Fiscal Year 2025 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator
The Fiscal Year 2025 Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator grant seeks to boost US solar PV manufacturing, enhance energy security, and create jobs through innovation in PV technology and hardware across the supply chain.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
Golden Field Office has archived this opportunity.
Funder: Golden Field Office
Due Dates: March 21, 2025 (Concept Paper) | May 30, 2025 (Full Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $4,000,000 per award; total program funding $20M; project period 18–36 months; cost share required (20% R&D, 50% demonstration)
Summary: Supports for-profit entities to commercialize innovative solar PV manufacturing and hardware, aiming to strengthen the U.S. solar supply chain and energy security.
Key Information: Eligibility is limited to for-profit organizations as prime applicants; concept paper submission is required to apply.
Description
This opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office, funds research, development, and demonstration (R&D and demo) projects that accelerate the commercialization of innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies and hardware. The program specifically targets gaps in private investment for early-stage and pilot-scale solar manufacturing and hardware innovations, with the goal of reducing U.S. reliance on imported materials and technologies, creating clean energy jobs, and enhancing national energy security.
The funding is organized into three topic areas:
- Topic Area 1: Crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar module supply chain, including input materials, manufacturing equipment, process control, and module assembly.
- Topic Area 2: Cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV module supply chain, including materials, processes, manufacturing, metrology, recycling, and reclamation.
- Topic Area 3: Non-module solar hardware, such as structural and electrical components, power electronics, and tools that improve PV system performance, reliability, or ease of installation.
Projects must demonstrate a clear pathway to commercialization and are expected to deliver both near-term and long-term benefits to the U.S. solar industry and workforce.
