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Bloo Solar has selected SVTC as the development and commercialization partner for its third-generation, three-dimensional architecture, thin-film photovoltaic module. The startup company (formerly known as Q1 NanoSystems) said it has started its "Solar Brush" wafer development production run at SVTC's facilities, and plans to enter the market with initial commercial modules in early 2012.

“This is an important partnership for our company,” said Larry Bawden, CEO of Bloo Solar. “Bloo Solar has developed a solid technology baseline over the last three years which we are starting to commercialize. Rapid product development transitioning seamlessly into production is key to achieving Bloo Solar’s time-to-market goals.”

“SVTC is privileged to work with technology pioneers such as Bloo Solar, for whom we can apply our advantages of superior cycle time, cost-effective development, and faster time to revenue,” said Joe Bronson, SVTC's president/CEO. “The timely availability of Bloo Solar’s remarkable technology demonstrates that SVTC provides a commercialization environment unique to the industry.”

Bloo Solar claims its nanoscale Solar Brush technology has many fundamental advantages over existing PV technologies that rely on traditional planar solar cells. For example, by providing more surface area, superior light trapping, and minimized recombination, the third-generation module will be able to provide higher efficiency and a total power output 1.5 to 3 times higher than current technologies.

The approach employs a 3-D single-junction solar cell architecture that provides output significantly greater than current technologies, according to the West Sacramento, CA-based  company.

Bloo Solar also announced last week the hiring of hard-disk-drive industry veteran Bob Smith as its new VP of operations.