Energy Department to fund solar projects

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy announced $24 million in solar project funding.

Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems projects will be the focus of the funding opportunities and are expected to help develop more efficient solar products, said John Mizroch, principal deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Increased use of solar power and other renewable resources is part of the current U.S. administration's goal to become more energy independent.

The funding opportunities for the SEGIS projects were announced in November 2007, and selections have been made by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Twelve teams were selected: Apollo Solar, EMTEC, Enphase Energy Inc., General Electric and Sentech Inc., Nextek Power Systems, Petra Solar, Premium Power, Princeton Power Systems, PV Powered, SmartSpark Energy Systems Inc., the Florida Solar Energy Center of the University of Central Florida, and VPT Inc.

The projects focus on power conversion, energy storage, energy management and communications.