The department's Office of Science on Tuesday selected 27 projects awarding $22.7 million that will focus on basic research projects aimed at improving the capture, conversion and use of solar energy. Universities and national laboratories in 18 states will conduct the research, Renewableenergyaccess.com reported.

"These projects are part of our aggressive basic research in the physical sciences -- what I call 'transformational science' -- aimed at achieving a new generation of breakthrough technologies that will push the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources to levels comparable to petroleum and natural gas sources," said Raymond L. Orbach, undersecretary for science at the department.

The projects are part of a department-wide, comprehensive, balanced portfolio of basic and applied research and technology development aimed at significantly advancing the use of sunlight as a practicable solution to meet our compelling need for clean, abundant sources of energy.

The projects will address two priority technical areas: the conversion of solar energy to electricity (14 projects, $9.9 million over three years), and conversion of solar to chemical fuels (13 projects, $12.8 million over three years).

These projects, along with the commercialization projects funded through the Solar America Initiative, form a component of President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative. The Energy Department plans to fund additional projects in fiscal year 2008.