The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Photovoltaic (PV) Research Program and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) seeks to establish partnerships with outside organizations to advance PV research, analysis, development, and technology deployment. Below are examples of some of NREL's research partnerships:

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NREL, and a team of participants from academia, small business, and large business, have formed a technology R&D partnership to develop a highly efficient solar cell with portable terrestrial applications such as laptops, and batteries. High efficiency represents the "final frontier" for photovoltaics and allows expansion into new markets; thereby changing the way photovoltaics is used today.

Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force. The Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force and NREL formed a technology partnership to assess the increasing need for clean energy alternatives and to provide analysis and recommendation for energy efficiency and adequate transmission to the western United States. The Western Governors' Association Solar Energy Task Force and NREL formed a technology partnership to assess the increasing need for clean energy alternatives and to provide analysis and recommendation for energy efficiency and adequate transmission to the western United States.

The Crystalline Silicon Partnerships Team works with industry and university partners to develop novel approaches to produce high efficient, low-cost crystalline silicon cells, modules, materials, and processes. NREL's crystalline silicon research is critical to improving performance and manufacturing competitiveness, and relies on key partnerships to connect NREL's innovations with the PV market.

The High-Performance PV Partnerships Team explores the performance limits of existing PV technologies and aims to double sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, which will ultimately increase the cost competitiveness of PV in the marketplace. To accomplish this objective, NREL establishes partnerships with outside organizations to conduct research in high-performance polycrystalline thin films and multijunction concentrators.

The PV Manufacturing R&D Project works in partnership with industry and university partners to improve the performance and reliability of photovoltaic manufacturing equipment and products.

The Thin-Film Partnerships Program works with manufacturers to improve the performance and lower the costs for thin-film materials, processes, and devices. Their research areas include: amorphous silicon (a-Si), copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2 or CIS) and related materials, cadmium telluride (CdTe), environment, safety, and health (ES&H), and module reliability.

Please contact us if you would like to explore establishing a technology research partnership with NREL and the NCPV. Contact: David Christensen - 303-275-3015.

Please note that a technology research partnership does not include postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, or other forms of employment. Learn more about NREL's employment programs for postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, and employment.

Working with NREL. Researchers from NREL and United Solar Systems Corporation developed thin-film photovoltaic modules that are built right into roofing shingles.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offers industry, university, and other government agencies opportunities to leverage our research expertise. Working with outside organizations is the key to moving advanced photovoltaic (PV) technologies into the clean energy market. There are many ways to work with NREL's PV research program and the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV), a virtual collaborative of U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, universities, and industry partners.

Developing Technology Partnerships. NREL offers a variety of technology partnership agreements to help you gain access to our research expertise in photovoltaic technology. There are a variety of ways for your organization to get involved with NREL's photovoltaic research activities: Work collaboratively with us on a photovoltaic research project through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Pay NREL to conduct research without your collaboration through Work for Others (WFOs) or sponsored research, such as an Analytical Services Agreements (ASAs). These options are effective ways for industry to make good use of the NCPV's expertise and unique research facilities.

Submit a proposal in response to any active solicitation for assisting NREL with a photovoltaic R&D activity.

Work with NREL researchers through mentored research internships for undergraduate and graduate students.

Licensing Our Technology. Your company can license any available patented photovoltaic technology. For more information, search for solar technologies available for licensing in the National Renewable Energy section of the EERE Energy Innovation Portal.

Using Our Facilities. To help advance research and/or strengthen product marketability in photovoltaic research, NREL's Solar Energy Research Facility, Outdoor Test Facility, and our new Science and Technology Facility are available to industrial, university, and government researchers for collaborative research. We can also provide experienced research staff to help conduct testing, or you can perform testing on your own. To learn more, please visit these other sections of the NREL PV Research Web:

Capabilities. Please contact us if you would like to explore collaborative research opportunities with NREL's PV research program and the National Center for Photovoltaics: David Christensen - 303-275-3015. Please note that a collaborative research opportunity does not include postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, or other forms of employment. Learn more about NREL's employment programs for postdoctoral researchers, research associates, internships, and employment.

By Vasil Sidorov on October 29, 2011 

Technopark QUELTA, Queltanews Office

Nizhyn Laboratories of Scanning Devices

sidorovvasil@gmail.com