The DOE SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the installed costs of solar energy systems by 75% by the end of the decade, achieving grid parity for subsidy-free solar energy. SunShot drives American innovation through advanced research and development, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and cutting-edge technology. If successful, the SunShot Initiative will ensure solar energy is a viable and economic source for the nation's power needs and will significantly contribute to U.S. prosperity in the 21st century.

The SunShot Incubator Program facilitates American small business' transitions from a proof of concept or business plan to domestic commercialization or deployment. The emphasis on proposed activities should be focused on addressing barriers to scale-up, commercialization, and deployment by 2015. This funding opportunity seeks to create independent businesses which can fully support themselves and continue to grow after the end of the award period. This opportunity is not for creating a product, organization, service, or other entity or item which requires continued government support.

Areas of programmatic interest include but are not limited to:

1. Photovoltaics
2. Balance of systems
3. Power electronics
4. Concentrating solar power
5. Tools to address non-hardware costs of solar energy
6. Plug-and-play wiring and installation techniques
7. Energy storage
8. Other proposals that bring novel, non-incremental technologies that facilitate SunShot goals in any area of solar energy deployment to market.

DOE is supporting the development of tools and approaches that will reduce balance of system non-hardware costs for solar energy systems. These soft costs—expenses associated with permitting, financing, interconnection, and inspection—can account for approximately half of the total expense of photovoltaic installations.

As part of the SunShot Incubator program, this funding opportunity is designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs develop data-driven tools, innovative programs, and streamlined processes that will make solar more accessible for Americans. This solicitation builds on the Incubator program's proven success with photovoltaic technologies to begin targeting market barriers. By addressing all sectors of the solar energy economy, the SunShot Initiative works to reduce the total installed cost of photovoltaic systems.