NORCROSS, GA.—(eSolarEnergyNews)—Suniva, a metro-Atlanta based manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, announces today that it has been awarded $2.3 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and manufacture high power n-type solar cells with efficiencies ≥ 22.5%. The grant is part of the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative, which is focused on accelerating the development of cost-competitive solar technologies.

Suniva Inc., in collaboration with Georgia Tech Research Corporation, plans to develop n-type solar cells with efficiencies ≥ 22.5% using high volume low-cost manufacturing based on a new disruptive technology. This technology will improve the total energy yields from solar panels enabling a significant reduction in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) consistent with SunShot program objectives.

According to the Energy Department, the average cost of solar PV panels has dropped more than 60 percent and the cost of a solar electric system has dropped by about 50 percent since 2010; solar is now affordable for more American families and companies.

“It’s an honor to be selected for this award and we look forward to working with Georgia Tech to further strengthen our position as America’s leading PV manufacturer,” said Dr. Atul Gupta, director of product development at Suniva and the principal investigator on this award. “Suniva appreciates SunShot’s resolve to cultivate innovative technologies and boost PV manufacturing in the U.S. through the SunShot Solar Manufacturing Technology (SolarMaT) program.” This is the second competitive grant awarded to Suniva through the SolarMaT program which is administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) within the Energy Department.

The SunShot Initiative aggressively supports development of low-cost, high-efficiency solar technologies in order to make solar electricity cost-competitive with other sources of energy by 2020. The achievement of the SunShot Initiative goals will encourage rapid, widespread adoption of solar energy across the United States.