The U.S. photovoltaic research program

The United States Fiscal Year 2004 Photovoltaic R and D Program is described in this paper. With a 75 million dollars budget, emphasis is placed on long-term innovative research, thin film development, manufacturing R and D, and systems development and reliability. Long-term research is focused on ''leap-frog'' technologies such as polymers and nano-structures. In thin films, new levels of efficiency and stability in prototype modules have been achieved, as well as higher laboratory cell efficiencies. Near-term research is focused on reducing cost through manufacturing advancements and by improving system reliability. In FY2005 the program will begin a 3-year effort to invest in a new laboratory facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (author)