Photovoltaics R&D in the United States: positioning for our future

This paper provides a brief look at the current U.S. research and development (R&D) investments in photovoltaics, covering the spectrum from materials and devices through electronics and systems reliability. The program is balanced among fundamental R&D, technology development, and systems performance and reliability, with more than half the funding for university and industry partners. The major activities can be categorized into two general areas: improving current and near-term technologies toward their expected performance levels (the largest portion), and positioning the United States for technical leadership, decision making, and ownership for the host of next-technology options (including some options that have been called third-generation). The investments in these higher risk, longer-term technology generations provide options that could leapfrog into more rapid use because of their promise of potentially high payoff. Solar electricity is part of America´s present and future energy security and independence-as is the R&D that enables it.