Nuvosun

About Nuvosun

Nuvosun, established in January 2008, focused on the development and manufacturing of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells. The company was founded by Dave Pearce, a seasoned entrepreneur in the solar industry who previously founded MiaSolé in 2001. Pearce's experience in the CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film solar sector guided Nuvosun's mission to create lower-cost solar solutions.

The company's core business revolved around producing flexible CIGS solar cells. This technology utilizes a compound of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium to convert sunlight into electricity, allowing for the creation of ultra-thin and flexible solar cells in contrast to thicker, more rigid silicon-based cells. Nuvosun employed a proprietary manufacturing process that included a high-speed roll-to-roll sputtering technique and a two-step process for depositing the CIGS materials, which aimed to provide greater control and reduce manufacturing costs. The primary market for these cells was intended for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), such as solar shingles.

Nuvosun's product, marketed as FlexsoLyt, was designed to be lightweight and flexible, making it suitable for commercial structures with load-bearing limitations, curved surfaces, or flat roofs. These PV modules featured high conversion efficiencies and integrated bypass diodes for shade protection. The company operated on a business-to-business model, supplying its advanced solar cells to larger manufacturing partners. A significant milestone in the company's history was its relationship with Dow Chemical. Dow began investing in Nuvosun in 2010 and, after several rounds of funding totaling approximately $55.9M, acquired the startup in February 2013, making Nuvosun a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition was a strategic move for Dow to integrate Nuvosun's CIGS technology into its own line of solar shingles.