U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Technologies Program – Solar America Initiative

Photographs

These photographs represent companies that are recipients of the Technology Pathway Partnership (TPP) or PV Technology Incubator awards.

Technology Pathway Partners

The teams selected for the Technology Pathway Partnerships accelerate the drive toward commercialization of U.S.-produced photovoltaic systems. These partnerships comprise more than 50 companies, 14 universities, 3 non-profit organizations, and 2 national laboratories. Below are photographs of TTP-related activities.

Photo of Konarka's new technology, a flexible organic photovoltaic module on film.

Konarka demonstrates the flexibility of its organic photovoltaic technology on film.

 Photo of Konarka's new technology, a flexible organic photovoltaic module on film.

Konarka features its flexible organic photovoltaic film.

 Photo of the BP Solar facility in Frederick, Maryland.

BP Solar features its facility in Frederick, Maryland. The company also has facilities in Spain, India, and Australia.

Photo of BP solar cells being automatically sorted after the final testing phase.

At a BP Solar manufacturing facility, solar cells are automatically sorted after they complete the final testing phase.

 Photo of a 1.5-megawatt solar electric system, created by SunPower, that is used at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

SunPower's 14.2-megawatt solar electric system is used at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

 Photo of President George W. Bush's tour of the United Solar Ovonic's manufacturing plant in Auburn Hills, Michigan. President of Uni-Solar, Subhendu Guha, accompanies the President during the visit, which highlighted the launch of the national Solar America Initiative in 2007.

President George W. Bush tours United Solar Ovonic's manufacturing plant in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Photo of SunPower employee installing its PowerGuard® solar electric system on a rooftop at sunset.

SunPower installs its PowerGuard® rooftop solar electric system.

    

PV Incubators

The goal of the Photovoltaic (PV) Incubator funding opportunity is to develop prototype PV components and systems. The emphasis is on barriers to entry for 2010 commercialization. Additional PV Incubator funding opportunities will be provided about every 9 months. Below are photographs of PV Incubator-related activities.

Photo of the four AVA Solar founders (Pascal Noronha, W.S. Sampath, Al Enzenroth, and Kurt Barth) holding one of their thin-film photovoltaic modules.

AVA Solar founders (left to right) Pascal Noronha, W.S. Sampath, Al Enzenroth, and Kurt Barth display one of their thin-film photovoltaic modules.

 Photo of a gloved researcher holding a thin-film solar cell that was fabricated by MicroLink.

MicroLink exhibits one of its thin-film solar cell structures.

 Photo of a gloved researcher holding a thin-film solar cell that was fabricated by MicroLink.

MicroLink demonstrates the versatility of a thin-film solar cell.

Close-up photo of an organic solar cell, designed by Plextronics.

Plextronics displays a close-up of its organic solar cell.

 Photo of a Solaria researcher, Frank Magana, as he peers into a reliability test chamber, which evaluates photovoltaic cells under specific temperature and humidity environments.

Solaria tests its photovoltaic cells in a reliability chamber that evaluates the cells under specific temperature and humidity environments.

 Photo of Solaria technology that automates the assembly of the front lens and back cover of photovoltaic cells.

Solaria automates the assembly of the front lens and back cover of photovoltaic cells.