The Sandia Solar Programs e-newsletter features highlights, key activities, events, and publications.
Focused on developing cost-effective, reliable photovoltaic energy systems and accelerating the integration of PV technology in the United States and globally.
Using mirrors to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area where the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a generator.
Photovoltaics
Sandia Labs’ solar photovoltaic (PV) work is focused on developing cost-effective, reliable photovoltaic energy systems and accelerating the integration of PV technology in the United States and globally. The Labs’ PV department provides the technical lead for systems integration and balance-of-systems manufacturing technologies as well as technical support to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in deployment and validation of PV systems for federal agencies, utilities, and other institutional users. Sandia assists industry and users by providing technical assistance, accurate performance measurements, component development and improvement, and system evaluation. A major thrust of the department is to evaluate and improve the performance, reliability, and cost effectiveness of systems and balance-of-systems components.
Sandia’s PV research staff work collaboratively with DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program, the U.S. photovoltaic industry, other government agencies and national laboratories, and international organizations to increase the worldwide use of PV power systems by reducing cost, improving reliability, increasing performance, removing barriers, and growing markets.
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
In virtually all applications CSP is large power, on the order of 100 MW or larger, that is used by utilities to generate electricity and distribute to consumers. In a CSP plant, solar energy is converted to heat and the heat is used in a conventional power cycle or other heat engine to produce mechanical power and drive a generator.
CSP Videos
SunShot Solar CSP (Source: Department of Energy)
New Solar Power Technology: Could Get Power on Cloudy Days (Source: KOAT)
- Analysis to Inform CA Grid Integration Rules for PV: Final Report on Inverter Settings for Transmission and Distribution System Performance (0 downloads)
- CHARACTERIZING PV ARCING CONDITIONS WITH IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE ANALYSIS (130 downloads)
- Ground Irradiance Data (130 downloads)
- PV Array Simulator Development and Validation (130 downloads)
- Lanai High-Density Irradiance Sensor Network for Characterizing Solar Resource Variability of MW-Scale PV System (130 downloads)
- Solar Energy Programs
- Sandia’s Livermore Site to Help Validate Cool Earth Solar’s CPV Technology
- Microsystems Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV) “Solar Glitter”
- PV Value ®
- Arc Fault Detection and Mitigation
- Fuel Cell Membranes Open New Doors for Power
- Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL
- Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory (DETL)
- Regional Test Centers for PV Technologies
- National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF)
- Molten-Salt Test Loop (MSTL)
- Solar Glare Hazard Analysis (SGHAT)
- Roof Structure Analysis
Visit with Sandia at Solar Power International Sept 10-13
Sandia will be exhibiting at the largest solar trade show in North America, Solar Power International, in Las Vegas, NV Sept 10-13. Stop by booth #1457 to learn more about Sandia's solar power R&D capabilities in photovoltaics [...]
Sandia’s Solar Tower Welcomes the Eclipse!
Sandia solar energy researcher Josh Christian and his colleagues will investigate the effects of the eclipse on the ongoing research performed at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility Today, August 21st, the National [...]
Sandia National Laboratories to host a Tour of the Vermont Regional Test Center as part of the Catalyst of the Climate Economy Summit September 8, 2017
Catalysts of the Climate Economy is a 3-day national innovation summit, September 6-8 in Burlington, Vermont to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders who are accelerating economic development by solving the unprecedented challenges presented [...]
DOE SunShot Photo Contest: Earn Cash Prizes for Solar Energy Photos
The Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative is hosting the “Hit Me with Your SunShot” photo contest with up to $2,500 in cash prizes, including a $500 grand prize. This new photo contest wants to see how [...]