Opportunities for Improving Program Planning for Photovoltaic Research and Development

In a survey of the solar photovoltaic program of the Department of Energy (DOE), GAO attempted to identify ways to improve the development of photovoltaic devices. These devices, which convert sunlight directly to electricity, are at present too expensive to be of much help in solving the Nation's energy problems. Congress added new impetus to the program in 1978 by passing an act in support of a 10-year photovoltaic program and set specific objectives for the program. These objectives include: (1) reaching a total annual U.S. production of solar photovoltaic energy systems equivalent to 2 million peak kilowatts by fiscal year (FY) 1988; and (2) reducing the average cost of installed systems to $1 per peak watt by FY 1988.