Reducing Solar Grid Integration Costs and Technology Risks
DOE supports the development of innovative, cost-effective solutions that allow increasing amounts of solar energy to integrate seamlessly with the national power grid while mitigating associated risks. Such solutions can ensure system reliability and encourage widespread deployment of solar technologies, such as photovoltaics and concentrating solar power.
Research Areas
DOE, through the Systems Integration subprogram, focuses on mitigating the intermittent and unpredictable nature of solar energy to enable high penetrations of solar electricity on the national power grid. The four key research areas are:
- Distributed grid integration
- Transmission grid integration
- Solar resource assessment
- Technology validation for risk mitigation.
Projects
High Penetration Solar Portal
The High Penetration Solar Portal has timely information related to high penetration solar scenarios and integrating solar into the grid. The site allows utilities, grant awardees, regulators, researchers, and other solar professionals can easily share data, case studies, lessons learned, and demonstration project findings.
Transmission line access is one challenge facing new utility-scale solar installations in the U.S. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL/PIX 18981
DOE is funding a range of research and development projects to advance balance of system hardware technologies such as racking systems and power electronics. In addition, DOE funds projects to address the technical challenges associated with integrating high penetrations of solar electricity into the grid. These projects include:
- High Penetration Solar Deployment Projects
- Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems—Advanced Concepts Projects
- Solar Extreme Balance of System Hardware Cost Reduction Projects.
More information is available on the High Penetration Solar Portal.
Partners
DOE collaborates with the solar industry, academia, utilities, and national laboratories to address the technical and cost barriers that limit the amount of grid-connected solar electricity. Visit the current opportunities page to find more information on available funding.