DOE seeks to invest up to $60 million for advanced Concentrating Solar Power technologies

The Department of Energy reported that U.S. Under Secretary of Energy Clarence "Bud" Albright recently announced the issuance of the Solar Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $60 million in funding over five years (Fiscal Years 2008-2012), which includes $10 million in FY 2008 appropriations and $10 million in the FY 2009 Budget request, to support the development of low-cost Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology.

Increasing the use of solar energy is an important component of the Administration's efforts to diversify our nation's energy sources in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our energy security. Under Secretary Albright announced the Solar FOA issuance in his remarks to the Energy Marketer's Association Convention.

"Harnessing the natural and abundant power of the sun and more cost-effectively converting it into energy is an important component of our comprehensive strategy to commercialize and deploy advanced clean, alternative technologies that will allow us to become less reliant on foreign oil," Albright said. "The Administration's investment in solar technology will not only bolster innovation, but will help meet the President's goal of making solar power cost-competitive with conventional sources of electricity over the next seven years."