Nanosolar

Nanosolar emerged in 2002 from the minds of Stanford Ph.D. students Martin Roscheisen and Brian Sager, aiming to disrupt the solar energy sector. The company was established to commercialize a low-cost method for manufacturing solar cells through an industrial printing process. Roscheisen, a serial entrepreneur with successful ventures like FindLaw and eGroups, brought his experience in rapidly scaling tech companies, while Sager's background in biochemistry and corporate finance provided a deep technical and strategic foundation.

The core of Nanosolar's business was the production and sale of thin-film solar panels, primarily targeting utility-scale solar projects. The business model centered on achieving a significantly lower manufacturing cost compared to traditional crystalline silicon panels, with an ambitious price target of around $1 per watt. This strategy attracted substantial investment, totaling over $400 million from prominent backers including Benchmark Capital, Mohr Davidow Ventures, and Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The company operated a solar cell printing factory in San Jose, California, and a panel assembly plant in Luckenwalde, Germany.

Nanosolar's product was a thin-film solar cell based on Copper, Indium, Gallium, and Selenide (CIGS) semiconductor material. Its distinctive feature was the manufacturing process, which involved printing nanoparticle inks onto a flexible aluminum foil substrate, a method designed to be far more capital-efficient than the vacuum-based deposition techniques used by competitors. This roll-to-roll process resembled a printing press, allowing for high-throughput production of the semiconductor layer, which was less than two microns thick. The company reported achieving lab cell efficiencies of up to 17.1%, certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), signaling the technology's potential. Despite its technological advancements and securing significant orders, Nanosolar struggled to scale production effectively and bridge the gap from prototype to reliable mass manufacturing. The company ultimately failed to compete with the rapidly falling prices of Chinese-made silicon panels, laid off the majority of its workforce in 2013, and auctioned its assets, ceasing operations.

Keywords: CIGS solar cells, thin-film photovoltaics, roll-to-roll manufacturing, nanoparticle ink, solar panel printing, cleantech, renewable energy, venture capital, semiconductor, defunct company