The SunShot Program aims to make solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources by 2020. It has price and date targets of 5-6 cents per kilowatt-hour for fully installed utility-scale solar and grid parity for residential and commercial markets by 2020. SunShot focuses on transforming solar technologies like PV modules, balance of system components, and power electronics. It takes a team approach, funding vertically integrated teams to develop technologies according to roadmaps. Stakeholder engagement is also emphasized. The goals are to enable widespread solar deployment without subsidies, boost U.S. competitiveness, and improve energy security and the environment.

1. The SunShot Program
The Dollar a Watt Team
Program Name or Ancillary Text eere.energy.gov

2. Imagine a World…
What if we had subsidy-free solar
electricity at an LCOE of 5-6 ¢/kWh ???
• Scaling without Subsidies
• Jobs and Competitiveness
• National Energy Security
• Healthy Environment
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

3. Enabling this World
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

4. What is SunShot?
• Price and date targets
– 5-6¢/kWh fully installed at the MW
scale by 2020
– Unsubsidized grid parity in residential
and commercial markets by 2020
• Transformational technologies
– PV Modules
– BOS
– Power Electronics
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

5. SunShot enables unsubsidized
deployment of solar energy
Total PV Generation Fraction
20%
18% $1/Watt
$1.50/Watt
16%
SP targets
14% $2/Watt
12% Reference
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Total PV Capacity
700
$1/Watt
600 $1.50/Watt
500 SP targets
Goodrich, Margolis, et al 400
$2/Watt
Reference
GW
NREL 300
200
100
0
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

6. SunShot enables unsubsidized
deployment of solar energy
$1/Watt 2030 Cumulative PV Capacity Map (375 GW total)
Total PV Capacity
(GW)
<1
1- 3
3- 5
5- 8
$1/Watt 2050 Cumulative PV Capacity Map (610 GW total)
8 - 12
12 - 17
> 17
Goodrich, Margolis, et al
NREL
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

7. Taking a Team Approach
R. Ramesh
SunShot Director
Minh Le Rajeev Ram
PV Module Module Task Power Power Electronics
EERE Force (EERE) Electronics ARPA-E
(ARPA-E)
GOAL : 50c GOAL 10c
/Watt /Watt
Tex Wilkins Kevin Lynn
CSP Systems Integration
EERE EERE
Balance of
Fundamental Systems
Research (EERE)
(SC) GOAL:
Jim Horwitz 40c /Watt Jennifer De Cesaro
Fundamental BOS-Software
Science Rachel Tronstein &
EERE
OS John Lushetsky,
SunShot Strategic Planning, EERE
Advisory Board : Bill Brinkman ( OS); Arun Majumdar (ARPA-E); Cathy Zoi (EERE)
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

8. Core Funding Strategy
Technologies not ready Final phase may include
for integration teams may down select competition
continue in development for large scale deployment
on Government facility.
VERTICALLY INTEGRATED TEAMS
(based on road maps)
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

9. R,D & D Roadmaps : Guiding Technology
Development and Deployment
• Roadmap for Module: Materials, manufacturing, integration,
reliability testing
• Roadmap for Power Electronics: Component innovations,
communication protocols
• Roadmap for Balance of System: Materials, Design,
Automation
• Industry, National Labs and Academia deeply involved in
creating and implementing road maps
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

10. Engaging the stakeholders
• Dollar a Watt Workshop, August 2010
• Solar Roundtable, Jan 13
• Soft BOS workshop Feb 9
• Power Electronics Workshop Feb 8
• Hard BOS workshop Feb 9
• Manufacturing/Demonstration workshop March
• CSP workshop : March 2
• This workshop
• Website, blogsite,…
• More to come …
ARPA-E Summit 12 doe.energy.gov

11. Algorithms : PV Module
Technologies
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
Efficiency
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

12. Barriers based investment :
CIGS Modules
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
$3.50
$3.00
$2.50
$2.00
$/WDC
$3.50
$1.50 $0.42
$0.28
$1.00
$1.70 $0.28
$0.22
$0.50
$0.50
$0.00
ARPA-E Summit 16 doe.energy.gov

13. Approach to 50c/W Modules:
CIGS Modules
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
Cost
Drivers Reduction Pathways
Technical Risk
Potential
Materials cost and availability High Medium Thinner layers or replacement with
(Indium, selenium, cadmium) Earth abundant and benign materials
(e.g., CZTS, ZnS, …)
Transparent Conductors High Low ITO alternative materials and/or
deposition methodologies
Large scale spatial uniformity High Medium Improved in-situ metrology, thermal
and improved throughput control, and elimination of chemical
with same or lower cost of bath CdS
capital
Glass and/or Encapsulants Medium Medium Flexible low-cost front and backsheets
with low WVTR (i.e., ultrabarriers, glass
replacement)
Operational costs of Medium Medium Eliminate batch selenization, alternative
selenization ovens deposition methodologies (e.g.,
atmospheric deposition).
ARPA-E Summit 17 doe.energy.gov

14. Barriers based investments:
CIGS Modules
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
Potential
Technical
Current Pathways
Action Risk
Increase
(mA/cm2)
Larger band gap junction 2.5 Medium Replace CdS ( e.g. 2.5 eV) with wide
partner bandgap emitter (i.e., ZnS (3.1 eV))
Improved TCO 1.5 Medium Develop TCO with high conductivity,
transparency, environmental stability
(i.e., a-InZnO)
Reduce CdS window 1.5 Medium Develop 20 nm thick continuous CdS
layer thickness layer without shunting.
Minimize reflection off 1.5 Medium Develop a suitable low cost anti-
CIGS surface reflection coating
Improved monolithic 1 Low Reduce line width of laser/mechanical
integration scribing
ARPA-E Summit 18 doe.energy.gov

15. Barriers based investments:
CIGS Modules
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
Potential
Technical
Voltage
Action Risk Pathways
Increase
(V)
Increase the Ga/In 0.1 Medium Increase CIGS deposition
ratio in CIGS by a temperature via higher
factor of 2 to 3 temperature glass substrates
or alternative stable
substrates.
Improve the absorber 0.05 Medium Implement in-situ quality
carrier lifetime and control at minimal additional
concentration cost
ARPA-E Summit 19 doe.energy.gov

16. Barriers based investments:
CIGS Modules
$
Watt
∝
Manufacturing Cost
Efficiency
η ∝ J SC ⋅VOC ⋅ FF
Technical
Potential FF Pathways
Action Risk
Increase
Reduce parasitic 0.10 Low Improve the density, phase,
leakage current and crystallinity of the
absorber
Reduce contact 0.07 Low Improved TCO and contact
resistance grid combination
ARPA-E Summit 20 doe.energy.gov

17. Balance of System
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

18. Power Electronics for Commercial
Rooftop Solar
Goal: Module level MPPT (>98%)
Barrier: Cost & reliability
Approach: DC/DC or DC/AC module integrated
converters
Goal: Light weight, roof-top inverter
99%, 200-500kW, eliminates DC conduit and wiring
Barrier: High-frequency switches and magnetics
AC switches (for current drive architectures)
Approach: Wide-bandgap switches with advanced magnetic materials
Actively Engaging the Stakeholders:
Extracts from Power Electronics Workshop
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

19. Power Electronics for
Utility Scale Solar
Goal: Consolidate the number of inverters
e.g., 20 MW installation will have 20 x 1MW inverters
Barrier: Longer wiring, limited by loss
Approach: Higher DC bus voltages
DC/DC boost converters at module string (w/ MPPT)
Goal: Improve power quality while delivering cost
high frequency electronics - improved EMI, reduced harmonics
Barrier: - Low loss, high-voltage switches and magnetics
- Utility ‘ownership’ of line frequency transformer
Approach: Wide-bandgap switches with advanced magnetic materials
Actively Engaging the Stakeholders:
Extracts from Power Electronics Workshop
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

20. Balance of Systems : A complex
beast to tackle!!
Today 2014 2017
BOS is different for Utility vs. Commercial vs. Residential
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

21. Utility Scale BOS
• Opportunity for small improvements in a range of areas
• Three elements of the strategy:
1. Design innovations
2. Materials and Mechanics
3. Installation approaches and automation
Automation
Plug and Play with BIPV Wiring, Frameworks, Mechanics
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

22. PV BOS Hard Costs Workshop
• Topic 1: Transformational Building Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV) Modules (Cost Target <$2/W)
– Develop a business case for integrating PV into a roofing product
with the potential for GW’s of installations
– Develop a partnership with a roofing company
– Encourage the Integration of Power
Electronics
– Demonstrate a form factor and
installation design that reduces the
temperature of both the PV cell and
the roof assembly
– Develop a highly reliability product
with lifetimes of 20 years or more
– Demonstrate a form factor that can
be quickly and easily installed.
ARPA-E Summit 26 doe.energy.gov

23. Why SunShot ?
1995: 43%
• Global Competitiveness 2000: 27%
2009: 6%
• Energy Security
• Environmental Issues
• Life without subsidies
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov

24. Thank You
ramamoorthy.ramesh@ee.doe.gov
ARPA-E Summit doe.energy.gov