HelioVolt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| HelioVolt Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Dr. B.J. Stanbery |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Key people | Dr. B.J. Stanbery (CEO) Dr. Robert Oswald John Langdon Iga Hallberg Steve Darnell Larry Peruffo David Bowen David Hughen |
| Industry | Solar Energy |
| Products | Solar panels |
| Website | heliovolt.net |
HelioVolt Corporation is a solar energy company specialising in Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) non-vacuum nanomaterial-based solar panel technology. The company has attracted over $100 million in investment. It is based in Austin, Texas.
Contents |
[edit] Company
HelioVolt Corporation was founded in 2001 in order to develop and market new technology for applying thin-film photovoltaic coatings to conventional construction materials. The company’s FASST process, [1] based on semiconductor printing, was invented by HelioVolt founder Dr. Billy J. Stanbery, an expert in the materials science of CIGS and related compound semiconductors. FASST is a patented manufacturing process for CIGS synthesis. [2]
[edit] Investment History
Large-scale investment in HelioVolt began with $8 million in Series A funding from New Enterprise Associates in 2005. [3] A further $77 million was added in a Series B funding round co-led by Paladin Capital Group and the Masdar Clean Tech Fund in August 2007.[4] The Series B funding round was closed for a total of $101 million in October 2007 with investments from Sequel Venture Partners, Noventi Ventures, and Passport Capital. [5] The latest investment will be used to build factories.
[edit] Technology
HelioVolt has developed a new way to manufacture thin-film CIGS semiconductor coatings for solar panels, based on research into the fundamental device physics of the CIGS semiconductor material. [6] Conventional semiconductor processing requires a vacuum process to deposit the semiconductor film on the substrate. The need for vacuum chambers makes this a lengthy batch-oriented production process. HelioVolt has developed a nanomaterial-based coating that can be sprayed onto a wide variety of substrates without requiring a vacuum. Non-vacuum or atmospheric deposition processes offer a combination of lower costs, process simplicity and reduced manufacturing times. [1] The company's FASST manufacturing process won a Nanotech Briefs "Nano 50" nanotechnology award in 2006. [7] Nanosolar, Inc. and International Solar Electric Technology have developed similar technologies.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "HelioVolt and NREL extend CRADA to commercialize solar nanotechnology", Nanotechnology.com, 2006-09-12.
- ^ "HelioVolt’s Solar Technology Awarded Two Wall Street Journal Innovation Honors", Nano Science and Technology Institute, 2006-09-28.
- ^ "HelioVolt Receives $8 Million Investment from New Enterprise Associates", Solar Headlines, 2005-06-20.
- ^ "HelioVolt Completes $77 Million Series B Funding Round", Venture Capital Reporter, 2007-08-16.
- ^ "HelioVolt raises $101M — biggest solar investment yet?", VentureBeat, 2007-10-21.
- ^ "Nanostructure Discovery by HelioVolt CEO Propels Solar Thin-Film Commercialization", nanotechwire.com, 2005-01-11.
- ^ "Nanotech Briefs Nano 50 Award Winners, 2006", Nanotech Briefs.
