Friday, October 09, 2009 at 3:25:33 PM - by Danny Vo

The Department of Energy has announced that more funding will be available to help promote the development of new solar power technologies.

A recent announcement says that $87 million will be available for such efforts in the near future, with $50 million of that sum coming from the federal stimulus bill. A total of 47 projects involving universities, utility companies and others are expected to benefit from the funds.

"Today's awards are among the many investments made to create new jobs and a clean energy future with solar power. The projects will help accelerate the use of solar energy by residents, businesses and communities, and promote the long-term viability of solar energy by investing in the technologies of the future," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, adding that funding recipients "are vital to moving our country towards a sustainable solar infrastructure."

The funding is part of a broader government effort to make solar resources more cost competitive by 2015.

The projects are divided into categories that will range from testing the effect of large amounts of electricity from photovoltaic electricity on the current grid to promoting more solar power in urban areas to training more installers to work in the industry.