The purpose of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Innovators Program is to enable selected applicants to conduct practical research on innovative solutions to the challenges faced by electric utilities, energy service providers, and electric public utility commissions as the levels of solar energy, as well as other distributed energy resources (DERs), increase on the electrical grid.

Selected applicants, referred to as “Innovators” herein, will participate for up to two years at a Host Institution on one or more topics related to the integration of solar energy. The applicant to this program is the prospective Innovator. The applicant must identify a Host Institution and potential mentor at a utility, energy service provider, or public utilities commission (PUC) currently conducting research in an area related to the integration of solar energy onto the electricity grid. Host Institutions may seek potential Innovators that are eligible to apply to the program, but it is the potential Innovator, not the Host Institution or mentor, who submits the application and supporting materials to this site.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are downloaded for review on the first of the month, and applicants can expect to hear whether they move to the next stage within 30 days. Subsequent selection process stages include telephone interviews of the applicant and mentor. The process from application submittal to Innovator start date is approximately three months.  For more information and to apply visit https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/DOE-EERE-RPP-SETO-2019-2100.