Major stimulus for solar energy integration

The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have teamed up to announce the investment of $11.8 million for solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS).
The funding, which includes $5 million from ARRA, will support five projects that aim to take SEGIS to the next level of development, according to Energy Efficiency News . These projects include a plan to optimize interconnections between al types of photovoltaic modules and improve communications between solar power generating systems and utilities.
All of the projects are conducted by outside researchers. For example, a $2.9 million project to improve the reliability of solar power systems is being run by Plainfield, N.J.-based Petra Solar , the University of Central Florida , and 15 electric utility companies.
"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," said DOE secretary Steven Chu.

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