A project by Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries Inc. has been awarded a federal grant by the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the department“s effort to boost innovation in the solar manufacturi…
A project by Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries Inc. has been awarded a federal grant by the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the department“s effort to boost innovation in the solar manufacturing industry. According to a statement from the DOE, PPG has been awarded USD 3.1 million for a project to develop the materials, coating design and manufacturing process to commercialize a new glass article for Cadmium Telluride a thin film used in photovoltaic module manufacturing. The grant is part of the SunShot initiative, in which the department is investing up to USD 20.3 million in projects geared toward the solar manufacturing supply chain. America is in a world race to produce cost-effective, quality photovoltaics, said US Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a written statement. The SunShot initiative will spur American innovations to reduce the costs of solar energy and re-establish US global leadership in this growing industry. The department also awarded USD 7 million to fund a round of the photovoltaic incubator programme within the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to help commercialize promising technology more quickly.