Notice of Funding Opportunity: FY25 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator

About this opportunity

Office: Solar Energy Technologies OfficeNOFO number: DE-FOA-0003460Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange On January 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the FY25 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). This NOFO will fund up to 10 awards of $1 to $4 million each for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects in crystalline silicon (c-Si) module technology, cadmium telluride (CdTe) module technology, and non-module hardware technology. For-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. This NOFO aims to reduce the nation’s reliance on imported materials and technologies by investing in innovations across the photovoltaic (PV) supply chain—from manufacturing tools to module assembly—and hardware components like power electronics and structural equipment. Prior to submitting a full application, a mandatory concept paper is due March 21, 2025, by 5 p.m. ET. This topic area seeks to conduct early-stage pilot-scale testing and demonstration of innovative processes or products that can substantively increase domestic manufacturing in all segments of the c-Si module supply chain. Relevant segments of the supply chain are: Each segment also includes manufacturing equipment, input materials, process-control and characterization tools, and consumables used in that segment.