The U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $80 million in federal funding on April 20, 2023 to expand solar access for renters and accelerate the development of alternative solar technologies that could be cheaper, more flexible and more efficient than today's silicon panels. The package, unveiled by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a community solar site in Washington, is designed to open solar benefits to the roughly half of Americans who cannot install panels on their own roofs.

What the $80 million funds

The announcement breaks down into several components. The Department of Energy directed $52 million to 19 solar projects spread across a dozen states, including $10 million drawn from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Another $30 million was earmarked for technologies that help integrate solar electricity into the grid. A separate $10 million competition supports 25 community solar developer teams working to bring subscription-based solar to underserved markets. Eight of the funded projects focus specifically on improving solar panel recycling.

Community solar for renters

Community solar allows households — including renters and people whose roofs are not suitable for panels — to subscribe to a share of a larger offsite solar array and receive credits on their electric bills. The Department of Energy noted that about half of U.S. households cannot host rooftop solar due to renting, shading, roof condition or other barriers. At the time of the announcement, community solar accounted for roughly 5.3 gigawatts of installed capacity. The administration set a target of bringing community solar to five million households by 2025, which the agency estimated would produce roughly $1 billion in cumulative electricity savings for subscribers.

Perovskite and cadmium telluride

A portion of the funding targets two alternatives to conventional crystalline silicon cells. Perovskite solar materials can be produced less expensively than silicon, are more tolerant of manufacturing defects, and can be built onto textured and curved surfaces — opening up applications in building-integrated photovoltaics and other settings where rigid panels do not fit. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film cells can be manufactured quickly at low cost and remain stable when encapsulated in glass, though researchers are still working to push their efficiency higher. Funded recycling projects are aimed at ensuring safe end-of-life handling for both technologies.

Why it matters for renters

For households that do not own their homes, the traditional homeowner solar incentive structure — rooftop installations paired with federal and state tax credits — has offered limited direct benefit. The Solar For All and community-solar-focused funding announced on April 20, 2023 channels federal dollars toward subscription models that renters can actually join without installing hardware, while the investment in perovskite and CdTe technology aims to lower the long-term cost of solar electricity delivered through those subscriptions.

Project examples

The Energy Secretary highlighted a solar project in Shungnak, Alaska, where a community-scale solar-plus-storage installation displaced diesel-fueled electricity in a remote area. Additional funded projects span a dozen states and cover manufacturing, deployment, recycling and grid-integration work.

How to learn more

Renters interested in community solar can check the Department of Energy's Community Solar resources and their state public utility commission to see whether subscription-based community solar is available in their area. Eligibility, billing mechanisms and subscription terms vary by state and utility. Homeowners and developers can review DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office funding opportunities for information on awarded projects and future solicitations.

US Invests $80M in Alternative Solar Tech, More Solar for Renters