Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility launches R&D Voucher Program to further Concentrating Solar Power technologies

Sandia National Laboratories is currently seeking applications from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and individuals to further technologies related to Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF), a Core Capability and Technology Deployment Center of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).

“Sandia researchers at the NSTTF are excited to work with companies and academia in all areas of concentrating solar thermal technology and at all stages of research,” said CSP Program Manager Margaret Gordon.

According to the request for proposals, the following areas are of particular interest:

• receiver testing,
• heat transfer fluid evaluation in on-sun conditions,
• heat-exchanger testing,
• thermal/thermochemical storage systems,
• molten salt and associated components evaluation,
• high temperature coating development,
• supercritical CO₂ component evaluation,
• particle-receiver and particle-component evaluation,
• gas receiver component evaluation,
• heliostat evaluation/design,
• control system integration and evaluation,
• solar-thermochemical processes and  
• testing of small scale CSP systems

SETO has made up to $1 million available for up to five awards, ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, for projects utilizing NSTTF expertise and testing facilities in Albuquerque, NM. Projects will be one year in length.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.

Read the CSP RFP Frequently Asked Questions.

Click for more on the Concentrating Solar Power Technologies program or the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF).