April: InfrastructureMIT start-up raises $12.4 million in a first round
Start-up has developed an innovative silicon cell architecture and a complementary manufacturing methodology which will allow it to make the solar cells so inexpensive that they would produce electricity at a comparable cost to that generated from coal powered stations
Lexington, Massachusetts-based 1366 Technologies, a new MIT start-up aiming to make inexpensive high-efficiency silicon solar cells, has secured $12.4 million in a first round of financing co-led by North Bridge Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners. MIT Professor, 1366 founder and CTO, Ely Sachs, noted that 1366 Technologies has developed an innovative silicon cell architecture and a complementary manufacturing methodology which will allow it to make the solar cells so inexpensively that, once deployed, they would produce electricity at a comparable cost to that generated from coal powered stations. The solar cells, developed at MIT, are claimed to have an efficiency to 25 percent, and to build them, the company has taken space in Lexington, Massachusetts where it will erect a pilot solar cell manufacturing facility.
1366 Technologies plans to partner with solar companies and government agencies, licensing its technology. In addition, the company has rather ambitious ideas to build industrial, 100 MW plants around the world. “Once the pilot plant has proven itself, we’ll work with governments and energy agencies worldwide to build a string of factories,” said Carmichael Roberts, general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners, who is joining 1366 Technologies board of directors as chairman.
