DOE SMASH Incubator
Funds U.S. for-profit organizations and partners developing solar module and non-module hardware through RD&D projects.
⚠This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The DOE SMASH Incubator is a Solar Energy Technologies Office notice of funding opportunity for solar module and solar hardware research, development, and demonstration. The source says it will fund up to 10 awards of $1 million to $4 million each for RD&D projects in crystalline silicon module technology, cadmium telluride module technology, and non-module hardware technology.
Eligible work includes early-stage pilot-scale testing and demonstration of processes or products that can increase domestic manufacturing across the solar module supply chain. The page explicitly states that for-profit organizations are encouraged to apply, while also encouraging teams with academia, national laboratories, industry members, supply-chain partners, equipment developers, and other institutions. DOE uses EERE Exchange for the application package and teaming partner list.
The opportunity used a mandatory concept-paper gate before full applications. Concept papers were due March 21, 2025, and full applications were due May 30, 2025, so this catalog page is closed as of June 24, 2026. The page lists expected selection notification in November 2025 and award negotiations in May 2026. Applicants should treat this as historical unless DOE reopens or reissues a successor solar manufacturing incubator NOFO.
Solar photovoltaic manufacturing hardware, including crystalline silicon modules, cadmium telluride modules, and non-module hardware such as power electronics, grid integration components, and balance-of-system hardware.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up