DOE’s PV Manufacturing Initiative: Fostering a Robust Domestic Industry

(RFI) at the www.fedconnect.net website. At the FedConnect website, click
on
Search Public Opportunities . In the Search Criteria , click on the pull

down menu and choose Reference Number and type in the RFI number; then
click
on Search . Click on the title of the RFI, and the RFI web page will be
displayed. On the right side of the web page, there is a section titled
Documentation . Click on the Body folder and download the RFI.DOE will
review all responses and consider them in their formulation of program
strategies. DOE will not pay for information provided and there is no
guarantee that there will be a FOA as a result of this RFI. The PV
Manufacturing Initiative is intended to coordinate stakeholders and
technology
development efforts across the solar community to facilitate the
development of
a strong PV manufacturing industry in the United States. The primary goals
of
this initiative include supporting the creation of a robust United
States-based
PV manufacturing technology including infrastructure and supply chain base,

developing a highly trained workforce with the critical skills required to
meet
the needs of a rapidly growing industry, and speeding the implementation of
new
cutting edge technologies. Three separate models are currently under
consideration: (1) university-led consortia guided by industry that would
conduct industry-relevant manufacturing research projects; (2)
collaborative
industry-led consortia that will develop and implement manufacturing
research
projects with shared intellectual property (IP); and (3) manufacturing
development efforts, possibly implemented through common facilities, for
equipment and process development with individual companies maintaining
exclusive ownership of IP.