US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz delivered some good news to the attendees at the SPI 2014 show in Las Vegas this week. During the general session on Day Two, Secretary Moniz announced more than $53 million for 40 innovative research and development projects that aim to drive down the cost of solar energy, tackling key aspects of technology development in order to bring innovative ideas to the market more quickly.

Supporting the development of next generation photovoltaic solar technologies and advanced manufacturing processes, and addressing both hardware and non-hardware “soft” costs of solar installation, these awards support advancements will help reduce the cost of solar energy and make solar electricity more affordable and accessible for all Americans.