Plug and Play Photovoltaics

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I. The purpose of this amendment is to add the following language to Section III.A, Eligible Applicants: DOE has determined that it is necessary to limit eligibility under this FOA to domestic entities in order to meet the objectives of DOE?s Mission, the SunShot Mission and the particular needs and objectives of this FOA. II. The areas which have changed are highlighted within the Funding Opportunity Announcement in yellow. III. All other parts of the FOA remain unchanged. Through the Plug and Play Photovoltaics Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the Department of Energy will invest up to $25 million over five years to advance the development of a commercial plug-and-play photovoltaic system, which is envisioned as an off-the-shelf product that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. Homeowners can install the system without special training or tools. The homeowner simply plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility. The plug-and-play concept has been implemented very successfully in the computer and automotive industries. The Department of Energy believes that these same innovations can be applied to the PV industry to reduce costs and simplify installations. This funding opportunity seeks to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems and help automate utility interconnection and permitting processes. Universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit full applications by June 18, 2012. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE Exchange website. A User Guide for EERE Exchange can be found on the EERE website http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx after logging in to the system. Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of applications is found in the full FOA posted on the EERE Exchange website.

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