A few days ago, the U.S. Department of energy has seen fit to throw its hat into a $40 million solar energy development project launched by BP Plc ADS (NYSE:BP) BP Solar. A DOE Solar America Initiative grant of up to $7.5 million will be awarded to BP Solar for assistance in Phase 1 of the project. GreenProgress reported that BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone stated, "Our shared goal is to lower the cost and increase the supply of clean, renewable energy. BP is working with other companies, with leading research institutions and universities and with government... to make that possible."

The BP Solar program has identified a multi-tiered approach to making solar conversion to electricity a competitive adjunct to the current methods of producing electricity. BP seeks to increase the supply of solar grade silicon, reduce the amount of silicon required in the manufacture of solar panels and to increase the efficiency of those panels. BP also plans to pursue an aggressive program to reduce the costs associated with the manufacturing, distribution and installation of solar conversion equipment.

BP Solar President Lee Edwards is confident that the goals of the program can be fully realized, so that by 2015 solar produced electricity will be marketable in parity with electricity generated from other sources. BP seeks to reduce solar cell mass by 50% while at the same time increasing solar cell efficiency by 25%.