SunShot Initiative Reducing Market Barriers and Non Hardware Balance of System Costs | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office and the SunShot Initiative, released Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000520 to tackle one of the biggest drivers of solar PV price: the non-hardware "balance of system" costs and the market barriers that slow down projects. Instead of focusing on cheaper panels or inverters, this opportunity is aimed at the administrative, regulatory, and process-related costs that add time and expense to solar installations, such as inconsistent building codes, zoning restrictions, permitting requirements, and inefficient business workflows. The overall goal is to reduce total installed PV costs by improving information technology systems and by streamlining the rules and procedures that govern how solar systems are reviewed, approved, and interconnected.

The FOA is structured around three main topic areas that applicants can target depending on the kind of solution they are proposing. Topic 1, "Codes, Standards and Processes," focuses on reducing friction caused by complicated or inconsistent requirements across jurisdictions. Projects under this topic would generally be expected to improve alignment and consistency in codes and standards, simplify permitting steps, reduce rework and back-and-forth between installers and permitting offices, and generally shorten the time from application to approval by improving the underlying processes used by local governments and other authorities.

Topic 2, "Software Design Tools and Databases," is centered on practical IT tools that make PV deployment faster, more predictable, and less labor-intensive. This topic is broken into five subtopics. Subtopic 2A supports a utility-scale project siting tool, meaning software that helps developers and planners identify and evaluate suitable sites more efficiently, potentially by incorporating land-use constraints, environmental considerations, grid proximity, and other siting factors. Subtopic 2B targets "plug and play" tools that facilitate preparation and review of permit applications, which points to standardized, user-friendly software that can reduce errors, automate completeness checks, speed up plan review, and make submissions easier for both contractors and permitting staff. Subtopic 2C calls for a database of PV permitting processes across Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), essentially a structured resource that captures how permitting is handled in different cities, counties, and jurisdictions so applicants and installers can navigate requirements more efficiently and identify best practices. Subtopic 2D focuses on a PV system verification tool, which would support confirming that installed systems meet requirements and perform as expected, potentially reducing inspection burdens and improving confidence for inspectors, utilities, and customers. Subtopic 2E supports creation or improvement of a utility rates database, aiming to make rate information more accessible and machine-readable so that PV economics, savings estimates, and project planning can be done more accurately and with less manual effort.

Topic 3, "Regulatory, Financial and Utility Solutions," addresses broader structural barriers that can hold back solar adoption even when the technology is ready to deploy. This can include work related to utility processes, interconnection practices, regulatory approaches, and financing-related obstacles that increase transaction costs or introduce uncertainty. The emphasis is on practical solutions that remove bottlenecks and reduce soft costs, especially where utilities, regulators, and financing structures directly affect project timelines and customer adoption.

Administratively, the FOA is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance). It is open to unrestricted applicants, meaning it is broadly available to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full FOA. The posting date and creation date are May 6, 2011. A letter of intent was due May 20, 2011 by 11:59 PM Eastern, and the full application was due June 23, 2011 by 11:59 PM Eastern. The notice states no cost sharing or matching requirement. The public listing shows zeros for estimated total funding and award floor/ceiling, which typically means those figures were either not provided in the summarized record or were specified only inside the full announcement.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants were required to register and create an account before submitting, and DOE provided a user guide hosted on the EERE site to help applicants navigate the submission process. The FOA directs applicants to the full posting on EERE eXCHANGE for complete details, including where to send technical questions about the announcement and where to get help with submission issues. A contact person is provided for access issues: Todd C. Wilson, reachable at nhbos@go.doe.gov.

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