The US Department of Energy is investing more than $59 million in solar-power technology as part of a drive to double renewable-energy generation by 2020.

The DoE is releasing $45 million to make innovative solar-energy manufacturing technology available sooner, and it is awarding $14 million to 15 new projects targeting homes, businesses and communities.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: “As President Obama noted in his State of the Union address, the USA now brings as much solar power on-line every three weeks as we did in all of 2008.

“As the price of solar continues to drop, the DoE is committed to supporting a robust domestic solar manufacturing sector that will help American business to meet growing demand and help American families and businesses to save money by making solar a cheaper and more accessible source of clean electricity.”