Big plans for nano-sized idea by Michael Burnham - 8.2.06
NanoSolar Inc. recently secured $100 million to build what the startup claims would be the world’s largest solar cell and panel factory — 430 megawatts of production capacity — in Palo Alto.Using a combination of government factory subsidies and $75 million in Series C preferred stock financing, NanoSolar plans to begin commercial production of ultra-thin photovoltaic panels in the factory.SolarPly, the company’s flagship product, will consist of a foil-like material painted with an “ink” of photovoltaic particles that are more than 100 times smaller than a bacterium.Prototypes of SolarPly are about 50 times thinner than standard solar panels, and the flexible solar-cell material can be built into roof tiles, siding and other parts of a home’s exterior, NanoSolar officials have said [see “Home off the grid,” SIJ, November 2005].The new production facility would be capable of producing roughly 200 million cells per year.The company’s planned fabrication factory, to be located in Berlin, Germany, would be capable of producing more than 1 million panels annually, according to the company.
