MiaSole reportedly raises $125M for solar, IPO question hangs

Thin-film solar panel maker MiaSole has reportedly raised $125 million in sixth round of equity financing.

The round values the company at less than half it was in 2008, dropping from a $1.2 billion pre-money valuation in 2008 to a $550 million valuation today, according to a source cited by VentureWire.

The company has been said to be preparing for an IPO this year (and was last reported to be looking to raise $100 million, … Continue Reading

SoloPower wins $197 million loan guarantee for solar panel factory

Updated

The Department of Energy has granted a $197 million loan guarantee to SoloPower for the building of a thin-film solar panel manufacturing facility in Wilsonville, Ore.

This marks a big win for SoloPower, which is coming off several weeks of progress related to the plant. In January, the company raised $51 million in a fourth round of funding, then announced the Oregon Department of Energy granted it a $20 million loan. It also shows … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: Think's electric car gets recalled, Khosla bets against lithium-ion car batteries

Here’s the latest action we’re following today on the GreenBeat:

Think City electric car recalled — The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled 39 of the 2011 Think City two-seater electric cars (pictured), Green Car Reports writes. Sixteen of the models have an issue with a seatbelt missing the component to properly hold a child’s seat, while 23 may have inadequate defroster systems. The recall calls for the removal and replacement of … Continue Reading

Light some CIGS: Intel leads $25M round for Sulfurcell's solar modules

Looks like SpectraWatt’s struggles haven’t deterred Intel from investing in solar.

SpectraWatt, an Intel spinoff which has raised about $50 million in venture capital to develop its solar cells, recently said it would close a plant and lay off 100 workers. But Intel’s investment arm is bouncing right back, this time with a bet on a promising solar-manufacturing technology that has gathered increasing steam lately. Intel Capital announced today it led a $25 million equity … Continue Reading

SoloPower wins $20M loan for $340M solar manufacturing plant in Oregon

Just after announcing it had raised a $51 million round, thin-film solar cell manufacturer SoloPower announced it would build what will become a 300-megawatt manufacturing facility in Oregon, boosted by a $20 million loan from the Oregon Department of Energy.

The first phase will cover a 75-megawatt manufacturing line and create 170 jobs, the company said. The total investment into the Wilsonville, Ore. plant will total $340 million and eventually employ 500 people. SoloPower has … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: GE acquires Lineage Power for $520 million, SoloPower awaits $20 million loan

Here’s the latest action we’re following on the GreenBeat today:

GE will acquire Lineage Power for $520 million — GE is purchasing the company from Gores Group in a move to expand its energy business. Lineage Power makes high-efficiency power conversion technology used in data centers and telecom.

SoloPower awaits $20 million loan for Oregon factory — Thin-film solar manufacturer SoloPower recently raised $51 million and is now awaiting a decision on its application for … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: SoloPower raises $51.6 million, Stion plans $150 million IPO

Here’s the latest action we’re following on the GreenBeat today:

SoloPower picks up $51.6 million – The thin-film solar startup  (solar module pictured) has raised the cash from backers that include Hudson Clean Energy Partners and Crosslink Capital, according to an SEC filing cited by Earth2Tech, which also notes solar manufacturer Stion is looking to raise $100 – $150 million in an IPO in the next few years.

Nvidia Tegra chips to power Tesla’s Model … Continue Reading

VentureBeat's best and worst of cleantech in 2010

It’s been quite a year for energy-related investments and other ventures looking to make some green from green. Here’s a look back on the biggest successes and flops of 2010.

Best of cleantech in 2010:

Bloom Energy — The fuel cell maker made a big splash entrance with a 60 Minutes segment in February. It said its Bloom Boxes, which cost around $800,000, can each power up to 100 American homes. The company has installed … Continue Reading

DOE loan chief: Where we'll invest in 2011

As the Department of Energy moves forward to disperse loan guarantees to grow cutting-edge cleantech, its focus will shift from the maturing sectors of solar and wind to less-developed areas like biofuels and carbon capture.

Loan guarantees promise that the government will cover a company’s debt obligation in the event of a default. Getting one allows companies to seek better financing term, and it’s a powerful endorsement to emerging technologies. VentureBeat spoke to Jonathan Silver … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: First Solar forecast beats expectations, Bridgelux to move into residential LEDs

Here’s some of the latest action we’re following on the GreenBeat today:

First Solar posts strong forecast, sells Arizona plant to NRG – The top solar panel maker and low-cost leader forecast 2011 profits above Wall Street’s expectations, Reuters reports. It also sold its 290-megawatt Agua Caliente plant to power company NRG Energy for $800 million. First Solar executives said they will continue to beat competitors in cost by around 30 percent, and will spend … Continue Reading

Abound Solar to compete on cost after closing on a sunny $510 million

Abound Solar announced today it has closed on a $400 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy and an additional $110 million in equity financing from venture capitalists.

The company makes cadmium telluride thin-film solar modules (pictured) for large solar arrays. Its approach of using cadmium telluride to make thin-film panels is similar to that of industry leader First Solar’s. Abound says it aims to make the cost of solar power competitive with traditional … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: Saudi Arabia imports SolFocus's solar, Prop 23 could send VC investment to China

Here are the top cleantech stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat:

SolFocus announced it will build the first and largest concentrated photovoltaic solar system in Saudi Arabia,  delivering around 300 megawatt-hours of energy. Japanese thin-film solar company Solar Frontier will also provide 10 megawatts in a solar installation for a car park, Greentech Media writes.

Better Place announced it is bringing 61 electric taxis and four of its signature battery-swapping stations to San … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: MBA Polymers raises $25M, Solar Components gets $2.8M

Here’s the cleantech stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat:

Japanese manufacturer Solar Frontier has signed an agreement to develop IBM-designed thin-film solar cells, CNET reports. The copper, zinc, tin, sulfur and selenium modules have 9.6 percent efficiency — less than other thin-film and silicon photovoltaic options — but are made from more abundant ingredients.

Solar Components has raised $2.8 million of an expected $4.9 million in equity. The company makes a portable, … Continue Reading

On the GreenBeat: Boeing will test Chinese biofuel, ClearEdge raises $10 million

Here are the cleantech stories we’re following on the GreenBeat today:

Boeing will test biofuel made by PetroChina, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Chinese solar stocks have stumbled since Friday’s news that the U.S. government is investigating subsidies that the Chinese give its solar companies, Investors Business Daily reports. The United Steelworkers unions filed a complaint saying the subsidies have allowed Chinese solar companies to undercut American companies in price.

WeatherBug announced a … Continue Reading

Bring it on: GE and LG enter the solar game

Looks like the solar market is getting interesting. GE and LG Electronics are making big moves this week with announcements that they will enter the U.S. solar market. GE is making two pushes into thin-film solar, and LG is launching its photovoltaic solar panels and has plans for some heavy R&D spending.

Both companies are entering the market as demand for solar continues to grow, with the U.S. market’s installed solar capacity projected to grow … Continue Reading

China’s Suntech on its way up despite Q2 loss

Chinese solar equipment maker Suntech Power Holdings today reported a loss of $174.9 million despite a 95 percent increase in revenue to $625.1 million in the second quarter of 2010. Still, the company says demand for its products is way up, boding well for the future.

It attributed the loss it incurred to reorganization costs and write-downs. And, for the most part, the results exceeded analysts’ forecasts.

Suntech was hit hard by the economic downturn, … Continue Reading

AQT opens thin-film solar plant despite shaky market

Thin-film solar, once predicted to be the future of renewable energy, has fallen on hard times lately. Venture-backed thin-film companies have had a tough time raising money, and even the bigger players like Applied Materials have scaled back their goals in the area.

But one startup, AQT Solar (Applied Quantum Technologies), is going against the grain, forecasting a future in which crystalline silicon and thin-film, CIGS solar coexist, but are tailored to different applications. The … Continue Reading

Thin film solar predictions leap ahead

Thin-film solar, once predicted to be the future of renewable energy, has fallen on hard times lately. Venture-backed thin-film companies have had a tough time raising money, and even the bigger players like Applied Materials have scaled back their goals in the area.

But one startup, AQT Solar (Applied Quantum Technologies), is going against the grain, forecasting a future in which crystalline silicon and thin-film, CIGS solar coexist, but are tailored to different applications. The … Continue Reading