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The SunShot Grand Challenge: Summit and Technology Forum was the first event in a series of Department of Energy Grand Challenges. This event focused on SunShot Initiative goals of achieving grid-parity solar energy within the decade. The SunShot Summit and Technology Forum included:

• Plenary sessions featuring Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other industry leaders
• Group discussions focusing on the future priorities and transformational ideas needed to achieve the SunShot goal of cost-competitive solar by the end of the decade
  • Big and Small Ideas: How to Lower Solar Financing Costs
• An interactive technology forum providing a comprehensive picture of the SunShot landscape.

Future UCF solar panel research center may spur business Orlando Business Journal, February 3, 2012

“because manufacturers would want to be near where the latest technology is being tested and validated,” said James Fenton, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center and one of the key players behind the planned center. “A manufacturer, investor, bank or customer can come see the testing.”

“With the trend in the solar industry toward larger systems and greater capital investment – substantial amounts of money are going into this field – the financial community is increasingly scrutinizing how well these systems operate,” said Charles Hanley, manager of Photovoltaic and Distributed Systems Integration at Sandia. “The RTCs will provide enhanced monitoring and improved performance prediction capabilities for new technologies being introduced to the market.”