QD Solar is a University of Toronto spin-out developing colloidal quantum-dot materials as an insert for conventional silicon solar panels to absorb wavelengths outside silicon's normal range. Its first product is designed to provide a significant efficiency uplift—the company claims it can boost panel energy output by one-fifth and add about four percentage points to typical silicon cell efficiency (from ~20% to ~24%). The firm says it has demonstrated the first tandem solar cell based on colloidal quantum-dot materials and holds two key patents with another pending. QD Solar's leadership includes CEO Don Shea and CTO Ted Sargent, with Sjoerd Hoogland as VP of research and development. The company intends to use recent financing and prior project support to advance, develop, test and de-risk the technology and bring it closer to market. The article highlights scaling and cost as the main challenges for adoption, noting the PV market's intense price competition and the need for manufacturers to differentiate on performance.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Feb 2017