Partnerships
NREL's research partnerships with outside organizations help advance PV research, analysis, development, and technology deployment.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Photovoltaic (PV) Research Program and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) seeks to establish partnerships with outside organizations to advance PV research, analysis, development, and technology deployment. Below are examples of some of NREL's research partnerships:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NREL, and a team of participants from academia, small business, and large business, have formed a technology R&D partnership to develop a highly efficient solar cell with portable terrestrial applications such as laptops, and batteries. High efficiency represents the "final frontier" for photovoltaics and allows expansion into new markets; thereby changing the way photovoltaics is used today.
Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force
The Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force and NREL formed a technology partnership to assess the increasing need for clean energy alternatives and to provide analysis and recommendation for energy efficiency and adequate transmission to the western United States.
The Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force and NREL formed a technology partnership to assess the increasing need for clean energy alternatives and to provide analysis and recommendation for energy efficiency and adequate transmission to the western United States.
Crystalline Silicon Partnerships Team
The Crystalline Silicon Partnerships Team works with industry and university partners to develop novel approaches to produce high efficient, low-cost crystalline silicon cells, modules, materials, and processes. NREL's crystalline silicon research is critical to improving performance and manufacturing competitiveness, and relies on key partnerships to connect NREL's innovations with the PV market.
High-Performance PV Partnerships Team
The High-Performance PV Partnerships Team explores the performance limits of existing PV technologies and aims to double sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, which will ultimately increase the cost competitiveness of PV in the marketplace. To accomplish this objective, NREL establishes partnerships with outside organizations to conduct research in high-performance polycrystalline thin films and multijunction concentrators.
PV Manufacturing R&D Project
The PV Manufacturing R&D Project works in partnership with industry and university partners to improve the performance and reliability of photovoltaic manufacturing equipment and products.
Thin-Film Partnerships Program
The Thin-Film Partnerships Program works with manufacturers to improve the performance and lower the costs for thin-film materials, processes, and devices. Their research areas include: amorphous silicon (a-Si), copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2 or CIS) and related materials, cadmium telluride (CdTe), environment, safety, and health (ES&H), and module reliability.
Solar America Initiative
The Solar America Initiative (SAI) is a new initiative to fulfill solar energy's promise by accelerating the development of advanced PV materials through developing partnerships with industry, universities, national laboratories, states and/or other public entities.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you would like to explore establishing a technology research partnership with NREL and the NCPV.
Contact:
David Christensen
303-275-3015
Please note that a technology research partnership does not include postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, or other forms of employment. Learn more about NREL's employment programs for postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, and employment.
