Solar Energy Technologies Program: Organization and Contacts

Organizational and contact information for the Solar Energy Technologies Program are provided below. The Solar Energy Technologies Program is managed at Department of energy (DOE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., and research and development is conducted in the field at DOE facilities throughout the country.

Organization Chart

Contact Information

U.S. Department of Energy – Solar Energy Technologies Program

Tom Kimbis, Acting Program Manager
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, EE-2A
Washington, DC, 20585
Phone: 202-586-8064
Email: SETP Program

Program Contacts

Photovoltaics

Solar Thermal Electric (Concentrating Solar Power)

System Building Integration

Market Transformation

Field Operations

Field operations-which include R&D, project management, and R&D subcontract management-is performed at four national laboratories and the Golden Field Office.

Four National Laboratories

Photo of NREL's Solar Energy Research Facility.

NREL's Solar Energy Research Facility is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics and houses more than 50 laboratories for fundamental and applied R&D on PV materials, devices, and concepts.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the lead laboratory for the Photovoltaics Subprogram. NREL conducts fundamental and applied materials research on PV devices, PV module reliability and systems development, data collection and evaluation on solar radiation, and implementation of cost-shared government/industry partnerships. Basic research teams investigate a variety of PV materials, such as amorphous silicon, polycrystalline thin films, high-efficiency materials and concepts, and high-purity silicon and compound semiconductors. NREL conducts simulated and actual outdoor tests on PV cells, modules, and arrays. The test results are used in developing standards and performance criteria for industry and to improve reliability. NREL also serves as the lead laboratory for the Solar Heating activities of the Solar Thermal Subprogram. NREL supports this by managing technical tasks subcontracted to universities and industry and the development of low-cost solar collectors for water or space heating. Roland Hulstrom is the technology manager for NREL's Solar Program and Larry Kazmerski is the Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics.

Photo of Sandia National Laboratory's National Solar Test Facility.

Besides having responsibility for balance-of-systems technology development for photovoltaics, SNL manages the National Solar Test Facility, where it tests and proves technologies for Concentrating Solar Power.

Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) performs R&D that is crucial to the Photovoltaics Subprogram, having the principal responsibility for systems and balance-of-systems technology development and reliability. Indoor and outdoor measurement and evaluation facilities at SNL provide support to industry for cell, module, and systems measurement, evaluation, and analysis. Systems-level work concentrates on engineering reliability, database development, and technology transfer. SNL also performs R&D for the Concentrating Solar Power Subprogram and manages the National Solar Test Facility. Joe Tillerson manages the Solar Program activities and Jeff Nelson manages the CSP Program activities at Sandia National Laboratories.

Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) has the responsibility for investigating potential environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) impacts associated with PV energy production, delivery, and use. BNL conducts EH&S audits, safety reviews, and incident investigations and assists industry in identifying and examining potential EH&S barriers for new PV materials, processes, and application options before their large-scale commercialization. Vasilis Fthenakis leads the ES&H investigations for BNL and the Solar Program; he also maintains the PV EH&S Research and Assistance Center.

Photo of researchers working on hybrid solar lighting technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the R&D efforts on hybrid solar lighting technology, which uses concentrators and fiber optics to bring sunshine to the interior of buildings.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducts R&D in areas such as direct use of solar, buildings integration, hybrid solar lighting, photovoltaics, and advanced component development. The ORNL Solar Technologies Program's largest contribution to the renewable community has been the development of its hybrid solar lighting system. This system uses a roof-mounted solar collector and small fiber optics to transfer sunlight to hybrid fixtures with electric lamps. A nation wide field trial demonstration program is currently taking place. Melissa Voss Lapsa is the contact for this project.

Golden Field Office, Golden, Colorado

The Golden Field Office (GO) administers the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation grant for the Solar Thermal Subprogram. This grant enables the solar industry to develop voluntary standards on the performance and reliability of solar water heaters. GO also administers contracts for two projects for the Photovoltaics Subprogram. GO uses cooperative agreements and requests for proposals to help industry realize the benefits of using PV systems and devices. Rita Wells manages the Golden Field Office.

To learn more about the research areas of the Solar Energy Technologies Program, please see these respective pages:

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Technologies Program

Organization and Contacts