http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/solar-by-technology-renewable-energy-news/sunpower-gets-1-8m-grant-to-research-solar-energy-storage.html

California-based solar cell manufacturer SunPower has been awarded about $1.8m in a state grant to enable the company to further its research into photovoltaic (PV) energy storage.

The grant has been awarded from the California Solar Initiative Research, Development, Deployment and Demonstration (CSI RD&D) Program and is intended to enable SunPower to research energy storage for large commercial applications.
SunPower will partner with three energy storage companies, Ice Energy, Xtreme Power and ZBB Energy, to establish a pilot programme for demonstrating the integration of advanced energy storage systems in combination with existing PV systems for commercial customers.
‘Rooftop solar is affordable today and growing rapidly in cities all across America,’ said Jim Pape, president of SunPower’s residential and commercial divisions. ‘SunPower is excited to work with PG&E, KEMA, Sandia National Laboratories, and our storage partners to evaluate how to make solar power even more valuable during peak energy periods.’
The CSI RD&D programme has an overall budget of $50m over ten years, set aside to fund solar research and demonstration projects that will reduce the cost and accelerate the installation of solar technologies for generation and storage.
Solar power is an intermittent energy source, and improving storage technology would dramatically enhance its potential.