Sol Voltaics closes US$21.3 million in new funding to commercialise GaAs nanowire film

July 6, 2017
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The record round of funding secured by Sol Voltaics is intended to accelerate the commercialization of its technology, claimed to enable PV module conversion efficiencies of up to 27% when integrated as a tandem-junction module. Image: Sol Voltaics

Sweden-based solar cell nanowire materials start-up Sol Voltaics has secured US$21.3 million in a new funding round just a month after claiming a key breakthrough in commercializing its gallium arsenide (GaAs) nanowire film for crystalline silicon solar cells.

The record round of funding secured by Sol Voltaics is intended to accelerate the commercialization of its technology, claimed to enable PV module conversion efficiencies of up to 27% when integrated as a tandem-junction module.

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

The latest investment round includes Norway-based Watrium AS, alongside previous investors Kagra Gruppen AS, Nordic VC firm Industrifonden, FAM AB, Nano Future Invest, Blue Marlin AB and Teknoinvest AS. 

Sol Voltaics said that it had raised US$38 million in the past 12 months, following the company’s US$17 million funding round in 2016.

“This latest round of finance gives us the critical capital required to commercialize our efficiency boosting technology for the solar market,” said Erik Smith, Sol Voltaics CEO. “Having achieved our final major technology milestone with Aerotaxy earlier this year, we are now fully focused on reaching mass production of SolFilm. I’d like to thank our investors, both existing and new, for backing our vision and helping bring this revolutionary technology to the mass market.”

Sol Voltaics expects samples of its ‘SolFilm’ to be sent to partners by the end of 2018.

13 October 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 13-14 October 2026 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023, 2024 and 2025 were a sell out success and 2026 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

January 21, 2026
LONGi Green, Tongwei, JA Solar, TCL Zhonghuan and Aiko Solar are projecting a combined 2025 deficit of RMB28.9-32.8 billion (US$4.1-4.7 billion).
January 19, 2026
Egyptian manufacturing firm Kemet has signed a deal with Chinese solar manufacturer GCL Technologies to build a 5GW solar cell and module manufacturing hub in the country.
January 19, 2026
Chinese polysilicon producer Daqo New Energy recorded over RMB1 billion in losses in 2025, roughly halving its losses compared with 2024.
January 16, 2026
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has partially ruled against solar manufacturer Maxeon in several claims against Canadian Solar.
January 14, 2026
Solar dominated employment in the renewable energy sector in 2024, accounting for over 40% of the global renewables workforce, the most of any sector.
Premium
January 14, 2026
Analysis: As Eging PV comes under pressure to repay investment in an incomplete manufacturing facility, China’s solar manufacturers face an uphill struggle to put recent challenges behind them.

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
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA