Greenwing taps SolFocus for utility-scale solar projects
GreenWing Energy Management, builder of large renewable energy developments, has chosen SolFocus to provide its concentrating photovoltaic systems for utility-scale use in the western U.S. The news comes only two weeks after SolFocus raised an additional $30.6 million in venture capital.
It’s the second victory for four-year-old SolFocus, which is still battling to make a name for itself among larger competitors like Audra, First Solar and high-flying SunPower. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the startup only… Continue Reading
SolFocus takes on $47.5M more in quest to sell concentrating solar
SolFocus, the most heavily-funded concentrating solar startup around, has just drawn a bit further ahead of the pack with $47.5 million in fresh capital. With the money, the company has edged near $150 million in total funding, and with luck, widespread installation of a currently rare type of solar panel.
In the concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) arrays of SolFocus and similar companies, a tiny, highly-efficient solar cell becomes the focus of sunlight intensified many times over by… Continue Reading
SolFocus provides numbers for its concentrating photovoltaics — should conventional solar worry?
Concentrating photovoltaic (CVP) maker SolFocus has a long uphill climb to compete with standard solar panels, the flat silicon-based arrays most people are familiar with. Standard PV is well understood, with predictable costs. Yet numbers SolFocus just released for its newest product line suggest that PV makers may have reason to worry.
As I guessed a couple weeks ago when the company announced a $100 million deal for its panels, the newest generation of SolFocus panels… Continue Reading
SolFocus scores a big deal for concentrating solar power
Investing $103 million in a new technology is no small vote of confidence. Yet that’s how much a Spanish company called EPME Solar is putting into concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) panels from SolFocus.
CPVs a type of solar power in which sunlight is focused by lenses or mirrors onto a small, highly efficient solar cell. Although other forms of solar power — notably solar thermal, in which focused sunlight turns water to steam — have landed deals… Continue Reading
Roundup: Android to have payment platform, Chrome considered a security risk, a hobbled Chinese iPhone, and more
Here’s the latest action:
Visa to team up with Google for mobile payment platform — Credit card giant Visa will make a mobile payment application for Google’s mobile platform, Android. The app may also include location-based services to help you find where to rack up more credit card debt.
Is Google Chrome a security risk? – Experts have yet to weigh in, for the most part, but ZDNet suggests that some companies already consider the new web browser… Continue Reading
Small municipal plants could be the future for solar power
Writing on Nanosolar’s blog, CEO Martin Roscheisen has unveiled the next prong in his firm’s business plan — a focus on municipal solar power plants of 2 – 10 megawatts in size. The idea is to build 10 acre lots on the outskirts of small cities that could feed into the municipal power grid directly.
Each lot, consisting of several rows of solar panels mounted on rails above ground, could provide up to 2 megawatts, enough… Continue Reading
SolFocus rakes in another $11.6M for solar concentrators
SolFocus is the latest Silicon Valley solar power startup to raise generous amounts of cash from investors, despite not having a product on the market yet.
SolFocus, of Mountain View, Calif., makes solar panels with mirrors that concentrate sunlight on electricity-generating cells. This reduces the need for silicon, an expensive substance used by the semiconductor market.The $52 million second round of funding we reported two months ago has now grown to $63.6 million with the addition… Continue Reading
SolFocus raises $52M more for solar concentration
SolFocus, a Silicon Valley company that uses mirrors to concentrate the sun on solar cells, continues to soak up large amounts of cash.
Two years ago, the company created a frenzy among investors, and took $32 million from investors, or more than twice the amount expected. It did so because investors valued the company so highly (meaning the company could give away less shares in return for the cash). Now it has raised $52 million more,… Continue Reading
Solar company SolFocus buys Inspira, a solar tracker company
SolFocus, the Mountain View, Calif. maker of technology that concentrates sun on solar power cells, said it has acquired Inspira, S.L., a private solar tracker company based in Madrid, Spain.
SolFocus is one of dozens of new solar start-ups, and the acquisition is part of a consolidation process that is bound to accelerate. No purchase price was mentioned.
According to the statement:
Inspira will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SolFocus and will continue to market… 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