German solar giant Q-Cells backs Solaria with $25M
Germany’s Q-Cells, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of solar cells by volume, has invested $25 million more into Silicon Valley start-ups Solaria, which is using new materials to concentrate sun on solar cells and thereby lower their cost.
Solaria’s cells, still being tested and not on the market, will use less expensive silicon, the traditional material used in solar cells. It is one of at least a dozen venture-backed solar companies seeking ways to reduce silicon usage… Continue Reading
Practical Instruments joins solar gold rush, raises $8M
Updated
Practical Instruments has raised $8 million in a first round of funding to develop what it says is the most powerful solar “concentration” technology yet.
It uses solar panels that track the sun as it moves. The panels use mirrors to concentrate the sunlight for the photovoltaic process, thereby boosting performance.
It is the latest in a wave of entrants in the booming solar power industry, and will compete against a number of other “concentration” companies, including… Continue Reading
Solar start-up SolFocus relies on familiar Indian player: Moser Baer
SolFocus, a Palo Alto start-up building solar technology that better concentrates the sun’s power, is relying on a familiar player as its latest investor: India’s manufacturing giant Moser Baer.
SolFocus yesterday named Moser Baer as the final investor participating in its $32 million round of venture capital (a round we already reported, when we noted the company’s whopping $70 million valuation). Moser Baer contributed $7 million.
Moser Baer, as you’ll recall, was a lead investor in another… Continue Reading
Greenvolts raises $250,000 for solar concentration
Greenvolts, a Berkeley start-up that is developing solar concentration technology, has raised $250,000 in seed capital and is now looking to raise its first round of venture capital, it told VentureWire (sub required).
Greenvolts’ apparent leak of its plans to the media is notable because it appears designed to leverage the excitement among venture capitalists right now for anything related to clean technology. Solar concentration technology is attractive, because it helps solar power producers get by… Continue Reading
Solaria raises $22M to lower cost of solar cell manufacturing
Solaria, a Fremont start-up that offers a way for solar cell manufacturers to lower costs by using less silicon, said it has raised $22 million in a second round of funding.
The funding comes from Q-Cells, the second largest producer of silicon solar cells, venture capital firms Sigma Partners and NGEN Partners, and Moser Baer, a large Indian manufacturer of CDs and DVDs.
Solaria’s emergence is significant because it wants to solve the solar industry’s biggest bottleneck:… Continue Reading