Solazyme wins big with $57M for renewable oil
Solazyme, producer of renewable oil derived from algae, just raised $57 million in third-round funding to bring its total capital to more than $76 million. In addition to producing so-called green fuels, the San Bruno, Calif., company is expanding its eco-friendly chemicals business — an increasingly common move for companies in the biofuel space. It is also exploring nutritional and cosmetics opportunities.
The bulk of the funding came from VantagePoint Venture Partners, which has made a… Continue Reading
Solar co. Solyndra shines with $220M
Solar installation maker Solyndra has every reason to celebrate the new year, raising $219.2 million in fifth-round funding from a flock of 23 investors. This is the second largest investment received by any U.S. cleantech company in the last year, coming in behind the $300 million bagged by competitor Nanosolar. The amount breaks down into $96.6 million in working capital and $122.2 million in convertible promissory notes.
The Fremont, Calif. company has not disclosed its plans… Continue Reading
Innovalight rakes in $5M for solar cell ink
Investors Leader Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank have shined on solar cell company Innovalight, providing $5 million in new financing toward the development of silicon solar modules so small they can be painted onto surfaces like ink.
The Sunnyvale, Calif. company uses liquid processing of silicon to produce nanosize solar prarticles that are not only more efficient than crystalline wafers, but also much cheaper to make than regular solar panels. It received $28 million last year… Continue Reading
Roundup: Intel launching six-core chip, Miasole raising big round, the making of Google’s Chrome and more
Here’s the latest action:
Intel to launch six-core microprocessor – A chip code-named Dunnington is expected to debut on Sept. 15. Intel will put six cores, or computing brains, on a single chip. But this is really no big deal. I’ve got a 666-core chip of my own in the works. I used a cookie-cutter to make it.
Linkedin gets linked to CNBC – The popular business social network will integrate its community and networking functionality into… Continue Reading
HelioVolt hopes for a fast scale-up with high-efficiency CIGS process
updated, with correction
These are heady times for the thin-film solar industry. The sector’s dominant player, First Solar, has been on a tear of late, recently announcing it would build a second 10 megawatt power plant in Nevada, while Miasole, once thought to be ailing, has staged an impressive comeback, raking in an eye-popping $220 million. Nanosolar has developed a new ultra-fast solar cell printer, and even giants like IBM and Applied Materials have gotten in… Continue Reading
ArcelorMittal launches cleantech and carbon funds
ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel manufacturer, has announced the creation of two new funds: a cleantech venture capital fund which will initially invest $20 million in Miasole and a €100 million ($157 million) carbon fund.
The Luxembourg-based multinational will work with several leading VC firms, including Khosla Ventures, KPCB and Bessemer Venture Partners, to find promising new startups and technologies for its cleantech fund to invest in. As per its business orientation, it will primarily seek… Continue Reading
Miasole perhaps not so unhealthy after all — may get $200M investment
Miasole, the thin-film solar cell maker that is the third member of a triumvirate of heavily-funded CIGS startups including Heliovolt and Nanosolar, has been pretty quiet since losing its CEO and laying off 40 workers late last year. In the interim, there has been plenty of speculation that it was faltering, and might even close its doors.
Not even close, according to a report this morning. Instead, Miasole is about to close a round of between… Continue Reading
Duke Energy invests $100M in rooftop solar projects
Duke Energy — hardly your conventional renewable energy startup — has thrown its hat in the solar ring with a $100 million investment in commercial-scale rooftop solar panels.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, based electric utility will partner with commercial and residential property owners to tap into a growing market that has seen large investments in recent months from major utilities like Southern California Edison, which unveiled its own $875 million rooftop project in late March.
Like SCE,… Continue Reading
HelioVolt claims CIGS thin film efficiency record
HelioVolt CEO BJ Stanbery is set to announce that his company has set a new speed record for CIGS conversion efficiency, ratcheting up the pressure in the competitive, high-stakes thin-film solar cell sector. The Austin, Texas, start-up, which raked in a cool $101 million in second round funding last October, claims its proprietary FASST reactive transfer printing process can produce cells with a 12.2% conversion efficiency in a mere 6 minutes.
This latest technological breakthrough comes… Continue Reading
Roundup: Kleiner Perkins has something up sleeve, new HP circuit may replace your synapses, EA-Land shuts down, and more
Here’s the latest action:
Kleiner Perkins preparing “big news” — Venerable venture fund Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has “big news” that it will be sharing tomorrow morning, we hear. We’ll be covering it first thing. One possibly related item is the recent registering of the firm’s 13th fund, found in a filing dug up by peHUB. The firm’s last raise was completed in February 2006, for $600 million. Data from Thomson Financial suggests the firm… Continue Reading
Roundup: Funny or Die raises cash, Netsuite soars & much more
1. Funny or Die raises $15M, despite chance of latter
2. Did White House lead rejection of California’s emissions claims?
3. Redhat CEO Matthew Szulik resigns
4. Startup.com’s Tuzman to save Roo.com
5. Netsuite’s stock soars past $35
6. Cisco’s Charles Giancarlo, leaves to Silver Lake Partners
7. Jacked, online sports service, raises $6.5M
8. Top 10 Seattle-area tech stories of the year
9. Miasole reportedly lays off 40 workers
10. Ausra’s proposed 177MW plant is approved
Funny or Die raises $15M, despite strong chance… Continue Reading
Solar cell company Miasole raises $50M
Miasole, the Silicon Valley company developing a new, flexible type of solar cell, has raised a significant $50 million in a fourth round of financing.
The funding deal, which comes after Miasole struggled to meet quality deadlines for its technology, was widely rumored to have been underway during the summer. News that it was in fact completed in July was first reported this morning by VentureWire (subscription required).
The Santa Clara, Calif. company says it has started… Continue Reading
Solar disappointment: Miasole loses CEO
Three years ago, venture capitalists began investing in crop of Silicon Valley companies promising radical breakthroughs in solar cell technology.
One promising technology was copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), a compound which experts believe can make cells and panels much more flexible — so that they could be stripped across vast parking lots, large roofs and more — and cheaper than the prevailing silicon technology.
However, the companies haven’t delivered as quickly as expected. Miasole, one of… Continue Reading
Silicon Valley’s new solar cell companies slipping on delivery dates
Amid all the excitement about new solar technology, several promising companies are slipping on their delivery dates.
However, most of the companies still say they plan to deliver — it’s just a matter of time before they hit the market
Solyndra, a Santa Clara, Calif. solar company (see VB’s coverage), has seen one of its executives, Monier Nessim leave, after that company returned to more basic research and development, instead of push on toward production. Investors Redpoint… Continue Reading
Feds inject $168M into solar, boon for start-ups
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $168 million to 13 solar companies, many of them Silicon Valley start-ups, in what is the equivalent of manna falling from heaven for these companies.
It is cut-throat industry, where solar projects are expensive and difficult to get off the ground, but once at high-levels of production can prove efficient and profitable.
Just last week, a group of ethanol companies were awarded similar grants, to help create alternative fuels…. Continue Reading
Miasole, the super thin solar cell co., raises $35M more
Miasole, the Santa Clara start-up which makes super thin solar cell technology, has raised $35 million more in venture capital.
VentureWire has the scoop today (sub required). Miasole is one of a handful of players producing solar technology based on CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenium) and other new materials. CIGS allows the production of a paint-like product that is much more flexible than the traditional silicon, allowing it to be used in more areas, and potentially… Continue Reading