Golden Field Office; Supplemental Announcement to the Broad Based Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications Involving Research, Development and Demonstration for the Office of Energy, Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Photovoltaics for Utility Scale Applications (PVUSA)

DOE is soliciting Applications to: maintain and operate the PVUSA California test site, located in Davis, California; provide performance assessments of the individual systems; and disseminate information to utilities and other users. PVUSA's primary objective is to evaluate a wide range of promising PV module and balance of system (BOS) technologies. PVUSA is a national public- private partnership composed of private industry, local governments, utilities, utility-related industries, and Federal entities. The partnership is conducting a project that assesses and demonstrates the viability of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) electric generating systems and recent developments in module technology and encourages commercialization of promising PV technologies. DOE, as a participant of PVUSA, is supporting the operation and maintenance of the PVUSA California test site. At the PVUSA California test site, PV systems and components are evaluated and the information disseminated to utilities, manufacturers, National laboratories, and industry. The project offers manufacturers feedback on component reliability, availability, and standardization which may lead to cost reductions. The fielded systems represent mature module technologies that have the potential to produce low-cost energy and meet the Operation and Maintenance (O&M), power quality, reliability, and lifetime requirements necessary for a wide variety of applications, from remote power to utility applications. This project also exposes the PV industry to commercial procurement and construction practices. For more information about PVUSA, see the PVUSA web site at www.pvusa.com. The award under this Supplemental Announcement will be a Cooperative Agreement with a term of up to 36 months. Subject to the availability of funding, DOE anticipates selecting one application for award with funding not to exceed $600,000 per year. A minimum cost share of 50% of the total project cost is required. Solicitation Number DE-PS36-99GO10383, in conjunction with this Supplemental Announcement-06, will include complete information on the program including technical aspects, funding, application preparation instructions, application evaluation criteria, and other factors that will be considered when selecting projects for funding. Issuance of the Supplemental Announcement is planned for the week of March 29, 1999, with responses due on May 6, 1999. Questions should be submitted in writing to: John P. Motz, DOE Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393; transmitted via facsimile to John P. Motz at (303) 275-4788; or electronically to john__motz@nrel.gov.