The Department of Energy announced a $29 million investment December 7 in four projects as part of its SunShot Initiative to improve grid connection and reduce installation costs through innovative plug-and-play technologies and reliable solar power forecasts. The agency will direct $21 million over five years to design plug-and-play photovoltaic systems that can be purchased, installed, and operational in one day; $8 million will be used to help utilities and grid operators better forecast when, where, and how much solar power will be produced at domestic solar energy plants.