Background
The Solar Energy Innovation Network (Innovation Network) is a collaborative research effort administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. An innovative program design brings together teams of stakeholders including utilities, state and local governments, nonprofits, innovative companies, and electric system operators. With the support of technical experts from national laboratories and other research institutions, these teams work to test innovative applications of solar electricity and solar generation enabling technologies in their unique locations and contexts. The solutions developed by the teams are tested and validated in real-world contexts, making them ready for replication and scale.
Through coordinated and facilitated engagement, selected teams work together to identify local and regional impacts, formulate and test innovations, and validate new models. This deepens participant research learning and strengthens outcomes. Over the course of the work effort, these teams receive analytical support and direction from NREL and partner research organizations, ensuring the academic rigor and viability of resulting solutions. The outcomes feed into the continual development and testing of new concepts, models, and designs.
The Innovation Network develops early-stage frameworks, models, and algorithms to address the long-term challenges of the changing electrical grid. This program aims to:
• Increase the relevance of solar research and
analysis by using real-world data to address
challenges of and propose solutions for increasing
solar energy adoption;
• Perform in-depth analysis to generate broader
insights applicable to other stakeholders; and
• Facilitate dissemination and replication of the
insights and solutions.
The Innovation Network builds on successful elements of past and current programs at DOE and NREL, to bring together diverse groups of stakeholders striving to bring novel solutions to bear in the market. Addition information is available on the website: https://www.nrel.gov/solar/solar-energy-innovation-network.html.
Objective
NREL is seeking Subcontractors to address one of the two topics below as part of an Innovation Network team. Each Innovation Network team brings together stakeholders to develop solutions that explore new approaches to solar market barriers, reduce integration risks, and increase market opportunities-with the support of the nation's premier energy research organizations. Insights gained from these collaborations will inform foundational solar research and development pathways and allow for testing of new business models and technology solutions. The maximum NREL funding available for each award is $125,000 for a period of performance of 15 months or less. The minimum price participation (cost share) from each Subcontractor shall be 20% of the total project size.
See attached RFP, SOW and Sample Subcontract.
Bill Peters, Sr. Subcontract Administrator, Phone 303-384-4332, Email seinrfp@nrel.gov - Jeffrey A Soltesz, Contract Administrator, Phone 303-384-7409, Email seinrfp@nrel.gov