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Domestic PV Applications Project

The Domestic PV Applications Project, which concluded in FY 2006, supported the analytical, applications, and market development activities of the DOE Photovoltaic Subprogram. This project provided a focal point for DOE activities through project development, dissemination of information, increasing public awareness, subcontract management, and technical assistance. Our work was carried out in-house at NREL as well as externally with and/or through a wide range of federal, state, and local groups. A new project, PV Market Transformation, is replacing this project in the 2007 fiscal year and beyond.

During FY 2006, this task addressed some of the critical challenges posed by the U.S. PV Industry Roadmap—namely, raising the awareness of PV in numerous market sectors where significant penetration has not yet been attained, developing information that effectively conveys the potential of PV (and other solar technologies) to both technical and non-technical audiences, and providing support to organizations to develop standardized system specifications and acceptance criteria. We also supported several DOE-requested activities, including planning for the phase-out of this project while ramping up planning to support the Solar America Initiative in the area of market transformation.

Objectives

  • Address the markets and applications issues raised in the PV industry Roadmap (NREL).
  • Provide a focal point for DOE activities through dissemination of information, raising public awareness, and technical facilitation (NREL).
  • Support U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill Solar Program (NREL and SNL).
  • Support development of DOE Systems-Driven Approach (NREL and SNL).
  • Continue program-related outreach to Native Americans with interest in solar energy (SNL).
  • Extend rural utility support to additional PV systems applications and extend list of accepted systems (SNL).

Accomplishments

  • Conducted three consumer workshops at the Denver Western Stock Show with public attendance of approximately 380 (NREL).
  • Supported the U.S. DOE/USDA joint conference in St. Louis, MO, with the development of an exhibit on PV applications in the agriculture sector (NREL) to be staffed by NREL personnel at the conference.
  • Continued partnership with DOE Rocky Mountain Oilfields Testing Center to test use of PV for oil transport in oilfields (NREL).
  • Loaned solar electric charging stations to help residents of Kiln, MS, recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The systems provided much-needed power to this town of about 2,000 people, located 13 miles north of Bay St. Louis, MS, and the Gulf of Mexico (NREL).

Future Directions

  • Continue support of joint DOE/USDA Conference in St. Louis, October 2006 (NREL).
  • Conduct expanded consumer workshops, jointly with Xcel Energy, at the Denver Western Stock Show (NREL).
  • Transition from Domestic Applications project to a broader scope of market transformation, supporting DOE in development of plans, review and selection of proposals, and technical support in the City Strategic Partnerships and Solar America Showcases projects (NREL).

This project concluded, based on guidance from DOE, at the end of FY 2006. Some existing activities, notably technical assistance, will be folded into the new PV Market Transformation activities that are part of the Solar America Initiative, including City Strategic Partnerships and Solar America Showcases. We will continue to provide technical support to federal, state, and local organizations, such as the Rocky Mountain Oilfields Testing Center in Casper, WY. DOE Headquarters activities will be supported on request.