On July 6, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $45 million to support pilot manufacturing of solar components to help boost the domestic manufacturing sector.[1] The funding, called the Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-use Photovoltaics Incubator, includes $18 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and will also support the development of dual-use solar technologies, such as agrivoltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), floating PV, and vehicle-integrated PV. According to the DOE, dual-use PV has the potential to minimize land-use concerns.

The funding opportunity will fund up to 12 projects to help establish a network of manufacturers focused on key materials such as polysilicon production, silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells, glass and other module components, and associated manufacturing equipment. Concept papers for the funding opportunity are due by September 27, 2023.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-45-million-boost-domestic-solar-manufacturing