Semprius develops high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules and is based in Durham, North Carolina. Led by CEO Joseph Carr, the company manufactures modules using very small commercial solar cells and innovative manufacturing processes. It received a $2.9m grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA‑E. The funding will be used to develop technologies that lower the cost of solar-generated electricity while increasing system efficiencies and energy yields. Semprius is partnering with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, The George Washington University and Veeco on the project. The effort aims to create a new class of high-performance PV modules based on very small lenses and micro-solar cells. Semprius develops concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar systems that use lenses over small gallium-arsenide cells and motorized sun‑tracking panels to boost energy output and conversion efficiency. Its technology achieves up to 35.5% conversion efficiency and, the CEO says, yields 30–40% more energy than similarly sized conventional plants. The company operates 16 pilot installations delivering power to grids in the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Spain, and elsewhere to collect performance data. Semprius says a megawatt-scale deployment could be built for about $1.5 million and serve roughly 300–500 homes, and targets electricity costs just under $0.05/kWh. Demand has outstripped its current ramp — it turned away roughly six times more business than it accepted last year — while the firm works to scale production. A prior Siemens partnership and investment was discontinued when Siemens reduced its renewables exposure. Semprius was founded in 2005 and is based in Durham, North Carolina. Semprius develops high‑concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar modules built from the world’s smallest solar cells using a proprietary micro-transfer printing process. The company designs and manufactures high‑efficiency modules and operates headquarters and production facilities in North Carolina. Semprius recently closed an additional $3 million in venture funding from Morgan Creek Capital Management, Illinois Emerging Technologies Fund (managed by IllinoisVENTURES), and In-Q-Tel. Proceeds from the tranche will be used to expedite construction of a pilot plant to produce high‑efficiency, low‑cost solar modules. This funding is a follow‑on to a Series C in July 2011 led by Siemens Venture Capital. The company also added Gregory Wolf, president of Duke Energy Renewables, to its board. Semprius produces high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) modules that combine extremely tiny solar cells with low-cost, efficient optics that concentrate sunlight more than 1,000 times. Its micro-cell technology is NREL-certified at greater than 40% efficiency, and the modules are designed to remain cool for improved long-term reliability. The company leverages automated manufacturing using standard equipment and commodity materials to reduce capital and labor costs. Semprius has secured funding to construct a pilot HCPV module production plant to scale up and optimize production for subsequent large-capacity plants. Management reports that modules have been under on-sun testing for several years with excellent field performance. The company intends the pilot plant to enable rapid scaling to meet projected CPV demand growth. Semprius commercializes a process for printing high-performance semiconductors on any substrate, including glass, plastic and other semiconductor materials. The company's core product is a printed‑semiconductor process and associated design kit intended to enable wafer‑level production for its customers. Semprius has signed a development agreement with X‑FAB under which X‑FAB will provide turnkey silicon wafer fabrication and fully warranted wafer delivery for Semprius’ customers. The agreement includes a Semprius‑certified design kit to streamline customer designs for fabrication. Financially, Semprius received a $1.5M strategic investment from X‑FAB as part of the relationship. The partnership is positioned to combine Semprius’ IP in printed electronics with X‑FAB’s manufacturing capabilities to open new markets. Semprius is based in Durham, North Carolina.

Total raised

$27M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Aug 2015