According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the amount of solar energy falling on theUnited States in one hour of noontime summer sun is about equal to the annual U.S. electricity demand. Despite the abundance of this renewable energy source, solar power technologies have occupied niche markets due to the cost and the lack of available infrastructure. But as concerns about rising fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change grow, solar has been gaining a larger share of the energy spectrum. Georgia Tech researchers are focused on developing next-generation solar technologies that are more efficient, affordable, and easier to integrate. Home to leading experts and nationally recognized research centers, such as the University Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics (UCEP) and the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE), Georgia Tech’s research spans a wide range of advanced solar technologies, including concentrated solar, photovoltaics, solar thermal, solar-to-fuels, and thin films.