Sunvapor has received a $2.2 million cooperative award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative.

"This award will help us demonstrate that the cost of solar can be drastically cut by taking advantage of renewable fiber-reinforced composite materials," Sunvapor CEO Dr. Philip Gleckman said. "Our digitally optimized designs look different and have a simpler construction because we are liberated from the rules that apply to steel."

The award will help Sunvapor reduce the expense of concentrating solar collectors while making the supply chain more green-friendly.

"Solar process steam is the sleeping giant of renewable energy," James Valenti-Jordan, a Sunvapor advisor, said. "Sunvapor's breakthrough collector will enable food processors to purchase steam at lower prices than natural gas."

The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative is a collaborative effort to help make solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources before 2020. Through SunShot, the Energy Department aims to drive down the cost of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour.