stands to win between $3 million to $20 million funding support.

Last date to send in applications for the call issued on June 14, 2023 is not specified. Details are available on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) website. A funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to follow in September 2023.

DOE targets to improve CdTe cell efficiency to over 24% and above 26% by 2025 and 2030, respectively. CdTe module costs are also aimed to come down below $0.20/W by 2025 and under $0.15/W by 2030. To achieve these aims, it has set up a Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium (CTAC) that counts both First Solar and Toledo Solar as its members (see US Laser Focused On Silicon Free PV Technology).