Research

NREL’s solar market research and analysis spans foundational analysis through technology application in real-world contexts. It includes solar technology costs, policies, markets, siting and integration, and technical assistance to stakeholders.

Two school buildings featuring rooftop solar installations.

Community and Financial Solutions for Solar

NREL produces data, analysis, and tools to help communities and decision makers understand and overcome financial and policy barriers in established and emerging solar markets.

Two people standing next to large, ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays.

Siting and Interconnection

Through data-driven analysis, NREL is working to advance innovative siting and interconnection approaches for solar energy. Our research considers technical, economic, social, and environmental factors.

An illustration shows the entire silicon solar cell value chain, beginning with a bulk polysilicon and progressing through silicon ingots, wafers, individual solar cells, and entire PV modules.

Technology Cost Analysis

NREL’s solar technology cost analysis examines the technology costs and supply chain issues for solar photovoltaic technologies. This work informs research and development by identifying drivers of cost and competitiveness for solar technologies.