Corey Hoven, chief technology officer at Next Energy Technologies, shows off the company’s solar window pane.

Solar panel window maker Next Energy Technologies received a $2.5 million grant from the SunShot Initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy, the company announced July 14.

The project aims to develop and commercialize Next’s prototypes and begin pilot manufacturing to help meet a target Levelized Cost of Energy of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour by 2030. Next, based in Santa Barbara, will match the grant, putting a combined $5 million behind the effort.

“We at Next look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Energy as we progress our transparent solar technology toward commercialization with the aim of transforming buildings into producers of low cost solar energy,” CEO Daniel Emmett said in a news release.

The SunShot Initiative granted 48 projects a total of $46.2 million, with around $18 million in additional private funds from cost-sharing requirements. Of the projects to receive funding, 20 were research-based and 28 were commercialization efforts.

Next uses soluble small molecule organic photovoltaic technology to build solar generation into windows.

“We believe NEXT’s technology has the potential to allow architects and building owners to seamlessly transform windows and glass facades into producers of on-site renewable energy, giving us an important tool to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, achieve zero net energy buildings, and drive down the cost of renewable energy,” said Andy Cohen, co-CEO of Bay Area architecture and design firm Gensler.

• Contact Marissa Nall at mnall@pacbiztimes.com.