Funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Colorado organizations will help scale up domestic solar manufacturing and build our clean energy grid
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet welcomed $9.5 million for Colorado companies from the Department of Energy (DOE) to help build out America’s domestic solar supply chain and develop technologies that strengthen our clean energy grid.
“We’re accelerating towards a clean energy future by spurring domestic manufacturing, establishing a resilient supply chain, and creating jobs – all with a ‘Made in America’ sticker on it. Giddy-up!” said Hickenlooper.
“We need to do everything we can to invest in America’s solar industry, secure our supply chains, and accelerate our transition to a clean energy economy – and I’m grateful that Colorado’s businesses and universities are leading the way. These investments will help us compete on the global stage with countries like China by supporting the long-term growth of America’s solar industry at every stage, from research to deployment,” said Bennet.
This $52 million nationwide investment by DOE, including $10 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will advance solar energy manufacturing, production, adoption, and integration by funding research, development, and demonstration for 19 projects. The announcement also included $30 million for technologies that will help integrate solar energy into the grid.
Two Colorado organizations were selected, and both will be crucial in scaling up our domestic solar manufacturing capacity and building a strong, resilient supply chain right here in the United States:
- University of Colorado-Boulder (Boulder): $9,000,000
- Design and build tandem silicon-perovskite solar cells, compare different manufacturing methods for the perovskite layer to minimize cost, and maximize efficiency and durability. In addition, four universities, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and three American perovskite companies will collaborate
- BREK Electronics (Broomfield): $500,000
- Develop a new inverter technology based on a silicon carbide transistor and high frequency planar magnetics that can significantly lower the cost and size of grid-tied inverters
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