National Center for Photovoltaics

The National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) focuses on innovations in PV technology that drive industry growth in photovoltaic manufacturing nationwide. Below is a graphic illustrating a collaborative response to market need. By working together, government, academic, and private entities address technical challenges with stronger solutions and benefits to PV.

Graphic showing a linear progression starting with market need and technical problems; proceeding to input from resources with collaboration from government, academic, and private entities; and resulting in end products of R&D solutions and market benefits.

Mission

To help the U.S. photovoltaic industry maintain a competitive position, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV)-now part of the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program.

NCPV Organization

The NCPV is a central resource for our nation's capabilities in PV research, development, deployment, and outreach, uniting diverse research initiatives into a single coordinated effort.

Graphic of an organizational chart for the National Center for Photovoltaics. The NCPV director is L.L. Kazmerski. Reporting to the director is an Advisory Board; NREL program manager Tom Surek; the NCPV management team; and NREL managers of each research group. The Electronic Materials and Devices group from NREL is managed by John Benner and includes research in a-Si; CdTe; CIGS; Si Materials & Devices; III-V Materials/Devices; Conducting Oxides; IR PV Materials/Devices; Organics, Nanotechnol; and Devices & Processes. The Measurements and Characterization group from NREL is managed by Pete Sheldon and includes research sections in Electro-Optical Characterization, Analytical Microscopy, Surface Analysis, and Device Performance. The Partnerships, Engineering and Reliability group from NREL is managed by Carol Riordan with research in Engineering Validation, Reliability & Service Lifetime Analysis, Module and Small System Testing, and Project Management and Partnerships. The PV Systems Research and Development group from Sandia is managed by Joe Tillerson for the Solar Program and Jeff Nelson who is the program manager. Research areas include Systems Development & Reliability/Integration; Energy Management, Conversion Control; System Benchmarking/Data Collection; Balance of System Components; Modules & Analysis. The Solar Thermal Programs Fundamental and Applied Support is managed by both NREL and Sandia. The Material Sciences Center director is Satyen Deb from NREL. The Buildings and Thermal Center director is Ron Judkoff from NREL. The Analysis director is Robert Margolis from NREL.

The NCPV promotes results-oriented partnerships and alliances.

The NCPV draws on the core expertise of DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories to guide operations and coordinate support from other national PV resources, which include:

Brookhaven National Laboratory
DOE's University Centers of Excellence in PV—the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Institute of Energy Conversion at the University of Delaware
DOE's Regional Experiment Stations—the Southeast Regional Experiment Station and the Southwest Technology Development Institute
Many University and Industry Partners

The NCPV focuses on enhancing the Solar America Initiative (SAI).

Crystalline silicon and thin-film PV
Flat-plate and concentrator PV
Manufacturing and reliability
PV systems research and development
Next-generation PV technologies

Please see the SAI web for more information.

The NCPV strengthens our nation's competitiveness in Photovoltaics R&D and markets.

Primary goals that will lead to greater competitiveness include:

Enhancing cell, module, and system performance
Boosting product system reliability, durability, and lifetime
Simplifying system installation
Sparking technological innovation
Ensuring U.S. technology ownership

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