• Saturday, November 21, 2009 Latest Update: 4:29PM

Greentech Solar

Featured Content:

Growth, Market Share and Dynamic Change in The PV Inverter Industry

The PV inverter market, once short of innovation, has seen a surge of investment in the last few years.  Spurred by startup advances, established firms like SMA, Satcon, and National Semiconductor are developing new distributed PV electronics technologies in-house or through acquisition. This Special Report from Greentech Media, sponsored by Enphase Energy, takes a look at the state of innovation in the inverter market, VC investment activity, and the emerging leaders in the $2.4 billion PV inverter market.

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As the price of PV falls, the technology will become more competitively priced in Europe and the U.S. before its prices are competitive in China.

Hot Startup »

Solar Startup Solasta Seeks Next Round

The solar firm was founded in 2006 with A round funding from Kleiner Perkins and claims its process could increase the efficiency of conventional amorphous silicon PV by up to 150 percent.

Startups

  • Xunlight 26 Solar Aims for CdTe on Plastic

    The one-year-old Ohio startup is developing a flexible cadmium-telluride thin film that isn’t like First Solar’s, and plans to go into pilot production next year.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang September 1, 2009
  • Suniva Expands Solar Cell Production, Boosts Efficiency

    The silicon solar cell startup is on its way to triple its production capacity, and has produced commercial cells achieving about 18 percent efficiency.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang August 26, 2009
  • Clear Solar, Small Desal and Pharma Batteries: A Chat With Virgin Green Fund

    Virgin Green Fund has only invested in a few companies, but it covers a large portion of the green spectrum.

    Policy

    Michael Kanellos August 21, 2009
  • Plextronics Bags $14M for Organic LED, Solar

    The startup company plans to use the money for developing organic printed electronics.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang August 20, 2009
  • A Mighty Hot Wind for Solar

    HelioFocus says it has a new idea for solar thermal power – a 1,000 degree wind stream.

    Technology

    Michael Kanellos August 19, 2009
  • Solar on a Budget: NuvoSun Hits 11.8 Efficiency With CIGS

    Miasole founder Dave Pearce’s new company has put a prototype facility together with used equipment. We go inside.

    Startups

    Michael Kanellos August 5, 2009
  • TSMC Goes Shopping for Solar

    The world’s largest contract chipmaker wants to buy its way into the solar market. What are its options?

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang August 4, 2009
  • SunRun Snags $18M to Keep Muni Competitors Away

    The solar financial provider wants to step up its marketing efforts in order to compete with cities that also are offering financial help to homeowners who can’t afford the upfront installation costs.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang July 27, 2009
  • Suniva Raises $75M, Plans to Expand Factory

    The Georgia solar cell startup began production last fall and has signed nearly $1 billion worth of contracts with panel makers. Panels with Suniva cells are available for the U.S. market.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang July 27, 2009
  • A Nationwide Network for Solar Projects

    Global Solar Center can tell you about solar incentives and give you a quote almost anywhere in the U.S. It also has dealers. Is the national chain here?

    Startups

    Michael Kanellos July 23, 2009
  • Video: Software for Your Solar Panel

    In this video from Intersolar TV, a whole slew of companies want to boost the output of solar panels. Tigo Energy says the answer is in software.

    Solar

    Michael Kanellos July 22, 2009
  • Solar Goes Modular: GreenRay Raises $2M

    The Quercus Trust and 21Ventures said Wednesday they have invested $2 million in Westford, Mass.-based GreenRay, which is pairing solar panels with its microinverters to create AC solar panels.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang July 15, 2009
  • CaliSolar Set to Complete a 50MW Factory for UMG Silicon Solar Cells

    The California startup plans to expand its factory to 200 megawatts by the end of 2010, said its CEO Roy Johnson. The company’s solar cells could achieve 16 percent efficiency.

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang July 13, 2009
  • Big Changes at SoloPower

    One of SoloPower’s VCs steps in as CEO and a star researcher returns to NREL. Volume production now due in late 2010, early 2011.

    Solar

    Michael Kanellos July 8, 2009
  • AccuStrata: Fixing a Gaping Hole in PV Manufacturing

    Whether we're talking CIGS, CdTe, or a-Si – thin-film solar is a relatively new technology and as a young industry, there are still gaps in its complex manufacturing process.

    Solar

    Eric Wesoff June 24, 2009
  • Exec Swaps: SunRun Founder Leaves Company While HelioVolt Gets a CEO

    The music stopped. Everyone grabbed a chair. A former First Solar COO becomes CEO at HelioVolt and the founder of SunRun joins another company.

    Solar

    Michael Kanellos June 17, 2009
  • With Utility Vets at the Helm, NextLight Snags First Solar Deal

    The power plant developer plans to sell solar electricity to PG&E and possibly utilities in other western states. PV is more cost effective than solar thermal in the near future, says one NextLight exec.  

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang June 9, 2009
  • The View From Intersolar

    On the surface, Intersolar 2009 was business as usual, but if you looked hard enough, you could see the cracks beneath the surface, says Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta. 

    Solar

    Shyam Mehta June 1, 2009
  • 150 Solar Startups: The Sequel

    Would you believe 200 solar startups? What about 217? Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff's update to our 150 Solar Startups list sees the field expanding quickly.

    Solar

    Eric Wesoff May 26, 2009
  • Gobbling Up Trash With the Sun’s Power

    The Massachusetts company just raised $3.2 million to expand its business of developing wirelessly enabled, solar-powered trash bins for cities, parks, zoos and schools.  

    Solar

    Ucilia Wang May 21, 2009
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