Outlook for the US PV research program and implications for terrestrial systems and applications

The US PV program has proposed a strong research agenda for Fiscal Year (PI) 2001. The program has established milestones to achieve a 14% efficient stable prototype thin-film module, and achieve further advances in laboratory cell efficiencies that will have implications for the PV products deployed in terrestrial systems and applications. Key efforts include basic research to investigate innovative, nonconventional PV materials, devices and processes; high-performance PV research into thin-films and Ill-V materials; new PVMaT work on in-situ monitoring and process diagnostics; and continued research into PV building integration. Congress' response to the FY2001 budget request may significantly influence our plans. This paper provides an update on the appropriations process and highlights new elements of the US PV program in FY 2001.