SolFocus is a leading developer and manufacturer of solar energy systems based on Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) technology. The company’s mission is to deliver the lowest cost of solar energy in high solar resource regions of the world. Achieving this objective starts with developing industry-leading, high-efficiency products which deliver the highest energy harvest of any technology available today. Leading systems are combined with volume manufacturing and supply chain resources to drive delivery and operation costs to the lowest level. Lastly, SolFocus is focused on providing high reliability and field durability, critical requirements when deploying energy systems which will remain productive in the field for over 25 years. SolFocus systems are currently making electricity in Spain, Arizona, California and Hawaii, with new projects currently being deployed in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Australian in partnership with Ingenero.

CPV systems convert light energy into electrical energy the same way that conventional photovoltaic technology does. The difference in the technologies lies in the addition of an optical system that focuses a large area of sunlight onto each cell. Also, the solar cells used in CPV systems are different from silicon PV cells, and are capable of converting very large amounts of sunlight into energy at high efficiency, which allows the optical systems to be used. With the SolFocus CPV system, a multi-junction PV cell of 1 square centimeter is illuminated by the sun magnified 650 times. This means that the cell, per unit of energy, costs dramatically less than that of conventional photovoltaic technologies. SolFocus CPV panels are mounted on a dual-axis tracker which keeps the panels in direct alignment with the sun. The combination of high-performance optics, high efficiency cells, and precise tracking allows SolFocus CPV systems to deliver advantages not available with other solar technology approaches. In addition to delivering low cost solar energy, SolFocus CPV systems provide the highest energy production per megawatt installed, the best performance at high temperatures, and a high energy output profile throughout the day. SolFocus CPV technology also provides environmental sustainability. Land use is optimized, there is no permanent shadowing, no water is consumed in the production of electricity, systems are over 97 percent recyclable, and the technology offers a small carbon footprint with an energy payback of just over 6 months compared to 2 years with traditional silicon PV.

SolFocus is the first CPV company (as yet the only) to have passed the rigorous testing requirements of IEC 62108 and received certification. SolFocus is also the only CPV company to be listed by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as an approved supplier of equipment eligible for California Solar Incentive (CSI) rebates. In addition, the company has a number of certifications including TUV safety, CE, and others related to various components of the system. As an extension to these certifications, SolFocus maintains a rigorous reliability proving program on all products, processes, and components.