Gartner highlights its ‘Cool Vendor’ solar start-ups

April 26, 2010
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

In its “Cool Vendors in Solar Energy, 2010” report, Gartner highlights some of the solar energy start-ups to keep an eye on that it believes are developing technologies and innovations that will likely have a strong impact on the adoption of solar energy. Companies included in the review include, Applied Quantum Technology, BrightView Systems, Confluence Solar, Innovalight and Solexant.

Gartner noted that innovation remains strong in the PV industry, although venture funding is somewhat limited in comparison with two or three years ago.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

A key hurdle for start-up’s is to overcome the lack of project finance for solar installation projects as finance requirements have turned to the ‘bankability’ of projects, which dictate the use of previously used and known vendors and products.

According to the market research firm, vendors in the Cool Vendors report are developing innovations that have the potential to dramatically lower the cost of PV solar energy, if they can surmount the bankability barrier. This has become a key focus of start-ups since the collapse in average selling prices that occurred during 2009.

Read Next

December 17, 2025
T1 Energy has started construction on the 2.1GW first phase of its TOPCon cell manufacturing facility in Texas.
December 17, 2025
Renewables developer ib vogt has sold the 95.18MW Baobab solar PV project in Segovia, central Spain, to a subsidiary of Swiss independent power producer (IPP) EOS NER.
December 17, 2025
JA Solar is a lead partner in a joint venture that broke ground this week on a new 2GW solar PV cell, 2GW module and 1GWh energy storage manufacturing facility in Egypt.
December 17, 2025
Doral Renewables has signed a PPA to sell power generated at its 270MW Lambs Draw solar PV project, which will be built in Kansas.
December 17, 2025
Germany has revised down the price ceiling for roof-mounted solar PV systems to €0.1/kWh (US$0.117/kWh) for tenders to be held in 2026.
December 16, 2025
Ecoprogetti has installed a new 400MW module production facility in Oman, to be operated by American Advanced Clean Energy (AACE).

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland