Department of Energy Seeks Public Sector Input for Future Solar Decathlon Planning

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input to help inform the design, planning, and implementation of the next generation of the Solar Decathlon—in 2017 and beyond.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from past and present participants in the Solar Decathlon, broader academic circles, industry, sponsors, and other stakeholders on issues related to future Solar Decathlon competitions. The objective is to improve the outcomes aligned with the Solar Decathlon in the long term. DOE is specifically interested in feedback about additional U.S. benefits that should be the focus of future solar-powered home programs funded by DOE, the format of a competition to achieve those benefits, and whether other formats or options can deliver higher value to the U.S. In the format discussion, if the current format is proposed to continue, information is requested on how DOE should identify future locations for the Solar Decathlon.

DOE seeks a variety of different types of information to help inform its decision regarding how future Solar Decathlon competitions will be organized. To this end, DOE seeks detailed information regarding the following aspects related to the Solar Decathlon competitions:

• Question 1
  How could the goals of the Solar Decathlon evolve to create a larger impact on the market needs of the following industry sectors?

1. Buildings
2. Solar
3. Utility
4. Transportation
5. Education

• Question 2
  What additional outcomes of the Solar Decathlon could increase the scale of that impact, and improve its cost effectiveness for the U.S.?
• Question 3
  What is the appropriate role for DOE with respect to delivering on this potential impact?
• Question 4
  What changes could be made to the Solar Decathlon rules, format, location, and logistics to achieve those outcomes?
• Question 5
  How could the public and private roles and funding sources be developed to achieve those outcomes?
• Question 6
  What should the Solar Decathlon look like in 10 years?

Instructions for how to respond to the RFI can be found in the eXchange system at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIddb4c51f6-e566-4791-9b26-c7dd4873870a. Responses are due Nov. 24, 2014.

Tags: Solar Decathlon

This entry was posted on Friday, October 17th, 2014 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Solar Decathlon.