WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu has announced the investment of up to $11.8 million — $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — for five projects designed to advance the next stage of development of solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS).

Chu said, “By integrating renewable energy onto the grid now, we can deliver power more reliably and effectively, lower utility bills for American families, and help rebuild our economy along the way.”

Initiated in 2008, the SEGIS activity is a partnership that includes DOE, Sandia National Laboratories, industry, utilities, and universities, and emphasizes complete system development. The selected projects focus on the most promising technology advances and include development of intelligent system controls. These projects ultimately seek to maintain or improve power quality and reliability, as well as return economic value, while increasing integration of solar technologies into the U.S. electrical grid.

Publication date: 09/07/2009