These projects will help advancesolar energy beyond current PV and concentrated solar power technologies todrive lower-cost, reliable solar energy deployment, according to EnergySecretary Ernest Moniz.

The Advanced Research ProjectsAgency-Energy (ARPA-E) advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologiesthat are too early for private-sector investment. Funding awardees are uniquein that they are developing entirely new ways to generate, store and useenergy.

The projects are part of ARPA-E’sFull-Spectrum Optimized Conversion and Utilization of Sunlight (FOCUS) program,which is aimed at developing new hybrid solar energy converters and hybridenergy storage systems that can deliver low-cost, high-efficiency solar energyon demand.