Optics and Photonics for Solar Energy and Buildings at the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) of the U.S. Department of Energy funds a variety of technologies utilizing advanced optics and photonics to split the solar spectrum, redirect and concentrate photons to energy conversion devices, and also to control cooling infra-red (IR) emissions, daylighting and solar heat gain in buildings. ARPA-E recently announced awards totaling more than $30M in the Full-spectrum Optimized Conversion and Utilization of Sunlight (FOCUS) Program) to develop advanced solar conversion technologies that combine advanced optics technologies with advances in photovoltaic and thermal concentrated solar power (CSP) based technologies. The goal of FOCUS is to develop disruptive new technologies that optimally exploit the full solar spectrum and also significantly reduce the cost of solar energy when the sun is not shining.