• Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Latest Update: 5:37AM

Greentech Solar

150 Solar Startups

VC investment in solar has risen from a trickle to a flood in the previous four years. In this three-part series, Eric Wesoff digs into these solar investments to see what turns up.

Over the last four years VC investment in solar has gone from a modest trickle to a roaring flood. In 2005 VCs invested about $200 million in solar startups. When the dust settles at the end of 2008, they will have invested about $4.5 billion in about 150 new solar startups in the four years from 2005 to 2008.

We've compiled a list of these firms with funding info and a few words on each startup's technology.

Part 1:

  • Silicon Wafer Technology (c-Si)
  • Solar Installers and Solar Financing Firms
  • Solar Balance of Plant (Inverters etc.)
  • Solar System Monitoring, Manufacturing Tools and Software

Part 2:

  • CPV

Part 3:

  • Next-gen PV

Part 4

  • Thin-film solar

Part 5

  • Solar AC and heat

Part 6:

  • Concentrating solar power (CSP)

The list includes VC-funded firms as well as other private firms looking for funding. We've divided it up by technology. If we've missed any let us know – remember this list is private companies only.

To get the lists from Part 1, visit Greentech Media's Green Light blog, and then visit Part 2Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

Comments [2]

  • Eric Wesoff 12/27/08 2:24 PM

    The actual number is closer to 200 with the recent updates.  Additions include:
    Silicon: AE Polysilicon, Gamma Solar, Peak Sun Silicon, SBM Solar
    Installers, Financiers and BIPV: Redwood Renewables, Ready Solar, Mondial Energy, SoCore
    BoS: 1-Solar, EOS Renewable Energy
    Next Gen: Bandgap Engineering, Vanguard Solar, Voxtel
    CPV: Sun Phocus
    And more to come…
    Thin film: Sierra Solar Power

    Reply
      • Diane Barry 08/3/09 10:18 AM

        Dear Mr. Wesoff,

        I saw your article 150 Solar Startups dated December 2, 2008 and was wondering if you could share with me progress made in 2009.

        Thank you,
        Diane Barry
        SDG&E
        1-858-503-5497

.