Solexel, Solar Startup, Has Raised $150 Million in Investments for Its Thin-Silicon Technology

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Solexel, a thin-silicon solar technology startup, is aiming to bring its 20%-efficient photovoltaic modules to the commercial market by 2014. At a cost of $0.42 per watt, such a high efficiency for this technology would certainly have its uses.

Funding a solar startup isn’t cheap, though. Just last week the firm raised another $11.5 million in investments, bringing its total resources so far to nearly $150 million.

Source: Green Tech Media
Image Credit: Solexel

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For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts; for all is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 3:19


  • dcard88

    .42 per watt is an excellent target, even if the cost to the user ends up 50% higher. Today’s solid panels at that price point are about 15% efficiency and most thin film is below 10% efficiency.

    • Bob_Wallace

      Right. Anything under $1/watt retail is good. What we really need to do in the US is to get the permitting/paperwork costs down.

      We seem to be below $2/watt installed when one includes only panels, hardware, labor and a reasonable profit.

      Germany is smoking us because they’ve made their non-system costs minimal.

      • dcard88

        Seems like the charge for the labor alone from most installers is well above $2/ watt – at least in CA. 6 months ago the best price out there (SoCal) was at least $5 per watt total installed for resi. My impression was around $4 for commercial and closer to $3 for utility.

        • Bob_Wallace

          I should have said that there are installers in the US who are installing for below $2/watt for
          panels, hardware, labor and a reasonable profit.

          That does not mean a total installed price of $2/watt – permits and paperwork add significantly in many places. And I would not be surprised to find out that there are installers making far more than a reasonable profit.

          • dcard88

            Yep. I was going to sell solar myself, but the only people making good money are the ones selling solar along with windows, coatings, etc, and talking unsuspecting people into forking over $8 and even $10 per watt for a 4 kW resi system.